The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, showcases its highlights for 2024, including Frank Skinner and Ruby Wax
From Frank Skinner to Ruby Wax, panto to football legends and everything in between, here’s the highlights of what you can see at the Theatre Royal in 2024.
Richard, My Richard – April 11-27
A Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Shakespeare North Playhouse co-production in association with Daniel Schumann. The theatre will be converted into a theatre in-the-round giving audiences a whole new experience for this Theatre Royal and Shakespeare North Playhouse production.
Best-selling novelist Philippa Gregory’s (The Other Boleyn Girl, The White Queen) Richard My Richard is a passionate, tender portrait of man in his time, surrounded by the women who determine his fate. Often funny, often poignant, underpinned by the facts of the past, Richard’s secrets may have died with him, here he rises up to tell us the story, his story, History.
With an explosion of Tarmac, a Leicester city car park erupts and Richard III crashes from his lost tomb to meet the character who has ruined his reputation: History – the record keeper who doesn’t always have his mind on the task.
Richard believes he has risen from the grave to heaven with an unstained conscience and the awkward task falls to History to tell the undead King that all is not as he imagines.
As Richard challenges, History admits he has his own doubts. He is often revered as the bearer of truth, yet his perspective is skewed. History overlooks people and stories.
Philippa Gregory will be holding two post-show discussions on April 18 at 2pm and on April 25 at 7.30pm. These are free to attend with no additional ticket required.
Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt – February 2 (sold out)
Comic legend Frank Skinner brings his critically acclaimed new show 30 Years of Dirt to the theatre, following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. This performance is sold out, but you can still join a waiting list.
Romeo and Juliet – February 13-17
Presented by New Wolsey Theatre, this pacy and inventive 80-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy is perfect for Shakespeare fans featuring all levels of emotion.
FRIEND: The One With Gunther – March 1
An award-winning show: One man, one hour, 10 seasons. The entire 236 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Friends, retold through the eyes of Gunther, Central Perk’s very own ‘seventh Friend’. Presented by Seabright Productions.
Mark Watson: Search – February 9
Mark Watson’s 12-year-old son has just got a phone. His 70-year-old dad has been through the most frightening experience of his life. Both a dad and a kid himself, around the midpoint of his life, the Taskmaster star and multiple award-winner returns to Theatre Royal.
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book – February 20-21
Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates. But his sister hates it - it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun? Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight. . . featuring beautiful and mesmerising puppets.
Rosemary Ashe: Adorable Dora & Call Me Merman – March 3
West End star and Laurence Olivier Award-nominated actress, Rosemary Ashe, known for her performances in Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, and for the creation of the role Carlotta in the original cast of The Phantom of The Opera, brings an exclusive double bill to the stage with her iconic tributes for Dora Bryan and Ethel Merman. Expect an evening full of fun, music (including Hello Dolly and Anything Goes), anecdotes and laughter as she pays tribute to national treasure Dora Bryan and musical comedy icon Ethel Merman’s biggest shows.
The Time Machine – March 12-16
Presented by Original Theatre Company, H G Wells’ deadly serious masterpiece will never be the same again as this hapless highly-skilled group of actors embark on a journey of a lifetime! Will Dave persuade the others to stick to the script he’s worked so hard on? Will Michael be able to explain time travel without the help of excessive props? Will Amy get to sing her Cher tribute? And ultimately. . . will they be able to defeat the space-time paradox - or at least get through the second half?
The Return of the ITFC Legends – April 21
An unmissable evening for Ipswich Town Football Club fans young and old. Hosted by the one and only Bryan Hamilton who will be joined by two of ITFC’s best-loved players, John Wark and Russell Osman, for a lively evening full of stories and anecdotes about the club they love. A unique insight into the club and the fascinating world that is football.
Front Row Fashion Show – April 28
Local stores and brands showcase their summer collections in this fun and fabulous fashion show. Tickets include a pre-show drinks reception - the fashion show will be followed by an after-party in the Greene Room Bar.
The show is in aid of the theatre and Barnardo’s Helpers Group in Bury St Edmunds.
Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore – May 3
Out of the swirling maelstrom, he steps, his sword of jokes, his shield of whimsy and his armour made of a third amusing thing. Cursed to return on tour. Multi-award-winning stand-up Alasdair Beckett-King unravels life's shallowest mysteries. A true Renaissance man, Alasdair is 500 years old. As seen on Mock the Week and the internet.
Rosie Holt: That’s Politainment – May 4
The worse the political career, the more lucrative the subsequent entertainment opportunities. Matt Hancock may have slaughtered millions but now he’s making a killing. So can Rosie Holt’s viral hit MP follow ‘politainers’ Dorries, Farage and Rees-Mogg and leap from the pages of Hansard to Heat?
Following a hugely successful Edinburgh Fringe season, Rosie (an acclaimed comedian, actor and satirist) takes this new show on the road, to tightrope the thin line between politics and entertainment.
Ruby Wax: I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was – September 20
After a complete sell-out first run in 2023, Ruby Wax’s rawest, darkest, funniest and most compelling stage show yet announces new dates for 2024, thanks to enormous demand. “The original idea behind this show was based on the extreme journeys that I wanted to take in order to find an antidote to living a frazzled life. Along the way I wanted to find meaning, peace, happiness – the stuff we’re all chasing. However, after some transcendent experiences, I ended up in a mental institution. Obviously, I didn’t find what I was looking for.”
Aladdin – November 22, 2024-January 12, 2025
Welcome to Abanazer International, the finest hotel in all of Arabia.
Bags too heavy? Call for Aladdin, the bell boy. Clothes need a clean? Visit Washy in the laundry. Want to meet the owner? Don’t! Abanazer is vile and vain and secretly longs to rule the land. If only he could find a way to make his every wish come true.
Join Aladdin and his friends this Christmas, as they try to defeat the hotelier from hell.
For the full programme and to buy tickets, visit www.theatreroyal.org
