THE Peaky Blinders are heading for the Alhambra...along with dazzling new productions of The Shawshank Redemption, Strictly Ballroom and The King and I.
Over at St George’s Hall, Strictly stars Johannes Radabe and Giovanni Pernice go solo, and there’s a Harry Potter musical extravaganza, and at Bradford’s Studio Theatre there’ll be laughs-a-plenty from comic Babatunde Aléshé, currently camping Down Under on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, and a celebration of the music of Victoria Wood.
Here’s what is coming up in Bradford Theatres’ sparkling 2023 spring season:
ALHAMBRA:
* Rambert Dance’s Peaky Blinders The Redemption of Thomas Shelby. The new dance theatre event, firmly rooted in the world of Peaky Blinders, is written by Steven Knight, creator of the global hit TV drama.
The performance features dazzling athletic dance and stunning dramatisation, with an eclectic Peaky soundtrack.
* The Shawshank Redemption. Despite protesting his innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for the murder of his wife and her lover. Based on Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the powerful play examines desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security facility.
* Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Inspired by the Australian film phenomenon, this heartwarming show, about a frustrated young dancer who goes rogue in competitive ballroom circles, foxtrots into the Alhambra starring former Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton. Directed by Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood.
* The Bodyguard. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge - what they don’t expect is to fall in love. Pussycat Doll and Grammy nominated Melody Thornton plays Rachel in evening performances only.
* Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. Celebrating 10 years since its premiere at Sadler’s Wells, this is a firm favourite in the New Adventures repertoire, enchanting audiences across the world. A dazzling gothic romance spanning the halcyon days of the late Edwardian era to the modern day.
* Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice. South Africa’s award-winning Dada Masilo and her company of incredible dancers return with the UK premiere of The Sacrifice. Inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, it combines the European heritage of this monumental piece of music with the rhythmic, expressive movements of ‘Tswana’, the traditional dance of Botswana.
* Rock of Ages. Hit musical comedy starring Coronation Street’s Kevin Kennedy as Bourbon Room owner Dennis Dupree. Expect a riot of classic rock anthems, including Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City and The Final Countdown - played loud and proud by an awesome live band.
* La Bohème, Madama Butterfly and Aida. Senbla presents Opera International’s Ellen Kent Production of the Puccini and Verdi operas featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
* The King and I. Multi award-winning Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s popular musical comes to
Bradford, following a sold out season at the London Palladium. The greatest musical from the golden age of musicals.
* The SpongeBob Musical.Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? That would be SpongeBob, and now he’s hitting the road in an all-singing, all-dancing stage show, joined by friends in Bikini Bottom.
* The National Theatre’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself standing beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he once played and is transported back to his 12th birthday, when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean - a place where everything is possible. A gripping tale of friendship, fantasy and imagination.
ST GEORGE’S HALL:
See in 2023, with the Hallé New Year Viennese Celebration. There’s more music from Paul Young: Behind the Lens; The Best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons; Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock Ghost Train; Come What May ; Lost in Music: One Night at the Disco; Sing-a-long-a-Encanto; Fastlove: The George Michael Tribute; Eighties electro-pop/New Romantic celebration Calling Planet Earth; The Chicago Blues Brothers; The Story of Guitar Heroes; Showaddywaddy’s 50th anniversary tour; the Magical Music of Harry Potter; the Black Dyke Brass Band; and the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra with Bradford Festival Choral Society.
For dance fans, there are Strictly favourites Johannes Radabe: Freedom Unleashed and Giovanni Pernice: Made in Italy; as well as Spirit of the Dance 21st Anniversary Tour and Northern Ballet’s Ugly Duckling for children aged three-plus.
There’s comedy from Frankie Boyle Lap of Shame; Danny Baker’s At Last...The Sausage Sandwich Tour and Dick & Dom in da Bungalow Live.
Other shows include Psychic Sally and Test Match Live Special: The Ashes.
KING’S HALL:
There are laughs from comics Lucy Porter, Tim Vine, Rob Newman and My Dear Old Things, Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d and An Evening with Henry Blofeld, and music in Judy & Liza and The Simon & Garfunkel Story.
THE STUDIO
* Calling comedy fans...Looking For Me Friend celebrates the music of Victoria Wood, while Ray Bradshaw continues his look at life as the child of deaf parents in Deaf Com 1. And there are stand-up gigs from Babatunde Aléshé: Babahood and Suzi Ruffell - Snappy .
* Call (01274) 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk
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