Northcott Theatre launches new season

Exeter Northcott Theatre has put its backstage heroes, the technical team, centre stage as it launches its spring/summer 2015 season.

Photographer Matt Austin spent an afternoon with Dominic (Technical Manager), Lee (Technical Stage Manager) and Jamie (Chief Electrician) for a photocall which put the team thoroughly in the spotlight and resulted in some fantastic images.

Packed with the usual great drama, dance, opera, family theatre and comedy the spring/summer 2015 season is now on sale.

The Exeter Northcott Theatre is delighted to be hosting Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in April when they bring the classic tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet to the stage. Performed on an Elizabethan-style stage, this stripped-down version breathes new life into one of the greatest of all love stories.

Following the successful co-production of Ciphers in October 2013, Out of Joint return to Exeter with their new production, Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage. On the eve of one of the most important games of his career, Welsh Rugby legend Gareth Thomas received a warning: The Sun newspaper was going to ‘out’ him as gay.  Working with Gareth himself, two of the UK’s most exciting theatre companies, Out of Joint and National Theatre Wales, have teamed up to tell a great story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.

Voted the UK’s favourite play, this brand new production of The History Boys is an hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education. Set in the 1980s the play is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. This national treasure, written by Alan Bennett, has proved to be the perfect night at the theatre.

Following their much lauded debut visit to the Exeter Northcott Theatre in 2014 with HMS Pinafore, Sasha Regan’s all-male company return with their inventive and fun-filled Pirates of Penzance. For their return visit, the company present the award winning and exquisitely funny new take on the much-loved classic.

Other highlights of the spring/summer season include:

COMEDY:

The theatre plays host to some brilliant comedy in 2015. Slide onto the bar stool of discovery and enjoy several free deluxe drinks as the Thinking Drinkers Guide explore the liquid lives of history’s most extraordinary elbow-benders (Thu 5 February).

After covering weighty issues like death, love, religion and spam javelins, Richard Herring returns with 'Lord of the Dance Settee' (Sun 22 February), expect topical new songs hot off the press, plus some old favourite as Fascinating Aida bring their terrific Charm Offensive to Exeter (Sun 8 March). Also in March, following sold out residencies in New York and London, Simon Amstell explores freedom, joy, love death, adventure, art, peace, regret and success in his new show To Be Free (Sun 15 March), They’ve skewered history, the Bible and the world’s most celebrated playwright, now the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce: Comedy (Sun 5 April).

THEATRE:

Beginning the season in January, Dr Lucy Worsley, BBC TV presenter, renowned historian and Chief Curator at the charity Historic Royal Palaces, takes you on an illustrated tour through the dark story of our fascination with murder ( Sat 17 January).

The UK’s leading and longest running musical theatre concert, Beyond the Barricade makes a long overdue first appearance at Exeter Northcott Theatre, with a sensational new show for 2015 (Fri 6 & Sat 7 February).

Exeter University’s Footlights return with their fantastic adaptation of Evita (Weds 28 – Sat 31 January).

A tense and atmospheric new production visit the Exeter Northcott in late February in the form of The Mist in the Mirror, Oldham Coliseum Theatre and imitating the dog return following their hugely entertaining 2012 collaboration Hound of the Baskervilles. (Tues 24 – Sat 28 February).

The brilliant Filter Theatre return to Exeter with their radical new version of Macbeth (Mon 2 – Sat 7 March).

Exeter University Gilbert and Sullivan Society sail on to the stage with HMS Pinafore (Wed 11 – Sat 14 March), Nottingham Lakeside Arts and Meeting Ground Theatre Company bring a darkly comic play that offers glimpses of a mysterious world, this insightful play enters into the experience of dementia care with Inside Out of Mind ( Tues 17 & Fri 20 March).

The Poppy Project is an arrangement of three innovative Physical Theatre performances, devised and adapted by the award-winning Anthos Arts collaborative. From theatre produced by youths as a consequence of their involvement with industry professionals, to a comical adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by Anthos' in-house troupe of classical and Physical Theatre performers and musicians (Sun 22 March).

Vamos Theatre return to Exeter Northcott Theatre with their heart-warming wartime full-mask show Nursing Lives (Thu 26 – Sat 28 March).

Following on from its 110th anniversary celebrations, this Easter Exeter Musical Society begins a new era with the ‘divine musical comedy’ Sister Act (Mon 30 March – Sat 4 April).

Middle Ground Theatre Company is delighted to present The Business of Murder, the acclaimed psychological thriller from the pen of Richard Harris (The Sweeney, A Touch Of Frost,The Avengers) which enjoyed a successful 9-year run in the West End. tarring Robert Gwilym, known by millions for his role as Dr Max Gallagher in Casualty, alongside Paul Opacic (a regular as Steve Marchant in Emmerdale, Mark Waddle in Bad Girls and Carl Costello in Hollyoaks), and Joanna Higson, who played Maxine Donnelly for 2 series of Shameless and is currently appearing as Vicky Hall in BBC TV's WPC56. (Mon 6 Sat 11 April).

FAMILY EVENTS:

Theatre Alibi present their adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s  I Believe in Unicorns, a spellbinding and moving story by one of our greatest storytellers. (Thu 12 – Sun 15 February).

Based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children ( Wed 15 April).

Following a smash hit West End season, Scamp Theatre's delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's hugely popular children's book Stick Man in coming to Exeter Northcott Theatre. ( Sat 23 & Sun 24 May).

The zany and hilarious Aliens and Underpants based on the best-selling children's book is wonderfully brought to life on stage for the very first time. You’ll laugh your pants off! (Tues 16 – Thus 18 June).

Enjoy music in a family-friendly atmosphere featuring a wide-range of musicians and music with Earworms, hosted by Mervyn Bedford (January and March).

DANCE:

Celebrating its shared commitment to dance development in Devon, Dance in Devon and Exeter Northcott Theatre are delighted to come together to present Watch This Space, a platform for emerging dance artists from our region. (Thurs 22 January).

Proudly celebrating its twentieth year, Richard Alston Dance Company returns to Exeter Northcott Theatre with a knock-out new programme showcasing Alston’s superbly skilled choreography.  (Tues 24 – Wed 25).

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance return to Exeter with a radical re-imagining of the celebrated ballet, La Bayadère, for the 21st century.  Moving between fact and fantasy, the original story is interwoven with the first ever visit of Indian dancers to Europe in 1838. (Tues 12 – Wed 13 May).

Ballet Black presents a triple bill featuring exciting works by Kit Holder (Birmingham Royal Ballet) and Will Tuckett (Royal Ballet). Award-winning choreographer Mark Bruce makes the company's newest narrative ballet, The Second Coming. ( Tues 19 – Wed 20 May).

OPERA:

English Touring Opera returns to Exeter with their exciting spring season.

La Bohème (Puccini) is a tale of young love, starting on Christmas Eve in a Paris garret. With some of the most memorable music in opera, ETO's new Italian-language production lifts every spirit and breaks every heart.

The Siege of Calais (Donizetti) enjoyed its first ever UK professional tour with ETO in 2013, when it was acclaimed as one of the company's greatest achievements. Proud, fierce, exhilarating – this is history on stage, in thrilling music.

The Wild Man of the West Indies (Donizetti) is an extraordinary opera which vanished after initial success. A rare feast for lovers of bel canto (beautiful singing), and a rare adventure for lovers of theatre (Tues 28 April – Sat 2 May).

COMMUNITY SHOWS:

Slip on your blue suede shoes, pull up your bobby-socks and take a trip to a simpler time, when high school romances and heart-breaks were accompanied by a king-size soda pop! Stage By Stage present the musical classic, Grease (Tues 23 – Sat 27 June).

TICKETS:

Tickets for the Spring/Summer 2015 season are on sale now. Call the Exeter Northcott Theatre box office on 01392 493493 or book your seats online at the Exeter Northcott Theatre website: www.exeternorthcott.co.uk. Alternatively buy in person from Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, EX4 4QB