Richmond’s Georgian Theatre has launched its 2022 spring and summer season following a successful re-opening at the end of last year with its revamped auditorium.
The autumn 2021 season saw record numbers of shows selling out and culminated in an audience-packed run for its pantomime Beauty and the Beast.
“We were thrilled that people returned to the Theatre in such great numbers,” said theatre manager, Clare Allen.
“Clearly they had missed us as much as we had missed them. We also had lots of very positive feedback about the improved auditorium with a resounding thumbs-up for the new, comfortable seating.”
The spring and summer season, which opened for bookings on 19 January, is a mix of drama, classical and popular music, stand-up comedy and community contributions.
It includes the return of some real audience favourites, starting with the comedian Troy Hawke on Friday 25 February to open the season. Fresh from finding and proving decisive links between IKEA, the CIA and the Nazis, his new show – Sigmund Troy’d! – battles a new enemy on behalf of all people everywhere — the evil saboteur that lurks in our own minds.
Also hot on the comedy circuit are The Noise Next Door who are charging into their sixth national tour, arriving in Richmond on Friday 6 May.
There is also a return for Buddy Holly and the Cricketers on Friday 4 March. Another critically acclaimed tribute show is Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years on Thursday 31 March, who are credited with being the most authentic tribute to Simon & Garfunkel touring the world today.
Staying with the musical theme, are the guitar duo Eduardo Martin and Ahmed Dickinson with The Bridge on Friday 22 April. Their distinctive South American style features catchy feel-good rumbas, funk boleros and Cuban tumbas.
Australian pianist David Scheel’s Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player will be staged Saturday 30 April, with his send-up of classical music, including a medley of the 20 worst tunes ever written.
The theatre is also hosting Musica Poetica Freiburg for the Swaledale Festival on Wednesday 8 June. This period instrument ensemble from southern Germany will feature work from JS Bach and his German contemporaries.
Hard core drama fans will be delighted by Oscar Wilde’s much-loved comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest, performed by Hangfire Theatre Company on Saturday 19 March. Another classic big-hitter is Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 April.
This will be the debut performance of the Butler Company, the Georgian Theatre Royal’s new professional theatre company.
Also back on the Richmond stage is the award-winning comedy duo LipService who combine live on-stage hilarity with digital projections to create a multimedia haunted house thriller – Chateau Ghoul – on Saturday 12 March.
History fans will love to have an exclusive audience with King Henry VIII on Saturday 5 March with Divorced, Beheaded, Died. The notorious monarch will give a first-hand account of his colourful life and reign.
Another infamous, albeit more recent, popular figure is Yootha Joyce – the glamorous sitcom legend who made her name as Mildred Roper in television series Man About the House and George and Mildred. She died at the height of her fame at the age of 53 from acute alcoholism and her life is the subject of Caroline Burns Cooke’s solo show Testament of Yootha on Friday 10 June.
Also featured in the programme are Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society and Richmond Operatic Society. RADS presents Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, a murderously funny adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s comic story, from 24-26 March and then later in the season, Richard Harris’s warm-hearted comedy Stepping Out from 28-30 July and 3-6 August. ROS will perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s highly acclaimed musical Carousel from 18-21 May.
Finally, the season is enhanced by performances from the students of Richmond School and Sixth Form College and The Georgian Theatre Royal Youth Theatre.
Details of all shows and events are given in the newly published programme brochure available at the Box Office, via the website (www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk) or by calling the Box Office on 01748 825252.
