News

Tickets are now on sale for The Georgian Theatre Royal’s 2024 Spring/Summer Season.

The new programme features an exciting array of high-quality drama, classical and popular music, stand-up comedy, and evenings with the stars.

“It is with great excitement that we launch this upcoming season,” said the Theatre’s new CEO Jo Mawhinney. “We are pleased to welcome back old favourites but we also have new names and acts to delight and enthral. One of the headliners is the irrepressible Yorkshireman Barrie Rutter – a pioneer of Northern theatre for many decades – who will be presenting an evening on Shakespeare’s kings and queens. Throw into the mix dramas by Shakespeare, Kafka and Robert Louis Stevenson; world-class classical, jazz and popular musicians; together with a selection of top-rated comedians and you really do have something for all tastes and interests. 

“As always, we are also pleased to showcase the amazing talent of our region’s top community groups with exciting performances by Richmond Operatic Society, Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society, the Castle Players, Stepps Theatre Group and shows from our own Youth Theatre. We look forward to welcoming people through our doors,” she added.

Opening the season on Friday 16 February is an award-winning comedy that delves into the bygone lives of farming folk in the northeast. These Things Do Happen is brought to us by the popular Castle Players and one of the characters is a 1932 Fordson N-type Tractor!

More drama follows with Wild Visions, Untamed Myth on 29 February which re-tells ancient myths from a female perspective and Mark Stratford returns to the Georgian with his compelling solo performance of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on 16 March. 

Lovers of the Bard will delight in Icarus Theatre’s contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s political thriller Julius Caesar (12 April) and a modern adaptation of Franz Kafka’s disturbing tale The Metamorphosis will take place on 27 April. Completing the dramatic line-up is a beautifully crafted original work Remember by Stepps Theatre Group (15 June) which follows the trials and triumphs of two war-torn families.

Music lovers will not be disappointed by the comprehensive selection of musical acts. The engaging GreenMatthews duo explores our rich history of wordplay and melodic mirth with Witty Ditties: 400 Years of Comic Song on 24 February. Oscar Wilde’s epic tragedy The Duchess of Padua (2 March) funnels revenge and passion into an Italian-style opera. The new Richmond Chamber Orchestra led by international violinist Philippa Mo gives its inaugural concert on 3 March; the award-winning duo Ahmed Dickinson and Eduardo Martin return with an evening of Cuban inspired music with The Bridge (20 April) and we are delighted to welcome Christian Garrick with the refreshingly unconventional Budapest Café Orchestra on 11 May.

A firm favourite with Richmond audiences is the sax legend Snake Davis who will be teaming up with guitarist Gareth Moulton for an evening of gorgeous mellow music infused with pop, rock, jazz and soul on 31 May. Fleetwood Bac is the world’s best Fleetwood Mac tribute act, and they will be featuring songs from the band’s Rumours era on 21 and 22 June. Towards the end of the season, Marske Choir will present Good Old Days Music Hall (30 and 31 August) – a fun evening of magic, melodrama, mischief and mellifluous music.

The Theatre is also proud to host two events as part of the renowned Swaledale Festival. An Exquisite Harmony on 4 June tells the story of one of music’s great love triangles through the letters, diaries and music of Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms; and the Chris Ingham Trio presents The Jazz of Dudley Moore on 5 June.

Over the years, The Georgian Theatre Royal has built up a strong reputation for stand-up comedy and four top comedians will take up the comedy mic during the season. Award-winning gossip and Tik Tok starlet Daniel Foxx takes to the stage on 23 February; followed by Jake Lambert as part of his first national tour (18 April); the Filipina comedian and scientist Ria Lina visits on 15 May; rounding off with Kiri Pritchard-McLean - star of Have I Got News for You and QI – on 4 September.

Another class act is Barrie Rutter with Shakespeare’s Royals on 7 March. This powerhouse of Northern theatre will entertain audiences with anecdotes and memories from a career of playing and directing Shakespeare’s Royals, with Northern Broadsides and beyond, all over the world. Rebecca Vaughan is also making a welcome return to the Theatre with Austen’s Women: Lady Susan on 13 March. This brand-new show is based on Jane Austen’s first full-length work and follows the fortunes of the ‘devil-may-care’ black widow. 

Also featured in the programme are Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society and Richmond Operatic Society. RADS presents Short Stories 2 - an evening of three one-act plays - from 21-23 March and then later in the season, Nell Gwynn, which charts the rise of one of England’s Britain’s most celebrated actresses and favourite of Charles II from 25-27 July and 31 July-3 August. ROS will take Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic HMS Pinafore forward in time and Space from 21-25 May. 

Finally, the season is enhanced by performances from the students of The Georgian Theatre Royal Youth Theatre. 

Details of all shows and events are given in the newly published programme brochure available at the Box Office, online or by calling the Box Office on 01748 825252.