London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers.

Nell Gwynn charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her roots in Coal Yard Alley to her success as Britain's most celebrated actress, and her hard-won place in the heart of the King. But at a time when women are second-class citizens, can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court?

Jessica Swale's exhilarating take on the heady world of Restoration theatre premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2015, before transferring to the West End in February 2016, starring Gemma Arterton. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2016.

Presented by Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society by arrangement with Nick Hern Books. Directed by Max Walker.

Running Time 170 mins (includes interval)

This year’s performance will focus on the Ancient Greek myth of Medusa with a creative and heart-warming retelling that is sure to melt any stone heart out there.

Marske Choir takes pleasure in presenting an evening of magic, melodrama, mischief and mellifluous music.

So, stick a feather in your hair, pull on the corset, dig out the coat and tails and join us for a veritable 'pot pourri' of performers assembled for your entertainment and delight.

Master of Ceremonies - Mr Peter Roe and his magnificent gavel.

TRAILER

Little Wander in association with PBJ Management presents

Kiri Pritchard-McLean - Peacock

Star of 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Have I Got News For You and QI Kiri Pritchard-McLean has had a busy few years. As well as hosting Live at the Apollo, fronting the Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine and starting a comedy school, she’s become a foster parent.

Didn’t know that about her? Well, until now she hasn’t been able to talk about it on stage, she hasn’t even told the kids in her care that she’s a comedian. Oh, and she uses a different name - she’s the Bruce Wayne of comedy but without the mansions.

However, this year something changed and after a couple of the eggiest gigs of her career in boardrooms to social workers a show about becoming a foster carer has been signed off! So, come and join “Louise” as she lifts the lid on social workers, first aid training and what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube.

Join the co-creator and co-host of cult hit podcast All Killa No Filla for a joyous and uplifting show from a comedian known for making "powerhouse stand-up from the thorniest of subjects" (The Guardian).

"expect sequins, social commentary, and massive laughs from the renaissance woman of UK comedy" - Rolling Stone

TRAILER

Age guidance: 15+ some strong language

Duration: 95 minutes plus a 20 minute interval

The Kate Bush Experience

The Kate Bush Experience (KBE) brings you as close as you’re ever likely to get to the legendary Kate Bush.

Fronted by the talented Maria Ahearn, The Kate Bush Experience recreates Kate's songs as they would have been originally performed live. They will perform all of the hit singles, including: Wuthering Heights, Cloudbusting, The Man with the Child in His Eyes, Babooshka, Wow, Running Up That Hill and more.

The band is a collection of highly experienced, professional musicians who endeavour to recreate the great music and vibe of Kate Bush.

An Ideal Husband

By Oscar Wilde

DOT Productions returns with The Oscar Wilde Classic, An Ideal Husband.

Sir Robert Chiltern’s dinner party takes a drastic turn when Mrs Cheveley makes a surprise announcement that reveals her true motive for attending. Forced to choose between his family’s disappointment and his career, Sir Robert turns to his friend Lord Goring for help. Lady Chiltern makes it clear she expects her husband to be a model of perfection, but when she anticipates foul play, she makes it clear Sir Robert must do the right thing if their marriage is to survive.

Join us for this wonderfully witty Wilde play about public and private honour.

Fresh from supporting Jack Whitehall on his 2023 UK arena tour, comedian Lloyd Griffith is back with a brand new show ‘Baroque and Roll’. It’s a big year for Lloyd, he’s turning 40 and with it, the impending midlife crisis - or ‘renaissance’ as he’s insisting it’s called; complete with body hair removal, head hair additions, teeth whitening and obviously the obligatory half marathon sign up. It’ll be funny and yes, there’ll be the odd song or two from that magnificent voice of his.

As seen on Ted Lasso (Apple), Nolly (ITV), Soccer AM (RIP), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Can You Beat the Bookies (BBC), Live at The Comedy Store (Comedy Central), House of Games (BBC).

"What is evident from the outset is that Griffith is both bursting with talent. He is a funny, charming, self-effacing comic who very obviously gains great joy from making people laugh. It is evident in the way he feeds off the audience"- joe.co.uk

"useful idiot" - the guardian

"Lloyd bounces off the audience and has everyone laughing along with him. This is an hour of uplifting stand-up that’ll have you smiling for days. A warm, relatable and hilarious show" - The Sunday Post

Mikron Theatre Company presents

Common Ground

Join Mikron on a ‘hill-arious’ ramble through the history of land access in England - from ze Norman Conquest to loitering in lockdown, via The Mass Trespass at Kinder Scout.

The Pendale and District Ramblers are looking forward to celebrating ‘in stile’ on their 50th anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through? Their quest for freedom and fresh air won’t be easy, as they navigate bulls, beavers, and wandering sheep.

Grab your boots and waterproof for a meander with Mikron on a hike through history.

"Mesmerising individual and ensemble performances." Yorkshire Times

The Whirligig of Time

Tortive Theatre

To hell with anger management! Shakespeare’s Malvolio suffered notorious wrong and vowed to be revenged on the ‘whole pack of them’. Three months after the events of Twelfth Night he relates, with a great deal of satisfaction, how skilfully he has kept his word.

In this new production from Tortive Theatre, Robin Leetham (Shakespeare’s Fool) takes to the stage as one of literature’s best loved/loathed characters as he demonstrates that he who laughs last, laughs longest and presents the events of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night through the prism of a wronged and much-maligned servant.

*****Broadway Baby

Hot Club du Nord

Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord bring to life the classic repertoire of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli's Hot Club de France, conjuring up the swinging Gypsy Jazz of 1930s Paris.

Featuring British Jazz Awards Nominee, Emma Fisk on violin; guitar maestros James Birkett and Bradley Johnston on guitars and rhythm king Bruce Rollo on double bass, Hot Club du Nord combines instrumental virtuosity, a deep love of the Gypsy Jazz style and a joyful energy that is absolutely infectious!

"For lovers of the classic Stéphane Grappelli - Django Reinhardt approach, is right up there amongst the best in the UK."

Paul Bream, Jazz Alert

“From the opening bars of Honeysuckle Rose to the final J'attendrai the magic unfolded, taking us back to the days when Django and Stéphane were the toast of Paree. Total mastery.”

Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here

Sally Coulthard: A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects

For most of human history, we were rural folk. And yet the history of the countryside is oddly invisible.

In her latest book, Sally Coulthard reveals the fascinating story of rural Britain told through the often surprising objects people left behind. From deer headdresses to dried cats, children’s toys to playing cards, she takes a 12,000-year journey and delves into the hopes, lives and challenges of our ancestors.

Sally Coulthard is a best-selling author of books about rural history and the natural world including The Barn, A Short History of the World According to Sheep and Fowl Play. She also writes a column for Country Living magazine, in which she documents her experiences of raising a gaggle of unruly animals on her smallholding in the Howardian Hills.

Sally will be in conversation with Chris Lloyd, Chief Feature Writer for the Northern Echo and Darlington & Stockton Times and a former Northeast Journalist of the Year.

A Walking & Book Festival event

Jo Willett: Sarah Siddons - The First Celebrity Actress

Sarah Siddons grew up poor and often hungry. But before she was 30, she had become a superstar.

In a world of vicious satire and gossip, Sarah battled to protect her reputation. She took constant pains to portray herself as a wife and mother, but this hid some darker truths. This remarkable woman also redefined the world of theatre and became the first celebrity actress.

Jo Willett is an award-winning freelance producer of TV comedy and drama and has now begun a second career writing historical biographies.

A Walking & Book Festival event

Dominic Kelly

1868. Morten, a discharged soldier, lives on the edge of Sweden’s ancient forests. Suddenly he begins to suffer nightmares and mysterious night visits. He is told he’s plagued by a Mara - a possessed person who oppresses another in their sleep. To free himself, he must discover the Mara’s identity. But who is it?

Entertaining, unsettling and moving, this solo storytelling performance is a whodunit; a dive into the dreamscape of Swedish folklore; a love story and a playful look at our relationship with sleep and what it means to be awake.

Dominic’s warm, witty, immersive storytelling style been described as “Compelling, funny and heart-breaking” (The Times) and “Stunning” (Herald & Post).

A Walking & Book Festival event

History Wardrobe presents

Ladies of Leisure

Do you fancy a spot of Regency cricket? Or is enchanting embroidery more your thing?

This delightful new talk explores pleasures and pastimes in Jane Austen’s era, featuring marvellous original fashions for sport and dancing and hilarious readings from Austen’s novels.

Ruddigore

Touring company, the West Yorkshire Savoyards present Gilbert and Sullivan’s gothic melodrama, Ruddigore.

While perhaps not as well-known as some G&S comic-operas, Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse is arguably funnier and more tongue-in-cheek than some of the big-hitters. Expect all the familiar G&S elements: terrific music, social satire, comic pathos -- but with a seasoning of sinister spectres!

A family curse means a baronet must commit a crime every day or perish. In trying to escape his fate, he encounters dancing sailors, frustrated bridesmaids and a chorus of ghostly ancestors. What could possibly go wrong?!

Elysium Theatre Company presents

OTHELLO

by William Shakespeare

“Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee, and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.”

Elysium Theatre Company returns to The Georgian Theatre Royal with a dazzling new production of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy of love and jealousy.

Cyprus is under threat from an invasion from the Turks. The Duke of Venice sends his best general, Othello the Moor, to defend the island in its hour of need. Othello is newly married to the young and beautiful Desdemona. Their love seems indestructible. But as the fate of Europe hangs in the balance, Othello’s malevolent officer Iago has other plans. Determined to destroy his commander, he rips apart Othello’s love for Desdemona by sewing seeds of jealousy in his tortured mind.

Praise for previous Elysium productions:

"A tremendous success... Truly excellent" Palatinate  

Reiver - Tales From The Borders (2023)

"A fine production of a modern classic... should be required viewing." Northern Soul

The Island (2023)

"A captivating classic." British Theatre Guide

A Doll's House (2022)

The Noise Next Door: Freewheeling

Buckle up… You’re in for a hell of a ride! The quickest wits in comedy are here to take you on a totally improvised tour around YOUR weirdest and wildest ideas.

The Noise Next Door are going hell for leather in this brand-new show as they race through a priceless parade of off-the-cuff gags, scenes and songs, all based on your suggestions.

The Noise Next Door are twelve-time sell-out veterans of The Edinburgh Fringe and have appeared on The One Show (BBC One), Britain’s Got Talent (ITV1), and Roast Battle (Comedy Central). They have also appeared alongside the likes of Michael McIntyre, Katherine Ryan, Romesh Ranganathan and Harry Hill.

Age Suggestion: 15+

“Comedy gold… Staggeringly well executed.” The Guardian

The Noise Next Door: The Adventure Academy… For Adventurers!

Enroll at the world’s most reckless and ridiculous school with comedy legends The Noise Next Door.

Where will your adventure take you? Dangerous deserts? Treacherous tundras? Volatile volcanoes? It’s all up to you in this side-splitting, globe-trotting hour of entertainment that is fun for all ages.

Age guidance 5 to 105!

“World-class comedy” ***** USA Weekly

“Comedy masterpiece” ***** ThreeWeeks

“Immense” ***** Broadway Baby

The Mystery of the Blue Moon Saloon

Ragged Edge Productions

This comic radio play is presented live on stage with the assistance of the audience.

An American Wild West town 1870. A travelling English Theatre company are performing scenes from Shakespeare when lone gunslinger The Wanderer comes up against a gang of outlaws. When the gunsmoke clears Mrs Speakwell lies dead. But who killed the English actress?

This daft and entertaining show gives the audience the chance to make the sound effects and take part in scenes as they are recorded in a special edition of the play.

There’s a part for everyone in…The Mystery of the Blue Moon Saloon.

Suitable for all the family.

Death(s) at Sea

Our Star Theatre

A small theatre company are performing their new murder-mystery play Death(s) at Sea, but despite their best efforts, everything goes wrong!

Their play is a thrilling murder mystery set on a small ship carrying just five passengers and its Captain. When one of the passengers, Mr Inus, is found dead, the remaining passengers speculate and turn on each other until the real murderer is caught... But that isn’t how this play goes!

In Death(s) at Sea props fail, the set falls down, actors get drunk and concussed, and conversations in the wings reveal too much. If they can only make it to the end of the play before one of them really kills someone!

The Highwayman

Written and directed by John Godber

The John Godber Company

It’s 1769 and Yorkshire’s population has exploded, the races at York are packed, the new theatre in Hull is thriving, and the Spa towns are full. Everyone is flocking north; every ale house is packed with the great and the bad.

Yorkshire is the place to be - a region drunk on making money, social climbing, gambling and gin, but with wealth in abundance, the temptation is great.

The Highwayman is a thrilling theatrical adventure coming from the region where Turpin was caught and Nevison made his great leap!

Godber’s Highwayman is visceral, venal and very funny. History has never felt so modern, theft never more attractive.

From the writer of the legendary Bouncers….

Bard-based Bedlam

ShakeItUp

Shakespeare hasn’t written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand…

Using your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand-new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with live music, songs and plenty of laughs.

Join ShakeItUp for Bard-Based Bedlam!

***** "Brilliantly bonkers... one of the best improvised shows out there."West End Best Friend”

***** "Quick witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical.” London Theatre Reviews

Recommended age: 12+ (Contains themes from Shakespeare)

George Lewis:

The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do

Described as ‘the funniest dad on Instagram’, stand-up comedian George has racked up hundreds of millions of views for his hilarious online sketches about the big things in life, like owning an air fryer, watching a David Beckham documentary, and the excruciating experience of trying to do a jigsaw with your kid.

Now he’s bringing his brand new stand up show to the stage. It won’t just be about parenting though, because he has done loads this year. He’s bought a new hoover, watched some more stuff on Netflix… loads.

Between #makingmemories with his kids, George has also appeared on The Stand Up Sketch Show and Comedy Central Live, written a best selling book (Don’t Panic! All the stuff the expectant dad needs to know) and has supported Romesh Ranganathan, Tom Allen, Russell Kane and Josh Widdicombe on their national tours.

So, activate the parents’ whatsapp groups, dump the kids with whoever is willing to have them, and join George for a brilliant night out.

Blue Stockings

by Jessica Swale

Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society

1896. Girton College, Cambridge, the first college in Britain to admit women. The Girton girls study ferociously and match their male peers grade for grade. Yet, when the men graduate, the women leave with nothing but the stigma of being a 'blue stocking' - an unnatural, educated woman. They are denied degrees and go home unqualified and unmarriageable.

In Jessica Swale's debut play, Blue Stockings, Tess Moffat and her fellow first years are determined to win the right to graduate. But little do they anticipate the hurdles in their way: the distractions of love, the cruelty of the class divide or the strength of the opposition, who will do anything to stop them. The play follows them over one tumultuous academic year, in their fight to change the future of education.

Blue Stockings received its professional premiere at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in August 2013.

“Love or knowledge: which would you choose?”

9 to 5 The Musical

Richmond Operatic Society

9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic.

Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains "otherwise engaged," the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Hey, a girl can scheme, can't she?

Well, ahoy there me hearties! This year’s pantomime will transport you to a far-off magical island full of swash-buckling escapades, treasure and intrigue.

This sea-faring tale will be jam-packed with all the favourite Richmond panto ingredients plus oodles of laughs, great music and stunning sets. There will also be lashings of Tunnocks teacakes and, of course, the celebrated knitted element.

So, climb aboard for this fun-filled festive adventure and set sail for the voyage of a lifetime!