From 1984 to Rocky Horror: Upcoming must-see shows at Theatre Royal Bath
Get ready to raise the curtain on an unmissable lineup at Theatre Royal Bath, where the drama is as thick as Dracula’s cape and the thrills will make you want to do the Time Warp again. From Orwell's 1984 keeping you on the edge of your seat to a rock ‘n’ roll twist with The Rocky Horror Show, it’s a season that promises to be more entertaining than Rebus at a dinner party murder mystery
Main House
1984 - There’s still time to catch a brand-new production of George Orwell’s 1984 at the Theatre Royal Bath where it runs until Saturday 28th September, before a nationwide tour marking 75 years since the publication of the famous novel. Keith Allen (Steeltown Murders, The Others, The Pembrokeshire Murders) stars as O’Brien with Mark Quartley (The Ipcress Files, Tell Me Everything, Lucky Man) as Winston, Eleanor Wyld (The Marlowe Sessions, Thirteen, The Critic) as Julia and David Birrell (Bodies, Heartbeat, Silent Witness) as Parsons, with Niamh Bennett, Lewis Hart and Paul Socket in the Ensemble.
Rebus: A Game Called Malice - Following the success of the critically acclaimed BBC television series, Ian Rankin’s much-loved detective Rebus returns to the stage in Rebus: A Game Called Malice, written by Ian Rankin and Simon Reade, starring Gray O’Brien in the title role. The new play tours to the Theatre Royal from Monday 30th September to Saturday 5th October. A splendid dinner party in an Edinburgh mansion concludes with a murder mystery game created by the hostess. A murder needs to be solved. But the guests have secrets of their own, threatened by the very game they are playing. And among them is Inspector John Rebus. On 2nd October, Ian will visit Bath for an exclusive post-show discussion for audience members after Wednesday evening’s performance.
READ MORE:The infamous Club XL - Bath's most divisive nightclub which sadly is no more
READ MORE:M5 chaos as trailer carrying fridge and worktops crashes
Dracula - From Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th October, Blackeyed Theatre make a welcome return to present Bram Stoker’s classic gothic thriller Dracula at the Theatre Royal, starring Maya-Nika Bewley, David Chafer, Richard Keightley, Pelé Kelland-Beau, Marie Osman and Harry Rundle. Stretching from London, through provincial England, to the mountainous wastes of Transylvania, Dracula embodies the struggle to break taboos, resist temptation and stop the unknown outside becoming the enemy within.
Dinosaur World Live! - Dinosaur World Live! , the interactive children’s theatre show that brings dinosaurs to life on stage, makes a welcome return to the Theatre Royal for five daytime performances from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th October. Dinosaur World Live! delivers an entertaining and educational show for ages 3 and over. Each performance is followed by a post-show meet and greet where audience members have the opportunity to meet some of the dinosaurs in person.
The Rocky Horror Show - Singing superstar Jason Donovan is set to thrill theatre audiences when he stars as Frank ‘n’ Furter in Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show, visiting the Theatre Royal from Monday 14th to Saturday 19th October.
Summer 1954 - From Thursday 24th October to Saturday 2nd November, Summer 1954 opens at the Theatre Royal starring stage and screen stars Nathaniel Parker and Dame Siân Phillips who lead an ensemble cast of fifteen. Directed by Olivier Award winner James Dacre, this double-bill features two one-act masterpieces by Terence Rattigan paired for the first time. Summer, 1954. The atmosphere at The Beauregard Private Hotel, Bournemouth is one of repressed emotions and post-war gentility. In this world of hushed conversations and quiet anonymity, an unlikely friendship develops between a repressed spinster and a retired Army officer. But when a newspaper threatens to reveal the Major’s long-held secret, will the other residents cast him out for good? Meanwhile, in the heart of the Midlands, a long-serving Classics teacher is on the verge of retirement from his distinguished public school. Diminished by poor health, a crumbling marriage, the disdain of his colleagues and the derision of his pupils, he is given cause to re-examine his life when a young student offers an unexpected gesture of kindness.
Tickets for all performances and events are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at theatreroyal. org.uk
Ustinov Studio
When Vincent Met John - October at the Ustinov Studio begins with a hypothetical meeting between John Lennon and Vincent Van Gogh in a new work by actor and writer Nick Wilkes, When Vincent Met John, which tours to the Ustinov Studio in Bath on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October. The play explores the lives of the two men and the similarities between them, particularly the profound changes they both went through five years before their respective deaths.
The Long Run - Writer-performer Katie Arnstein returns to the Ustinov Studio with the emotionally rich and frequently hilarious new show The Long Run, appearing at the Ustinov Studio from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th October. This story of human connection, cancer diagnosis and long-distance running follows Katie’s mum on her journey through radiotherapy.
Indestructible - Described as a “sharp art-world dramedy” by Theatre Weekly, Indestructible is a highly visual, surprisingly funny and fiercely theatrical show touring to Bath on Thursday 10th October. From award-winning Proteus the performance asks serious and vital questions about cancel culture and accountability using animation and AI-generated projections, examining why it is still so difficult for female artists to succeed.
Our Little Hour - Our Little Hour is a new musical drama based on the inspirational story of the pioneering Walter Tull, brought to the stage by award-winning playwright Dougie Blaxland and celebrated composer Chris Anthony. Commissioned by Show Racism The Red Card and produced in association with Live Wire Theatre, the show explores how Walter, grandson of a Barbadian slave and orphaned at eight years old, rose to prominence against all the odds, becoming the first black footballer to play at the highest level. The production appears from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th October.
Cracking - Cracking is the new dark comedy from Shôn Dale-Jones, who blends fiction and reality in this story which celebrates how searching for connection beats disconnecting. Appearing in Bath on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd October, Cracking is a heart-warming and uplifting comic story about loving in the face of hatred.
I Found My Horn - A man wakes up in midlife to a broken marriage and the dawning fear that he has done nothing to make himself memorable. Packing away his life as he prepares for divorce, he is struck by an insane idea: why not pick up the French horn that defeated him in his youth? A feel-good show about the healing powers of the French horn performed by Jonathan Guy Lewis, adapted from the book by Jasper Rees, and tours to Bath on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October.
An Evening with Dame Siân Phillips - Sunday 27th October offers audiences at the Ustinov Studio the opportunity to spend an evening in the company of a true theatrical legend when An Evening with Dame Siân Phillips takes place. Siân, above, will be in conversation with director Richard Digby Day for a fascinating look back at her life and career. Limited availability remaining only.
It’s the Economy, Stupid! - Joe Sellman-Leava and Dylan Howells embark on a quest to uncover how the economy wins elections and why the force that dominates our lives is so complicated. Armed with brown bags, an old board game and a pinch of theatrical magic, It’s the Economy, Stupid! calculates how our lives have been shaped by the economies we grow up in. This bold new show tours to Bath on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th October.
Casting The Runes - This chilling new adaptation of M. R. James’s collection of classic ghost stories appears , on Wednesday 30th October, featuring remarkable puppetry and a haunting original soundtrack. This performance is now sold out - please contact Box office for any available returns.
Tickets for all performances at the Ustinov Studio are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov.
The Egg
The Little Prince - There is still time to embark on a whimsical adventure and catch remaining performances of Toby Thompson’s new adaptation of The Little Prince, which is enchanting Bath audiences until Sunday 6th October at The Egg. Adapted from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel and performed by Toby himself, the performance is as philosophical as it is original, taking audiences on a journey of infinite possibility.
Play Back - Play Back, a special listening event, is the latest performance from Engage, the Theatre Royal Bath’s community participation initiative, which will take to the stage on Monday 7th October. Audiences aged 18 and over will be immersed in a selection of new “mini plays”, written and performed by Engage members and hosted by Paul Dodgson (BBC Radio 4).
The Sticky Dance - From Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October, Second Hand Dance presents interactive performance installation The Sticky Danceg. Three dancers, weaving a tapestry of sticky tape, invite audience members aged 3 to 5 years to tape, stick and groove. Each performance is open for two hours, with visitors to the colourful experience able to join at 15-minute intervals, given a recommended visit time of 45 minutes.
Birdboy - Described as “an astonishing piece of physical theatre” by The National, Birdboy – a tribute to all the weird kids left on the side-lines – tours to The Egg from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October. Full of fun and sorrow, this kaleidoscopic show, performed by dancer Kévin Coquelard, celebrates the power of imagination and offers a vision of hope and connection in this story of a boy who wishes he was a bird, in a world where fitting in his hard. Presented by United Fall, Birdboy is for children aged 8 years and over.
The Last Baguette - Children aged 2 to 6 years can enjoy a relaxed, participatory theatre session with the return of The Last Baguette to The Egg, with the latest iteration of their Play Time series, Gee-Whiskers! taking to the stage on Tuesday 22nd October. This introduction to theatre includes original music, puppetry and imaginative play.
Do Not Play This Piano - Do Not Play This Piano is the new show from Will Pickvance touring to The Egg on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October. Dubbed the Edinburgh Fringe’s favourite pianist by the List magazine, Will Pickvance is a pianist whose use of improvisation helps inform his performing and storytelling. In this show for children aged 6 years and over, audiences will follow the story of William, whose school report is not so good, but his piano tricks are very impressive.
Kinder - Winner of the Best Theatre for Young Audiences Award at the 2023 Off West End Awards, the multi-award winning, Kinder is set to tour to Bath on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th October. From puppetry and visual theatre company Smoking Apples, this immersive performance is both joyful and poignant, featuring beautiful table top puppetry and cinematic shadow play as Babi travels across Europe discovering how tiny acts of kindness can change the course of a person’s life. Recommended for children aged 9 years and over.
Football Freddie - Football Freddie is a warm and witty show for younger children aged 3 years and over which tours to The Egg to round off the month on Thursday 31st October. A new production from Fidget Theatre, Football Freddie tells the story of a young girl whose Great Uncle Fred helps her to find her confidence as she plays the game they both love.
Tickets for performances at The Egg are on sale now on 01225 823 409, or the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at theatreroyal.org.uk/whats-on
Burdall’s Yard
Sisters With Transistors - As a part of Film Bath Festival, dive into the revolutionary world of electronic music’s female pioneers with the captivating Sisters with Transistors, showcasing how these trailblazing composers transformed music production. After the screening, enjoy a DJ set from Remy Melee celebrating the essence of live electronic music performance. Presented in partnership with Polymathic. Thursday 24th October, 7.30pm. Tickets Pay What You Can. https: //bathboxoffice. org. uk/whats-on/sisters-with-transistors-dj-set.
The Great Jaydini Magic Show - When the Great Jaydini’s in town, magic things start to happen. Children sit amazed and watch in wonder as handkerchiefs disappear and giant bunnies jump out of thin air, and that’s not to mention the Great Jaydini shoe clean, the Great Jaydini suit jacket escape or the unforgettable card socks prediction. The Great Jaydini is, in fact, Jay Wells, a vastly experienced and hugely popular magician and children’s entertainer. Tuesday 29th October, 10.45am. Tickets: £6 per child; £9 per adult. https: //www. ticketsource. co. uk/jay-wells/great-jaydini/e-gbveyo.
Strange Tales For Halloween - The nights grow longer, and the shadows draw in around us. Halloween. The Day of the Dead. This marks the hinge of the year, when the veil between this world and the Otherworld grows thin. From sundown on October 31st to sunrise the next day, ghosts, spirits and otherworldly beings can cross over, and wander freely among us. Gather in for a night of strange tales from around the world. Thursday 31st October, 8pm. Tickets: £10. https: //wegottickets. com/event/620637.
Mission Theatre
Jodi Picoult – By Any Other Name - Topping & Company Booksellers are thrilled to welcome Jodi Picoult (inset), beloved author of 29 novels, for an exclusive evening celebrating her latest stirring tale: By Any Other Name. Set in Shakespearean England, this affecting novel perfectly blends Shakespearean England and modern-day Manhattan to make you rethink all you thought you knew about Elizabethan England. Saturday 5th October, 7pm. Ticket + Book: £22. https: //www. toppingbooks. co. uk/events/bath/jodi-picoult-2024.
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward - Come and join Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, at a dinner party for their friends, Dr and Mrs Bradman. To gain an insight into the art of the occult for his next novel, Charles, much to the amusement of the friends, extends the invitation to a local well-known eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, who as part of the evening’s entertainment will conduct a seance. Presented by Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society. Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th October, 7.30pm. Matinee Saturday 12th October, 2.30pm. Tickets £17 concessions £13. www. ticketsource. co. uk/bods-blithe-spirit.
Mansfield Park - Chamber Opera in Two Acts - Presented by Cardiff with music by Jonathan Dove, libretto by Alasdair Middleton based on Jane Austen’s famous novel. Based on Jane Austen’s third published novel, the story of Mansfield Park follows the poor Fanny Price who, aged ten, is sent to live with her rich Aunt and Uncle Bertram at their grand country estate. Growing up in their family circle, Fanny navigates her way through the complications of love, loneliness, and rivalry. Thursday 17th – Saturday 19th October, 7.30pm. Matinee Saturday 19th October, 2.30pm. Tickets £18 Concessions £15. www. missiontheatre. co. uk/whats-on.
The Prince and the Knave - What happens when the heir to the throne of England spends his time among the rogues and reprobates of London’s underworld and joins them in their illicit pranks and escapades? In extracts from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Shakespeare Live’s team of actors take multiple roles to tell the story of the tortuous relationship between Prince Hal, the future Henry V, and the dissolute knight Sir John Falstaff. Tuesday 22nd – Wednesday 23rd October, 8pm. Tickets £14. www. shakespearelive. com.
The 2024 Minerva Series of Lectures - A selection of free lectures to broaden knowledge and introduce new concepts and innovations. The lectures are an opportunity to hear experts share their insights on a range of topics, including science, politics, health, and sustainability. Tuesday 29th October, 6pm. Free to attend. www. bath. ac. uk/campaigns/minerva-series-of-lectures.
Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight - The Bristol Ensemble presents an electrifying evening where the timeless masterpiece of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons will be brought to life. Immerse yourself in an enchanting evening, surrounded by candlelight. Friday 25th October, 7.30pm. Sold out. https: //bathboxoffice. org. uk/whats-on/vivaldi-four-seasons-by-candlelight.
Cindy Stratton, Sasspafellas, Z’Bella and Friends - Cindy Stratton, the award-winning West Country singer-songwriter, enthrals with her soulful melodies and enchanting performances. Performing with Cindy are longstanding musical collaborator and partner Marius Frank, a cappella group Z’Bella, popular male vocal consort Sasspafellas, and some special guests. This promises to be an unforgettable evening of song. Saturday 26th October, 7.30pm. Tickets £16 | Concessions: £10. www. eventbrite. co. uk/e/cindy-stratton-sasspafellas-zbella-and-friends-tickets-918423267717.