Theatre Picks in Bath
Egg Theatre
See www.theatreroyal.org.uk/
Thu 2 – Sun 26 July. The Secret Garden. This bold new commission reimagines Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic for today’s new generation. Written by Tom Wentworth expect music, magic and a beautiful celebration of nature and childhood as The Egg becomes a living, breathing Secret Garden — a place to sit, dream, and discover.Adults: £17.50 – £22.50, Children/Students: £17.50 – £12.50. Preview: All tickets £15. Schools: £10 plus 1 free teacher ticket for every 10 tickets booked ( 11 tickets free)
Fri-Sat, 28 & 29 August. Mavericks. TRB Summer Company Presents Mavericks. A fast-paced ensemble-led adventure comedy, exploring what it means to stand out in a world desperate to fit in. Celebrate individuality and discover that heroes come in all shapes, sizes and voices. Age: 6+. Friday 2pm & 6pm. Saturday 2pm & 6pm. Tickets: £12.50 – £15.
Sat-Sun, 12-13 September. Tiny Planet. Presented by Half a String. Imagine a whole world no bigger than a house. A planet that can be explored in a matter of minutes, yet it is the centre of a galaxy. With breathtaking puppetry, original live folk songs and earthy percussion, uncover the mysteries that keep this little globe turning. Live camera projection brings this tiny world to life as a wanderer learns that the smallest things hold the biggest stories. Marvel as asteroids collide and discover the curious and wonderful as new creatures evolve. This is a truly unique piece of puppet theatre for the whole family. Tiny Planet carries the echos of The Little Prince, inviting you on a journey to explore how we all can sometimes feel impossibly small and infinitely gigantic. Saturday: 11.30am & 3pm. Sunday: 11.30am & 3pm. Tickets from: £10 – £12.50. Running Time: 55 minutes, no interval.
Sat-Sun, 19-20 September. Rise and Fall. Come and explore an ecosystem of balloons: universes in miniature. In Rise And Fall you’ll meet all manner of balloons from small floating moons to vast bouncing orbs. Forever expanding and contracting, balloons are free to float, fly and sway. Hold your breath and go sailing away. Rise and Fall is a poetic and intriguing performance for young audiences about holding on and letting go. Rise and Fall is a non-verbal show. Saturday: 11.30am & 3pm. Sunday: 11.30am & 3pm. Tickets from: £10 – £12.50. Running Time: 30 minutes. Followed by a 15 minute stay and play session.
Sat-Sun, 26 September – 4 October. Not Now Bernard. Created by Roustabout Theatre, based on the book by David McKee. ‘There’s a monster in the garden and it’s going to eat me.’ Bernard’s got a problem. There’s a monster in the garden… but his mum and dad are far too busy to notice. So Bernard does what any sensible child would do — he tries to befriend it. That doesn’t quite go to plan. A wildly funny, physical theatre adaptation of David McKee’s much-loved picture book, bursting with chaos, live music made from instruments and household objects, and an ENORMOUS purple monster. This is a story about being heard, getting noticed, and what happens when grown-ups are just too busy — told with comedy, imagination, and plenty of mischief. With integrated Makaton, this accessible production is suitable for everyone aged 3+. Tuesday: 10am & 1pm. Wednesday: 10am & 1pm. Thursday: 10am & 1pm. Saturdays: 11.30am & 3pm. Sundays: 11.30am & 3pm. Tickets from: £10 – £12.50. Running Time: 1 hour
Mission Theatre
See www.missiontheatre.co.uk/
Wed 9-Sat 12 Sep. Pink Mist. Presented by Next Stage Theatre Company. A rarely-performed, gripping drama told in echoing verse that reverberates through the mind long after the final line. It follows three young men from Bristol as they answer the call of adventure, confront the brutal reality of conflict, and return home forever changed. Raw, beautifully lyrical, and deeply human, this powerful play – woven from the stunning, resonant language of Owen Sheers – reveals the hidden cost of modern warfare and the people left to gather the pieces.
Rondo Theatre
See https://rondotheatre.co.uk/
Thu 24 – Sat 26 Sep. Amélie. Amélie Poulian is a strange girl, content in watching her neighbours and friends live their lives through a small copper telescope. However, one fateful night in 1997 pushes her to come out of her shell, launching her into a journey full of selflessness, discovery, and a certain joie de vivre. Based on the beloved film, Amélie is a whimsical and heartfelt journey through the streets of Paris filled with imagination, romance, and wonder. Featuring a vibrant score and unforgettable characters, this enchanting story celebrates the courage it takes to connect with others and embrace life’s endless possibilities. • 7.30pm • Sat 26 • 2.30pm • Full £16 Concs £14 • Community Theatre
Theatre Royal Bath Main House
See www.theatreroyal.org.uk/
Tue 28 Jul-Sat 1 Aug. Teechers. It is the end of term and John Godber’s hilarious comedy masterpiece has been reset for our post-Covid times. Bristling with teenage swagger and outlandish imagination, Salty, Gail and Hobby use their BTEC Performing Arts exam to showcase their work. Updated by John Godber from his original 1980s classic, Teechers is a fast-paced comedy with a vital message about the entrenched inequalities of the UK’s education system that are still as punchy as ever forty years later. Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Weds & Sat 2.30pm.
Tue 4-Sat 8 Aug. Our Man In Havana. Adapted by Clive Francis from Graham Greene’s novel, follows James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba. Struggling financially to support his spoiled daughter, Wormold is recruited by MI6 agent Hawthorne to be a spy. Lacking any actual spy skills or intentions, Wormold fabricates an entire network of fictional agents and reports, using his imagination and local bar conversations. His absurd reports, claiming to depict secret weapons, are taken seriously by MI6, leading to real-world consequences as the Cuban government grows suspicious. Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Weds, Thursday & Sat 2.30pm.
Tue 11 — Sat 22 Aug. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. For the first time ever, a novel by John le Carré — the undisputed master of the modern spy genre whose works include Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager — is brought to life in a thrilling stage adaptation. Starring Ralf Little (The Royle Family, Death In Paradise), The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a riveting journey through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage, deception, and moral compromise. Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Weds, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm. Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes.
Thu 27 August – Sat 5 September Present Laughter. Tracy-Ann Oberman stars as Geri Essendine in this new production of Noël Coward’s celebrated and hilarious portrayal of the temptations and pitfalls of theatrical celebrity. Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Thurs & Sat 2.30pm.
Fri 11 – Sat 19 September. Tristan & Yseult. Experience the original, critically acclaimed production of Tristan & Yseult, one of the most influential theatre productions of the 21st century. Adapted and directed by Emma Rice, this iconic show returns to the UK for the first time in ten years, offering a rare chance to encounter a modern masterpiece fresh and live on stage. Evenings 7.30pm. Thurs 17 September 7pm. Friday 18 September 6.30pm. Matinees Thursday 2pm & Saturday 2.30pm. BSL Interpreted Performance: Saturday 19 September 2.30pm. Captioned Performance: Saturday 19 September 7.30pm
Mon-Tue.21 – 22 September. Under Milk Wood. Bath favourite, Guy Masterson (A Christmas Carol, Animal Farm) returns with his “unbelievable” rendition of Dylan Thomas’ lyrical masterpiece, UNDER MILK WOOD – a day in the life of ‘Llareggub’ – a fictional sea-town somewhere in Wales. As with his stupendous rendition of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Masterson brings us all 69 of Thomas’ wonderfully ebullient inhabitants entirely on his own in an amazing feat of physical virtuosity. Complemented by a stunning original soundscape by Matt Clifford (of the Rolling Stones band) this unique interpretation makes the words sing. Bawdy and beautiful, sad and sensual through the music of language, leaves indelible, unforgettable images of humanity. Evenings 7.30pm. Matinee Tuesday 2.30pm. Running Time: 2 hours.
Thu-Sun. 24 – 26 September. London City Ballet – Firebird. Marking their third successful season, the award-winning London City Ballet, former resident company of Sadler’s Wells, return this September with a unique offering of heritage works all danced in the UK for the very first time. In this centenary year of American choreographer Glen Tetley, we celebrate by reviving his gothic retelling of the Firebird. Alongside this, international choreographer John Neumeier creates a new version of his ballet, Ghost Light. Performed for the very first time outside of the Hamburg ballet, Ghost Light, allows us a glimpse at the spirits of those artists who once inhabited our stages.
29 September – 3 October. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bath Light Operatic Group celebrates 70 years of performing on the Theatre Royal Bath stage with their biggest production ever! Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious”. An eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself and the family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa to rescue their magical friend! Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Weds & Sat 2.30pm. Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes.
10 December 2026 – 10 January 2027. Beauty and the Beast. A spectacular pantomime take on the timeless tale. This glittering festive extravaganza promises breathtaking sets, glittering costumes and sensational choreography – all wrapped up in a magical story filled with laughter, romance and wonder. Stage and screen favourite and award-winning soap baddie Marc Baylis (Coronation Street’s Rob Donovan) stars as the wickedly mischievous villain, Hugo Pompidou, ready to cause mayhem and steal the spotlight! Written by Jon Monie, who will also be back onstage as the hilarious Louis La Plonk, where he will be joined by Nick Wilton as Dame Polly La Plonk. Daily at 2pm & 7pm or 1pm & 5.30pm. Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve 11am & 3pm. No performances on 14 & 18 December, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or 4 January. RELAXED PERFORMANCES – Sunday 13 December 1pm & Wednesday 30 December 2pm. AUDIO-DESCRIBED – Sunday 20 December 1pm & Tuesday 29 December 1pm (Touch Tour at 11.30am for audio-described attendees). BSL INTERPRETED – Saturday 9 January 2pm.
Theatre Picks outside Bath
Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol
See thewardrobetheatre.com/
Sat 29 Aug. Pericles (kind of). An exciting new musical and debut production from Nevermind Company, a brand new company of actors, all recent graduates from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Traditionally, Pericles follows a wandering prince who flees an incestuous king. Survives storms and shipwrecks. Escapes assassins. Wins deadly jousts! Falls in and out of love several times. Endures another storm. Is bested by Pirates. All ending in a brothel? A tale of true virtue! Through centuries of adaptations this story has changed surprisingly little… for Pericles. In this new telling however, Pericles has his work cut out for him keeping the story on track when other characters decide to see how far they can push a musical adaptation. The debut production from emerging ensemble theatre group: Nevermind Company. 7.30pm. Tickets:£14. Running Time:1 hour (no interval). Ages 16+
Alma Theatre, Bristol
See https://www.almatavernandtheatre.co.uk/
Wed 26-Sat 29 Aug. Black Mountain by Brad Birch. In a cabin in a forest by a mountain, Paul and Rebecca find time, space and truth to try saving their fractured relationship. Yet in the shadow of the mountain, paranoia grows as someone from their past has followed them here. Beware of what lurks in the darkness and what hides in plain sight. A psychological thriller that dives into betrayal and the price of trust, forgiveness and revenge. With razor-sharp dialogue and an atmosphere thick with dread, this is modern theatre that creeps under your skin and lingers long after the lights fade. Who can you trust in the dark, who can you trust atop the mountain? 8pm. Written by Welsh writer Brad Birch, winner of the Harold Pinter commission. Produced by Orange Raven Productions, a group of theatre makers committed to the radical new Gonsalves Method approach to creating compelling drama by authentic connection.
Fri 24-Sun 26 Jul. Esther’s Revenge. Pawstudios Africa – one of Nigeria’s most dynamic theatre companies. It’s 1953 in Lagos and Esther has been accused of murdering her white lover Mark. The sentence is death by hanging. What happens next is up to you. 8pm Friday & Saturday, 5pm Sunday.
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