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PREVIEW: THRILLS, SPILLS AND EPIC ROMANCE - THEATRE ROYAL ANNOUNCES TANTALIZING NEW SEASON

Posted on January 7th 2019 by Whats on Northeast

Racial injustice in the Deep South, murder on the streets of Edinburgh, an epic wartime love story on a Greek island and a creepy mansion with a rock and roll party in full swing – Newcastle Theatre Royal has it all in its Spring/Summer ‘19 season, recently announced.

Our spectacular season opens with Rebus: Long Shadows (25 Feb – 2 Mar 2019) – Ian Rankin’s famous literary creation brought to life on stage for the very first time with an  all-star cast led by Charles Lawson (Coronation Street), Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa) and John Stahl (Game of Thrones). Rankin’s legendary Rebus novels have dominated bestseller tables and primetime TV screens but now with the assistance of award-winning playwright Rona Munro (The James Plays), Newcastle theatre goers can now be mesmerised by Edinburgh’s most famous Detective Inspector in a thrilling live stage experience.

Back by popular demand is the critically acclaimed production of one of the greatest novels of the 20^th century, To Kill a Mockingbird which visits 25 – 30 March 2019. A sell out success on the Theatre Royal stage when it visited in 2015 this moving show retells Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of racial tensions in a small-town community of the Deep South in the 1930s. Produced by London’s award-winning Regent’s Park Theatre it has been critically acclaimed for capturing the warmth, poignancy and magic of the best-loved classic.

Hailed as the theatrical event of its generation and winning more awards than any other production in history, the National Theatre’s landmark production An Inspector Calls returns in the autumn (22 – 26 October ‘19). Stephen Daldry’s epic adaptation of JB Priestley’s classic thriller has enthralled more than 4 million people worldwide and continues to claim new fans with every tour.  Stirring, thought provoking and eerie, it centres on the arrival of mysterious Inspector Goole at a dinner party held by the prosperous Birling family.  Investigating the death of a young woman, his startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see for a whole new generation of theatregoers.

In May we visit the picturesque Greek island of Cephalonia for an unforgettable love story set against the turbulent backdrop of World War II in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (21 – 25 May 2019).  Based on Louis de Bernières’ best-selling novel that inspired the hit film, this world premiere production, marking the book’s 25^th anniversary, tells the compelling story of beautiful Islander Pelagia and how her and her father’s peaceful life on the idyllic  island is turned upside down by the arrival of war and foreign occupation.

From one kind of forbidden love to another as October brings a breath-taking new production from probably the world’s hottest choreographer Matthew Bourne in Romeo and Juliet (9 – 12 October 2019).  A passionate and contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic love story, two young lovers must follow their hearts as they risk everything to be together. Bursting with youth and vitality, the North East’s brightest young dance talent join the incredible skill of the New Adventures company in this sublime new production. Romeo and Juliet follows the company’s critically acclaimed and box-office smashing predecessors Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Red Shoes.

A summer spook-tacular signals it’s time to ‘Do the Time Warp Again’ in The Rocky Horror Show – Richard O’Brien’s legendary monster-mash rock ‘n’ roll musical making its Theatre Royal debut between 5 and 10 Aug 2019!  With an all-star cast headed by Duncan James (Blue, Hollyoaks) as Dr Frank’n’Furte and packed with timeless floor-filling classics like Sweet Transvestite, it is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet, who’s car breaks down outside a creepy mansion where a rock and roll party is in full swing…

Shows for 2019 also include the behemoth extravaganza Les Misérables (15 Aug – 5 Oct ‘ 19), music and dance spectacular Saturday Night Fever (5 – 9 Mar ’19), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2 – 6 April ’19), family favourite Annie starring newly-announced Anita Dobson (8-13 April ’19),   ‘soul-sational’ West End hit Motown the Musical (4 – 22 June ‘19), breath-taking blockbuster musical starring just-announced Alexandra Burke The Bodyguard (23 July – 3 Aug ‘19), gripping thriller The Girl on the Train (29 April – 4 May ‘19), one of Britain’s most successful shows ever The Full Monty (15 – 20 April ’19) and many more! Not forgetting that over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for 2019’s spellbinding festive spectacular Beauty and the Beast – one of the most romantic pantos of all time (26 Nov 2019 – 19 Jan 2020).

Tickets for all new shows in the spring / summer ’19 season are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).

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