There really is something for everyone in the new season at Cambridge Arts Theatre which has just been announced. Sian Phillips aged 90 stars in a Terence Rattigan double bill, a Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, Felicity Kendal starring in an Italian play written in 1946 and Spot the dog’s Birthday Party.
There is also Dinosaur World Live, Orwell’s 1984, Barrie Rutter’s Shakespeare, London City Ballet, mystery, magic, comedy, and opera.
On May 1 and 2 English Touring Opera sing Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress both performed in English – but still with surtitles. It is opera after all.
In July, London City Ballet present Resurgence a programme of ballet and contemporary dance.
The season’s plays include Party Games from June 4 a comedy on the chaos of government – (did writer Michael Manus really have to do much more than watch the news?).
This is followed by Accolade by Emlyn Williams. The play from 1950 is a suspense drama, a bold play for its time centring on the double life of a successful novelist who is bisexual.
Felicity Kendal stars in Filumena, a play written by Italian playwright Eduardo de Filippo in 1946. Filumena, described as a prostitute aged 48, has lived with a wealthy Neapolitan shopkeeper for 26 years.
He is about to marry a young woman called Diana, but Filumena tricks him into marrying her instead because she wants to legitimise her three sons. Not all goes to plan. A perfect role for Kendal. She is going to relish it.
Other classic Theatre includes Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw in July, an adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 in October, followed by Murder on the Orient Express.
Then, in November, Sian Phillips stars in a Rattigan double bill: Table Number Seven, the second of Rattigan’s linked plays about characters in a decaying hotel and The Browning Version about a decaying classics teacher. Marking a 20th anniversary, The History Boys is at the theatre in October and Sebastian Faulks Birdsong returns in September.
Musicals include Heathers the Musical in November and Dolly’s Parton’s Here You Come Again in June celebrating her biggest hits. (I hope I won’t be the only one joining in with Jolene).
Children’s theatre includes Spot the Dog’s Birthday Party, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and David Walliam’s Awful Auntie – as well as Dinosaur World Live a Jurassic adventure for people aged three upwards.
One nighters include Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt in a show called We are Not a Robot, Patrick Grant and Esme Young from The Great British Sewing Bee and the musical comedy duo Bounder and Cad, offering satire in song. (They describe themselves as the liberal elite’s Ant and Dec – I say more like a left-wing Flanders and Swan.)
For Shakespeare lovers, Barrie Rutter, founder of the Northern Broadsides Theatre Company presents the Bard’s kings and queens with songs, stories and anecdotes from his career playing and directing Shakespeare’s royals.
The season ends, of course with the Arts Theatre pantomime – always the start of Cambridge’s Christmas.
This year’s it’s Cinderella. The fabulous Dame Matt Crosby is playing Buttons this year. It’s going to be a blast.
Call the box office on 01223 50333 or see www.cambridgeartstheatre.com
