York Theatre Royal have announced their upcoming season of shows – and it’s going to be legendary.
The theatre have revealed their ‘Legend’ programme, which kicks off in November through to early April. The shows will explore myths, fairy tales, monsters, fables, and of course, legends.
One highlight includes a world premiere production from Emma Rice’s acclaimed Wise Children with Blue Beard (27 Feb – 9 Mar 2024) – which promises to bring music and magic to this beguiling folktale.
This will be Wise Children’s fourth visit to York Theatre Royal, following the previous success of Malory Towers and most recently Wuthering Heights. Blue Beard is a coproduction between Wise Children, York Theatre Royal, Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, and Royal Lyceum Edinburgh.
Vicky Biles, communications and development director at York Theatre Royal, said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with our friends Wise Children once again. It is always a thrill to see Emma bring her unique voice and style to classic stories.
“In Blue Beard, audiences can expect exactly the kind of brilliant spectacle that makes theatre the unique, collective experience that people treasure.”
The theatre’s pantomime this year, Jack and the Beanstalk (8 Dec 2023 – 7 Jan 2024), stars Nina Wadia as Fairy Sugarsnap (EastEnders, Goodness Gracious Me), James Mackenzie as the villainous Luke Backinanger (CBBC’s Raven and CBeebies’ Molly and Mack) and York favourite Robin Simpson as the hilarious Dame Trott!
Kicking off 2024 is comic legend Guz Khan (31 Jan). Guz is the creator and star of BBC’s Man Like Mobeen, and has also appeared on Taskmaster and The Last Leg.
Other shows in the season include Merchant of Venice 1936 (14-18 Nov 2023) starring Tracy-Ann Oberman (Eastenders, Doctor Who) as Shylock.
Alongside the production, Oberman will lead a lantern procession from York Theatre Royal to Clifford’s Tower on 18 November (the site of the Jewish massacre in 1190), to celebrate local communities coming together to stand shoulder to shoulder against prejudice and persecution.
York Light Opera Company will return with the classic Disney musical The Little Mermaid (7-17 Feb 2024) and Le Nevet Bete are back with their inimitable style of comedy to retell the Arthurian legend in King Arthur (21-23 Mar 2024).
For younger audiences, children’s theatre company Tall Stories are bringing their production of The Gruffalo’s Child (1-3 Feb 2024), an enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
And there’ll be more family fun with There’s A Monster in Your Show (26-28 Mar 2024) adapted from the popular children’s books by McFly’s Tom Fletcher.
Tickets for the new season will go on general sale online and in person on Saturday 30 September at 1pm.
For more information, visit the York Theatre Royal website.