Sheffield Theatres has announced a new season of exciting shows to take centre stage in Autumn 2019 – including two World Premieres, much-loved classics, and family favourites along with the full cast release for Life of Pi.
Here’s a guide to everything happening at Sheffield Theatres.
The Crucible
The epic story, Life of Pi comes to the Crucible stage from Friday 28 June – Saturday 20 July in a brand new stage adaptation by Lolita Chakrabarti of Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize winning novel.
Directed by Max Webster, the full cast features: Hiran Abeysekera (Find Me In Paris) as Pi, Mina Anwar (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Ma, Kate Colebrook (War Horse) as Richard Parker the Tiger, Kammy Darweish (Ackley Bridge) as Pi’s Father, Fred Davis (Running Wild) as Richard Parker the Tiger, Tara Divina (Blinded by Light) as Rani, Tom Espiner (Anybody’s Nightmare) as Father Martin, Raj Ghatak (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Mamaji, Owain Gwynn (The Lorax) as Richard Parker the Tiger, Syreeta Kumar (Coronation Street) as Mrs Biology Kumar, David K.S TSE (DCI Banks) as Mr Okamoto, Habib Nasib Nader (Law and Order) as the Cook and Gabby Wong (Strangers) as Lulu Chen. Puppetry design is by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell.
Next up at the Crucible will be the World Premiere stage adaptation of the award-winning novel by Giles Foden and Oscar-award winning movie, The Last King of Scotland.
In this electrifying thriller about corruption and complicity, Idi Amin is the self-declared President of Uganda. When Scottish medic, Nicholas Garrigan, becomes his personal physician, he is catapulted into Amin’s inner circle. Is Garrigan the man on the inside, or does he have blood on his hands too? The show is directed by Gbolahan Obisesan (Cuttin It) and adapted for stage by Steve Waters and runs from Friday 27 September – Saturday 19 October.
Furthermore, this year’s Crucible Christmas musical will be Guys and Dolls, directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Robert Hastie.
To settle a bet, high-roller, Sky Masterson, pursues straight-laced Sergeant Sarah Brown only to fall head over heels for his unlikely love. This spectacular musical comedy is a high energy riot of breath-taking dance and features all-time favourite songs including: Luck Be a Lady, Guys and Dolls and the irresistible Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat. Guys and Dolls runs from Saturday 7 December 2019 – Saturday 18 January 2020.
Elsewhere at Christmas, Cinderella runs at the Lyceum Theatre, a co-production with Evolution Pantomimes from Friday 6 December 2019 – Sunday 5 January 2020. The show will star Cbeebies’ favourite Phil Gallagher (Mister Maker) and – returning for his 12th year – Damian Williams.
The Studio Theatre
In the Studio, the season opens with the World Premiere of Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. This play with music and movement is the first theatrical adaptation of Matt’s frank and funny bestselling book, which tells the true story of his journey out of crisis.
With text written by April de Angelis, this is a co-production between English Touring Theatre (ETT) and Sheffield Theatres, this production has been reimagined for stage and will be directed by Jonathan Watkins (Northern Ballet’s 1984) and is a profoundly uplifting exploration of living and loving better. Reasons to Stay Alive runs from Friday 13 – Saturday 28 September.
Then, a co-production between fingersmiths and Sheffield Theatres, My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley is a moving and funny exploration of the lives of four generations of women in one family. Directed by Jeni Draper, this contemporary classic will feature a cast of d/Deaf and hearing actors presented in British Sign Language and spoken English. This multi-award winning play is in the Studio from Friday 8 – Saturday 23 November.
The Lyceum
At the Lyceum this season, Sheffield Theatres is delighted to be opening the UK tour of Sheffield’s very own Everybody’s Talking About Jamie from Saturday 8 – Saturday 29 February 2020.
As well as the previously announced Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard from Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 April and Little Miss Sunshine, a new musical based on the Oscar winning film from Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 July, the Lyceum will also host:
Educating Rita, starring Stephen Tompkinson, from Monday 22 – Saturday 27 July.
Northern Ballet’s Cinderella from Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 September and the worldwide phenomenon that is We Will Rock You from Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October.
Audiences will be gripped by one of Britain’s biggest and scariest hits, The Woman in Black, from Monday 7 – Saturday 12 October.
The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan will have audiences dancing when On Your Feet! runs from Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 October.
Curtains – the musical whodunit- starring Jason Manford is in Sheffield from Tuesday 29 October – Saturday 2 November.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will delight audiences from Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 November.
And, finally, the sensational West End hit Motown the Musical brings its unique sound to Sheffield from Tuesday 19 – Saturday 30 November.
Tickets for all new season productions will go on sale to Centre Stage Members – who enjoy exclusive discounts and priority booking – on Saturday 30 March. General booking will open on Saturday 13 April at 10am.
