From late October and throughout November, we welcome an exciting range of touring productions to the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse. Shows span forbidden romance, human connection, social power constructs, overcoming adversity, female pioneers in STEM and a magical show for Christmas.
Quiet Rebels comes to the Playhouse on Friday 28 October. A new play written and directed by Julie McNamara and Hassan Mahamdallie. Telling the stories of White working-class women who crossed the colour line to marry men of the Windrush generation. Set in a dystopian England, Detective Shade investigates Aileen Burnett’s murder - a White woman who married a Black man.
On Tuesday 1 November, The MP, Aunty Mandy and Me shines a light on consent, coercion and grooming within the gay male community with biting humour and contemporary social commentary. Dom would love a fabulous life with the #Instagays in the city but his social anxiety prevents this from being a reality, until a chance encounter with his local MP turns everything upside down…
Jarman is on Thursday 3 November. Writer and performer Mark Farrelly (Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope) embodies Derek Jarman, the extraordinary film-maker, painter, activist, writer and gardener at Prospect Cottage. His influence remains as strong as it was on the day AIDS killed him in 1994. A journey into the heart of a courageous artist.
Power then plays on Friday 4 November. This solo circus-theatre piece is about a circus Strong Lady celebrating the ways we can feel powerful, even in an uncertain world. Charmaine will uncover stories of choice, change, resilience and determination - and marvel at the extraordinary strength of ‘ordinary’ people.
Next comes Learning to Fly on Thursday 10 November – a new show by acclaimed writer, storyteller and performer James Rowland featuring his captivating mix of storytelling, music and comedy. James tells the story of a remarkable friendship he made when he was a lonely, unhappy teenager with the scary old lady who lived in the spooky house on his street. An uplifting and hilarious solo show.
Families and younger audiences will enjoy Jina and the STEM Sisters, showing Thursday 17 - Saturday 19 November, a new musical puppet show. Join lost budding scientist Jina on her adventure home, empowered by some of history’s super-STEM women. There are school performances available for this show with a discounted rate for groups of 10+.
Finally, Unnatural Cycles: A Ghost Story by Avital Raz plays on Wednesday 30 November. Drawing on personal experiences, original new writing and film-making are underpinned by a live looped soundscape. This show is a nuanced exploration of infertility, faith and what it means to bear the weight of inherited generational trauma.
Over the festive period, Jack Frost and the Search for Winter is a charming play for families by poet and Waterstones children’s laureate Joseph Coelho with Tutti Frutti theatre company. In this wintery tale, Jack and his friends search for winter and attempt to restore Jack’s special gift. Circling the globe, they meet characters who share their own special shimmering seasonal winter magic. With important environmental themes, a touch of wintery fun and original live music, the show runs from Tuesday 13 - Saturday 31 December.
All Playhouse productions are on sale now. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000 or at the link below.
