Lou Sanders, Jack Dee and Rupert Everett among big names at Salisbury Playhouse

Following the success of this year’s Salisbury International Arts Festival, Wiltshire Creative has announced the programming for the 2024 Autumn Season.

The season will encompass three main stage productions at Salisbury Playhouse beginning with Sebastian Faulks’ epic story of love and loss, Birdsong starring EastEnders’ Max Bowden from September 6-14.

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This leads into Wiltshire Creative’s co-productions – a revival of Marie Jones’ poignant comedy Stones in his Pockets from October 1-19 and Talawa’s Black Joy Season highlight: Play On! a joyous retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from October 22 to November 2.

These productions will also tour nationally as well as their run at Salisbury Playhouse.

Rupert Everett (Image: Wiltshire Creative)

Highlights of the season also include a series of ‘In Conversation with’ events, hosted by Matthew Stadlen with guests including Rupert Everett on September 28 and Hermione Norris on November 16 at Salisbury Playhouse as part of a series with familiar faces delving into their lives and experiences.

The series also includes Maggie Alphonsi MBE, Victoria Hislop, Lemn Sissay OBE and Alexandra Shulman.

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The season will be host to an array of visiting comedians including Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Peacock on September 11 at Salisbury Arts Centre; Russell Kane: Hyperactive on September 19 and Jack Dee: Small World on 24 January at the Playhouse.

(Image: Wiltshire Creative)

The popular Wiltshire Creative Comedy Club will return on September 21, headlined by Lou Sanders.

Other programming of the Autumn season includes a one-man production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the Arts Centre from December 5 to December 7 and Nocturne performed by Lucy Parham and narrated by Patricia Hodge and Alex Jennings on January 23.

Gareth Machin

Artistic Director of Wiltshire Creative, Gareth Machin said: “As a regional theatre we pride ourselves on delivering a quality programme for Salisbury. I am delighted, however, that this season we are collaborating with some incredible partners to ensure that our work will be seen not just in Wiltshire but also in venues around the country.

"I’m also thrilled that this autumn will see the return of our ‘In Conversation with’ events with some fantastic names that we wouldn’t want you to miss. On top of that we have one of the highlights of Salisbury cultural calendar, our festive pantomime Sleeping Beauty; I look forward to this season bringing old and new audiences together to experience the joy of live entertainment.”

For more information, got to wiltshirecreative.co.uk.