4:33pm Thursday 8th January 2009
By Ben James
The children have been entertained over the festive season and now it is the grown-ups’ turn as Richmond Theatre stages a smorgasbord of offerings for the coming season.
To bring some cheer to the new year Jason Manford, star of 8 Out of 10 Cats, will be at Richmond for one night only on February 7.
He hit the main spotlight after taking over from Dave Spikey in the hit Channel 4 show. This is his debut tour and, refreshingly, his comic routine is friendly rather than antagonistic and he does not resort to the usual yawn-worthy stand-by of lesser so-called funnymen as he spurns swearwords.
Voted the third-most popular musical of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers will be romping into Richmond from February 9-14, with dazzling dance routines and 16 showstopping hits including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin’ Courtin’ and Wonderful, Wonderful Day.
With colourful costumes, fabulous sets and sassy performances this breathtaking production starring Steven Houghton (Bugs, London’s Burning) and Susan McFadden winner of ITV1’s Grease is the Word is guaranteed to put a spring in your step – and is a great night out for couples as it bows out on Valentine’s Day.
Children won’t miss out on the fun completely, though, as great family entertainment comes in the form of the stage version of Michael Morpurgo’s much-loved 1984 book Why The Whales Came, from February 17 to 21.
Set on the Scilly Isles in 1917 it charts the story of two friends, Gracie and Daniel, who befriend the ostracised Birdman who helps them unravel an island curse.
For something more high-brow than cries of, “he’s behind you,” watch out for Puccini’s masterpiece Tosca, first performed in 1900.
Packed with passion, political intrigue and murder, this is surely one of the greatest operas. It is a unique foray outside of the prestigious summer festival and will be on from February 24 to March 1.
International stars are heading our way, too. Richard E Grant, star of Withnail and I, is appearing in God of Carnage (Le Dieu du Carnage) written by French playwright Yasmina Reza.
When two children get into a fight at school, their parents decide to meet and discuss the problem calmly. However, as the alcohol flows, it is the parents who begin to squabble and the evening descends into chaos. The play runs from March 9 to 14.
And a knight will be treading the boards in the shape of Sir Antony Sher, who plays Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, accompanied by fellow South African and internationally acclaimed actor and playwright John Kani as Caliban.
This new production of The Tempest is a co-production with Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre and will be run from March 19 to 28.
So pencil these dates into your 2009 diary and make a visit to Richmond Theatre one of your New Year resolutions.
Richmond Theatre, Richmond Green, visit ambassadortickets. com/richmond call 0870 060 2516.
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