Line up for the autumn season at Theatre Royal, in Bury St Edmunds, is unveiled

The Theatre Royal, in Bury St Edmunds, has announced its line up for the autumn season with a raft of productions and entertainers set to visit the restored Regency venue.

From Roy Hudd, who stars in Goodnight Mr Tom, through to the annual pantomime Sleeping Beauty, and from comedy productions of The Goon Show and Dad’s Army - Radio Hour to classics such as Shakespeare’s Henry V and Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

BBC TV personality John Simpson makes an appearance in September and comedian Dylan Moran is booked in for November.

But the season kicks off in August with a Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds production of Goodnight Mr Tom and ends with the panto which runs from November 30 through to January 13.

There will be plenty of drama as London Classic Theatre returns with My Mother Said I Never Should and Dr Phil Hammond will celebrate the NHS’ 70th birthday.

Classic comedy will also feature thanks to a pair of tribute shows.

The Goon Show will celebrate Spike Milligan’s centenary year with the first major theatrical production of the show in its illustrious history and Dad’s Army - Radio Hour will feature two actors on stage playing 25 different characters.

Lovers of musicals will be in for a treat with Carmen - The Gypsy and Lucy Parham will take to the piano as Alex Jennings narrates Rêverie, evoking Claude Debussy’s complex emotional life while MJ HIStory captures the sound, movement and aesthetic of the icon Michael Jackson, from the Jackson 5 to the King of Pop.

Ballet Theatre UK returns with Beauty & the Beast and Vamos Theatre present a new production of Finding Joy, approaching the subject of dementia with humour and humanity.

Charlie Caper and Malin Nilsson, from Sweden, present Minor Miracles, a unique combination of magic, comedy and surrealism and local companies are also showcasing their talents with the Bury St Edmunds Amateur and Operatic Society presenting High Society and the Irving Stage Company with their take on ‘Allo ‘Allo.

For families there’s Scamp Theatre’s productions of Private Peaceful and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday, April 28, and to book visit www.theatreroyal.org or call the box office on 01284 769505.

FULL LISTING

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

Goodnight Mr Tom (Fri 24 Aug – Sat 8 Sep)

Opera Dinner at the Leaping Hare (Thu 13 Sep)

Carmen – The Gypsy (Thu 13 – Sat 15 Sep)

My Mother Said I Never Should (Mon 17 – Thu 20 Sep)

An Audience with John Simpson, CBE (Fri 21 Sep)

Private Peaceful (Tue 25 – Sat 29 Sep)

OCTOBER

Stick Man (Sun 30 Sep – Tue 2 Oct)

Sherlock Holmes – The Sign of Four (Thu 4 – Sat 6 Oct)

Anna Noakes and Gabriella Dall’olio (Mon 8 Oct)

High Society (Tue 9 – Sat 13 Oct)

Virginia Ironside: Growing Old Disgracefully (Sun 14 Oct)

Scenes of 2018 (Mon 15 Oct)

The Goon Show (Thu 18 – Sat 20 Oct)

Steve Parrish (Sun 21 Oct)

Finding Joy (Mon 22 Oct)

Minor Miracles (Thu 25 Oct)

Tabby McTat (Fri 26 – Sat 27 Oct)

Rêverie (Sun 28 Oct)

NOVEMBER

Henry V (Tue 30 Oct – Sat 3 Nov)

The Rococo Ensemble (Mon 5 Nov)

‘Allo ‘Allo (Tue 6 – Sat 10 Nov)

MJ HIStory (Sun 11 Nov)

Dr Phil Hammond (Tue 13 Nov)

Dad’s Army – Radio Hour (Wed 14 – Thu 15 Nov)

Dylan Moran: Dr Cosmos (Sat 17 Nov)

Beauty & The Beast (Mon 19 – Wed 21 Nov)

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019

Sleeping Beauty (Fri 30 Nov – Sun 13 Jan ’19)