Theatre Royal Winchester has announced its New Year programme packed with music, National Theatre film screenings, well-known names, dance, stand-up, local talent and community performances, Fringe favourites, family shows, drama and comedy.
The season begins with music and The George Harrison Project on 6 January 2024 – the UK’s leading tribute to the beloved Beatles star.
Jazz orchestra Down for the Count return with A Century of Swing on 14 January, and celebrate the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons with Oh What a Night! on 19 January.
The world-renowned, The Jive Aces, bring to the stage, smooth ballads and rhythm and blues on 26 January, there’s 1920’s and 30’s swing music and dance with Swinging at the Cotton Club on 28 February), and legendary reggae with UB40 The Legacy on 30 January.
London’s West End comes to the city in the form of the spectacular The Elvis Years on 31 January, stars from Les Miserables present WestEnders on 3 February – the greatest songs from the top musicals, and also direct from Theatre Land, the Bowie Experience is back on 7 February.
There are pop favourites in MANIA: The ABBA Tribute on 1 March, and a tribute to Neil Diamond with A Beautiful Noise on 19 April.
Fans of Phil Collins and Genesis are in for a treat with Seriously Collins on 8 February, before The Take That Experience on 21 February celebrates over 30 years of the UK’s no.1 boy band.
Folk audiences can enjoy Awake My Soul: The Mumford and Sons Story on 25 February, and audiences can mark the anniversary of another great Pink Floyd release with All Floyd’s The Division Bell 2024 Tour on 5 April, and the much-loved award-winning duo, Spiers and Boden, return on 10 April.
Audiences looking for a laugh can rely on one of the UK’s top comedy magicians, Pete Firman, on 20 January, with Britain’s Got Talent winner, Viggo Venn, performing on 24 January and 10 February, Count Arthur Strong with ‘part one of his farewell tour’ on 18 February, and Winchester Comedy Festival’s Spring Gala 2024 on 29 February – line-up includes familiar faces, Zoe Lyons, Rob Rouse, Sara Barron and Tom Deacon.
Dom Joly explores strange conspiracies on 6 March, Geoff Norcott examines male behaviour on 8 March, Miles Jupp talks about his surprise diagnosis on the 22 March, Josh Berry jokes about sexual politics on 23 March, and another Britain’s Got Talent winner, Jon Courtenay, performs musical comedy on 12 April.
On the 13 March, satirist, Rosie Holt looks at politicians as entertainers, Fin Taylor is ‘gusty’ and ‘provocative’ on 17 April, Ashley Blaker tells of the joys of raising children with special needs on 21 April, and there’s adult comedy from Julian Clary on 24 April, with hilarious ramblings from Griff Rhys Jones on 5 May.
Plus, Pete Firman’s illusions appear in New Old Friends’ show, Houdini’s Great Escape (22 – 24 February), starring a cast of four playing multiple roles in a thriller packed with physical comedy and chaos.
There are plenty of shows for children and their grown-ups to enjoy, starting with The Amazing Bubble Man on 11 February – who conjures up bubbles of all shapes and sizes, musical adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s beloved tales, Zog and the Flying Doctors from 8 – 10 March, and The Gruffalo’s Child from 23 – 24 March, London’s world-renowned Science Museum’s The Live Stage Show on 17 March aims to educate, fascinate and inspire young audiences, and the timeless classic, Dear Zoo (6 – 7 April), is brought to life.
There are talks from TV personalities too, including from TV’s Countdown, ‘Queen of Dictionary Corner’, Susie Dent (13 January), and gardener and broadcaster, Alan Titchmarsh on 17 January – who appears as part of a charity event for homelessness charity, Trinity Winchester.
Award-winning names also appear in the National Theatre Live screenings including Bill Nighy (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Love Actually) and Carey Mulligan (Suffragette, Far From the Madding Crowd) in Skylight on 12 January – about a rekindled romance, Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, Shakespeare in Love) who plays football manager, Gareth Southgate, in Dear England on 25 January, and Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Sherlock) in Vanya on 9 March – which explores the complexities of human emotions.
Plus, breathtaking adventure films with spiritare showcased as part of the Kendal Mountain Tour 2024 on 4 April.
For something a bit different, sexy circus show, Forbidden Nights is back on 18 January, fans of Hat Fair festival will enjoy the comedy, magic and music of the Hat Fair Cabaret on 21 January – which is also a Pick Your Price event, The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz: Fancy Another Round? on 27 January serves comedy and drinks to every audience member, there’s a folklore inspired dance in LORE on 5 March – another Pick Your Price performance, and bizarre feats in The Circus of Horrors Cabaret of Curiosities on 6 February.
Plus, hit 90s TV shows, Friends and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are lovingly parodied in the award-winning one-man shows, Friend (The One with Gunther) on 9 February and Buffy Ravamped on 20 Feruary.
Finally, there are community performances from Encore Youth Theatre with Guys and Dolls (15 – 17 February), The Gregg School with Sister Act (20 – 21 Mar), Churcher’s College with Amadeus (25 March), Hurn Court Opera with Mozart’s Don Giovanni (11 April), and Playmakers’ Musical Theatre and Drama and Theatre youth theatre groups with a showcase of original pieces with the theme, Look Back, Look Forward, Look Up on 28 March.
For more information or to book tickets visit: theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or call 01962 840 440.
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