MY Fair Lady - the first major revival of Lerner & Loewe’s much-loved musical on tour for over 15 years - opens a loverly new season of entertainment in Bradford.
Summer may be well underway, but Bradford Theatres are already looking ahead to an autumn season packed with musicals, dance and top names in comedy and music.
Here we lift the curtain on what’s coming up:
ALHAMBRA:
l My Fair Lady: The story of Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins, the linguistics professor determined to transform her into his idea of a ‘proper lady’. But who is really being transformed?
This sublime production features Frederick Loewe’s much-loved score, including classic songs I Could Have Danced All Night, Get Me to the Church on Time, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.
l SIX: From Tudor queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.
l Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Originally from New York, the ‘Trocks’ are loved worldwide for their sassy spoofs and hilarious homages to classical ballet.
l The Commitments: Former Corrie actor Nigel Pivaro stars in the musical about an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians and friends who become “the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced”.
l Saturday Night Fever: Homage to the 1977 movie with more drama, more music, and hot new choreography to release your inner John Travolta. Contains adult themes and strong language.
l Girl from the North Country: The legendary songs of Bob Dylan as you’ve never heard them before feature in this moving musical, which is touring following a sell-out West End season, winning two Olivier Awards.
l Royal Shakespeare Company First Encounters Twelfth Night: A first chance for seven to 13-year-olds to experience Shakespeare, and a first class introduction for anyone else new to his work.
l Jongleurs Comedy Legends: With comics Mike Gunn, Ninia Benjamin, Paul Tonkinson and Jarred Christmas .
l Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Alexandra Burke and Jac Yarrow star in the family favourite with a pop score including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me and Go, Go, Go Joseph.
l The Cher Show: Three West End stars play the mighty Cher, telling the story of her meteoric rise to fame, flying in the face of convention at every turn.
l The Osmonds: A New Musical: The “official story” from Jay Osmond about the five brothers from Utah who
were in the spotlight as children and went on to top the charts both sides of the Atlantic, winning a legion of devoted fans along the way.
l Jack and The Beanstalk: The Alhambra’s autumn season ends with this giant of a panto, starring our fave funnyman, Billy Pearce, with Emmerdale star and ‘King of the Jungle’ Danny Miller and Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK runner-up Divina De Campo.
ST GEORGE’S HALL
l There’s music to suit all tastes, from The Proclaimers to The Magical Music of Harry Potter Live in Concert.
The line-up includes Elkie Brooks; Leo Sayer; Grimethorpe Colliery Band; Gilbert O’Sullivan; Festival of The Dead’s Rock Orchestra by Candlelight; One Night of Elvis starring Lee ‘Memphis’ King; the Soweto Gospel Choir’s Freedom concert; Boyzlife The Old School Tour featuring Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden; Kate Rusby at Christmas; Bootleg Beatles, Whitney: Queen of the Night; Brighouse and Rastrick Band Christmas concert; The Drifters; East 17 Stay Another Day Christmas tour with special guests S Club All Stars and Blazin’ Squad; Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoyard Concert, Sunda; and Don’t Stop Believin’ The End of the Night Anthem Show.
l Expect jaw-dropping balancing acts, acrobatics with fire and human pyramids from The Black Blues Brothers, who use every chair, table and coat rack as part of their breathtaking routines.
l There are laughs from Dawn French in her new one-woman show; Jon Richardson’s The Knitwit; Paul Chowdhry’s Family Friendly Comedian; Dr John Cooper Clarke’s I Wanna Be Yours show; Dick & Dom In Da Bungalow Live; Sinderella Drag Panto and Friendsical, a parody musical inspired by the gang in much-loved US sitcom Friends.
l In Sara’s Crafting Christmas, Dragons Den star Sara Davies offers practical demonstrations, creative ideas and a healthy slice of down-to-earth know-how.
KING’S HALL, ILKLEY:
l TV historian Lucy Worsley explores the life of Agatha Christie, “one of the most elusive, enigmatic figures of the 20th century”. The crime writer went surfing in Hawaii, loved fast cars, and was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through mental illness. So why, asks Lucy, did she present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?Lucy uncovers the real Agatha Christie.
l An Evening with Adam Frost sees the garden designer and Gardeners’ World presenter sharing advice and stories from a lifetime in the garden.
l There’s music from Rave On featuring The Bluejays; The Manfreds Hits, Jazz & Blues Tour; and tribute acts Adele - The Journey So Far; The Music of Elton John with Joel Buckingham & The Jets; and the George Michael Story. And there are laughs from comics Mark Watson, Tom Stade and Mark Thomas.
THE STUDIO:
l Young Hipperholme comic and Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Jack Carroll brings his new show Walking Funny to Bradford’s Studio theatre. Also at the Studio is Jerry Sadowitz with his Not For Anyone show and Justin Moorhouse’s Stretch & Think.
l Call (01274) 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk
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