Northampton BID

Ardal O’Hanlon: Not Himself
2025-10-18 20:00 (Europe/London) | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Oh, it’s all there! All the trademarks are in evidence in Ardal O’Hanlon’s latest show. Beautifully crafted stand-up comedy? Yes. Celebrated use of language? Tick. Lateral thinking, surreal flourishes, sharp observations? Of course. As for the occasional profundity? Maybe.
Despite his best attempts over many decades to put the world to rights, it is still a colossal mess. And so, Ardal has no choice but to go out on the road again. Like the good comedy doctor he is, he fearlessly diagnoses the various pathologies and neuroses that are currently ravaging humanity. Disclaimer: No solutions provided.
After an alarming experience at the supermarket, Ardal reflects on who he is as a man and a comedian. He examines his own ethnic and religious background. And thinks twice about the very core of his identity as a voice of reason. Is everything a big lie? With no major trauma of his own to draw on for material, apart from the drag of getting older, he also turns his gaze outwards at the joys and follies of contemporary life. Towel Animals? A.I.? Chair Yoga? Cauliflower as a main course? Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes.
No current idiocy is left unexamined. With a highly developed sense of the ridiculous, and proper comedy bones, Not Himself, is a testament to the healing power of humour. And the joy of jokes.*
*Ardal is not only an acclaimed stand-up comedian who has performed world-wide. He will be familiar to many from his appearances in TV shows such as Taskmaster and Would I Lie To You?, leading roles in Death In Paradise, Father Ted, and My Hero as well as cameos in Derry Girls, The Woman in The Wall, Return to Paradise and Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything.
He will soon be seen in the feature film, Fran The Man and the new Netflix series, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, as well as the CW drama, Sherlock And Daughter. Ardal is currently writing his third novel.

Sara Pascoe: I am a Strange Gloop
2025-10-19 19:30
Have you ever been awake in the middle of the night and thought something so smart and astute that you couldn’t wait for the world to wake up so you could tell them?
THIS SHOW IS THAT THOUGHT.
In that it doesn’t make much sense and is a bit weird on reflection.
Sara Pascoe is a comedian and her children don’t sleep and her kitchen won’t clean itself and her husband “doesn’t want to be in it”.
As seen and heard on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, The Great British Sewing Bee, Last One Laughing UK, QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week and co-host of Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club podcast.

Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny
2025-10-22 19:00
Jimmy Carr’s brand new live tour, Laughs Funny, is on sale now.
Jimmy Carr laughs funny and he wants to make you laugh by being funny.

Rick Wakeman: Six Wives + King Arthur
2025-10-23 19:30
The Return of the Caped Crusader, Part 2: The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Iconic keyboard player and composer Rick Wakeman CBE and his band, the English Rock Ensemble, take to the road again to perform his classic albums, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table, in their entirety.
The musical line-up will be the same as last year’s The Return Of The Caped Crusader Part 1, with Rick, of course, leading the band on keyboards, brilliantly supported by Dave Colquhoun (guitars and backing vocals), Adam Falkner (drums), Lee Pomeroy (bass and backing vocals) and Adam Wakeman (keyboard, guitars and backing vocals). Mollie Marriott will again be lead vocalist, with three yet-to-be-announced backing singers.
Rick comments, “To still be playing both of these suites of music at the age of 76 is a remarkable milestone in my life. With a stunning array of musicianship surrounding me, I only wish I could be in the audience watching and listening, so all those sitting out there will have to do it for me!”
Don’t miss this unlikely-to-be-repeated opportunity to hear two classic epics by one of the true legends of progressive rock and his band of superb musicians when they tour the UK.

Omid Djalili: Namaste
2025-10-24 20:00
The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show Namaste where Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol upon the current state of this dangerously messed up planet.
No government gets a green card. No tyrant avoids a take down. No audience member leaves the theatre with an ounce of laughter left in them.
You have been warned.

Two Mr Ps in a Podcast: Live
2025-10-25 19:30
LET THAT BE A LESSON…
Join the Two Mr Ps as they take their award-winning podcast back on the road with Let That Be A Lesson… Prepare for an evening filled with laughter as they share more hilarious stories and anecdotes about the challenges teachers, parents, and school staff face while working with the most unintentionally funny comedians of all—children.
Drawing from their uproarious classroom experiences, as well as the most embarrassing, cringeworthy, and downright hilarious tales from educators across the UK, the Two Mr Ps will have you laughing until your cheeks hurt. And just like in school, audience participation is encouraged! You can submit your own stories, confessions, dilemmas and embarrassing moments to be read anonymously during the show here – http://bit.ly/3CDIz4x
Mr P has been a primary school teacher for over 17 years and is one of the leading voices for teachers and school staff in the UK. He continues to work part-time in school and delivers training nationwide and internationally. With his unique blend of practical tips and humorous insights into classroom life, he has become one of the most followed teachers on social media.
Don’t miss this chance to see the Two Mr Ps live—it’s a lesson in laughter you won’t want to miss!

NMTC – Jesus Christ Superstar
2025-10-28 19:30, 2025-10-29 19:30, 2025-10-30 19:30, 2025-10-31 19:30, 2025-11-01 19:30
Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Limited. What’s the buzz?…. With over 30 productions performed in the Derngate Auditorium, Northampton Musical Theatre Company are excited to be returning once again with the epic musical Jesus Christ Superstar. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 50 years. A timeless work, the rock opera tells the story of Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion, but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. The iconic 1970s rock score contains well-known numbers such as Superstar, I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Gethsemane. Don’t miss your chance to experience this unforgettable musical.

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids
2025-10-29 14:00
SK Shlomo (they/them) is a world record-breaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just their mouth and a mic.
Their 5-star sell-out show Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids is back!
International non-binary beatbox star SK Shlomo has collaborated with Bjork, Ed Sheeran and Gorillaz, toured the world and performed on main stages at festivals like Glastonbury.
Join this sonic superhero and become one of their sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music, whether you’re aged 1 or 101!
????? “A perfect show… sets young imaginations alight” The Times

Stevie Martin
2025-10-30 19:30
Stevie Martin (Taskmaster, Mitchell & Webb’s brand new sketch show, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Horne Section TV Show) has been doing online comedy for a while (45 million views worldwide) but is now returning to live comedy with her latest show, which sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at Soho Theatre this year.
It’s like her online stuff but she’ll be on a stage and you can’t pause her to get a snack (meats?). Also you have to sit in a specific room to watch it (please don’t bring your meats to this room).
???? ‘High-quality gags tightly packed inside other gags, ready to jack-in-the-box out and multiply… Ingenious’ The Guardian
???? ‘Stevie Martin’s densely-packed show peeking behind the curtain of online stardom begs repeat visits… A clever, knowing and, crucially, hilarious, hour’ The Scotsman
???? ‘Successfully brings that online visual hilarity to the stage, via twin immersive screens assaulting your senses with messages from her phone and laptop while Stevie hardly catches breath between gags’ Daily Express

Tom Houghton: Deep
2025-10-30 19:30
After a phenomenal, sold-out, international tour. Plus, a second round of supporting Milton Jones. The man who asked us, “Do you ski?” is turning everything upside down and asking, “Do you scuba?”
In a world full of relentless click bate, online distractions, and brain rotting content, Tom’s racing brain finally became too much for him.
Having left the Western world behind, Tom found himself in Indonesia where he plunged into a journey of self-discovery. He submerged himself as far down in the ocean as possible, while asking the most profound questions of what truly makes someone who they are.
And now he’s bringing his discoveries to you.
It’s time to go Deep
As seen on Netflix, Comedy Central and host of Very British Problems

A Squash And A Squeeze
2025-10-31 14:00
A Little Angel Theatre and Lowry Co-Production
A musical adaptation of the best-selling book – A Squash And A Squeeze – written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Step into the magical world of A Squash And A Squeeze live on stage for the first time!
Once upon a time, a little old lady lived all by herself in her cosy cottage, but she wasn’t happy – her house felt just too small. Whatever could she do? Will the wise old man’s solution of bringing in a flappy, scratchy, greedy, noisy crowd of farmyard animals work?
Join us for this heart warming and hilarious adventure, full of beautiful puppets and enchanting songs. Written and illustrated by the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and adapted for the stage by Olivier-nominated duo Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane.

Jools Holland
2025-11-02 19:30
Musical maestro Jools Holland and his famous Rhythm & Blues Orchestra return to Royal & Derngate for their 2025 Autumn/Winter tour, with special guest Imelda May.
One of Ireland’s most celebrated artists, Imelda May has had many high-profile collaborations with Jeff Beck, and performed with music legends including Lou Reed, Bono, Tom Jones, Noel Gallagher, and Robert Plant. With a dynamic blend of blues, rock, soul, gospel, and jazz, Imelda’s self-written and produced album Love Tattoo remains the best-selling album by a homegrown female artist in Ireland. Her electric performances promise an unforgettable experience for audiences.
The tour will also mark an exciting new chapter as Ed Richardson is welcomed in as the orchestra’s new drummer, following the retirement of the legendary Gilson Lavis. After starting out together in Squeeze, Gilson became a cornerstone of Jools’ Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, keeping the beat over a span of several decades and retiring with an incredible legacy.
Fans will be thrilled to hear that the shows will once again feature the incredible ‘Queen of Boogie Woogie’ Ruby Turner, as well as the outstanding vocals of Louise Marshall, and Sumudu Jayatilaka. Together with the skillful musicianship of the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Jools Holland will be performing songs from throughout his career. With a catalogue of classics to choose from, the show is sure to have fans on their feet!

Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile
2025-11-04 19:30, 2025-11-05 19:30, 2025-11-06 19:30, 2025-11-07 19:30, 2025-11-08 19:30
Bitter rivals. Buried secrets. A love to die for.
On board a luxurious cruise under the heat of the Egyptian sun, a couple’s idyllic honeymoon is cut short by a brutal murder. As secrets that have been buried in the sands of time finally resurface, can the world-famous detective, Hercule Poirot, untangle the web of lies and solve another crime?
Following the sell-out tour of Murder On The Orient Express, this thrilling production will feature reunites writer Ken Ludwig, director Lucy Bailey (Witness For The Prosecution) and Fiery Angel.
Starring as Poirot is Mark Hadfield (Belfast; Outlander; Wallander) who will be joined on stage by Glynis Barber (Dempsey and Makepeace; EastEnders) and Bob Barrett (Murder on the Orient Express; Holby City). This brand-new adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic is not to be missed.

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® Hamlet
2025-11-04 19:30, 2025-11-05 19:30
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® have toured the world, broken America, established themselves on London’s West End, won numerous awards, and survived a zero-star review in The Times. In 2025, they will be celebrating 15 years on the wagon with one of the Bard’s most popular tragedies, Hamlet.
Featuring a cast of professional Shakespearean actors, this unique production takes an unpredictable twist each night as one performer is chosen to be deliberately intoxicated for up to four hours before showtime. The rest of the cast must then navigate the play, improvising their way through the unpredictable chaos that springs from their inebriated colleague’s booze-fuelled antics.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® ?are excited to once again drunkenly stomp all over the greatest dramatic work ever committed to page in the English language: the story of a privileged whiny lad who goes a bit bonkers and does some stabbings.
“How the hell did they make it to 15 years?!” we hear you cry. Book now and find out!

Michael Rosen: Getting Through It
2025-11-06 19:30
Poetry legend Michael Rosen presents his new one-person show Getting Through It, formed of a double-bill of monologues: The Death of Eddie and Many Kinds of Love.
In The Death of Eddie, Michael recounts the death of his son from meningitis at the age of 18. In Many Kinds of Love, Michael recalls how he contracted COVID-19 and spent 48 days in intensive care. He was put into an induced coma and had a 50% chance of dying.
Getting Through It is a powerful one-person show exploring grief and mortality.

Myra DuBois: Cosmic Empath
2025-11-07 19:30
After a barnstorming 2024 which saw Myra sell-out venues across the UK and Ireland with her critically acclaimed show ‘Be Well’, registered empath Myra DuBois returns to the stage with a brand-new show Cosmic Empath.
The empath strikes BACK! Boldly caring where compassion has never cared before. An adventure giving you time (and space) to heal. When questioned on her upcoming tour, Ms DuBois stated:
“Most people would spend some time idling on the shores of some far off semi-private island after enduring the workload 2024 dumped on my plate, but not me! How could I desert my public, right as I need them most? I’ve consulted my own wellness guide, the very Reverend Dr Guru Malcolm, and he tells me that right now every star of the cosmos is looking at me with expectation. I don’t think my new show Cosmic Empath” shall let them down!”
Cosmic Empath sees Myra DuBois questioning where her great gift for compassion comes from. Her up-bringing? Her ancestors? The COSMOS? Who can say? All we know is that with Myra’s trademark killer wit and a singing voice that’s truly like no-one else’s, it’s going to be out of this world!

Attention All Shipping
2025-11-08 19:30
‘Dogger, Fisher, German Bight’: Charlie Connelly brings the shipping forecast vividly to life in this hilarious and moving celebration of an iconic cultural institution. Charlie explores the broadcast’s remarkable history, unlocks its beguiling mysteries and tells riproaring stories of his own adventures among the sea areas, ensuring the forecast will never sound the same again.
How did a weather forecast for ships capture the hearts of a nation, from salty old sea dog to insomniac landlubber? How is it possible for ‘rain later’ to be ‘good’? And where the hell is North Utsire?
Delving into the history of the forecast and the extraordinary people who made it, Charlie explains what those curious phrases really mean, celebrates its wide cultural impact, shares riproaring adventures from his own extraordinary journey through the 31 sea areas – the times he was accused by the media of trying to annex Rockall from the British government and sang sea shanties with Tom Hardy in a Manx hotel bar while Scary Spice pulled the pints – and presents his case for the shipping forecast being our finest achievement.
Inspired by Charlie’s bestselling book, which has sold more than a quarter-of-a-million copies worldwide, this pacy, moving and hilarious show takes you all the way from Viking to South-East Iceland to ensure the shipping forecast will never sound the same again

NC Jazz: O’Higgins & Luft Quartet
2025-11-08 20:00
Dave O’Higgins – tenor sax
Rob Luft – guitar
Jim Watson – organ
Billy Pod – drums
Saxophonist Dave O’Higgins & guitarist Rob Luft may be more than a generation apart, yet are very much of one musical mind. Now recording their 3rd album together, they have been touring with extensively since 2019. The line-up at Northants tonight is the classic organ combo, drawing on influxes from George Benson, Joe Henderson, Grant Green, Michael Brecker and many more as a springboard for Luft’s lush soundscapes & O’Higgins’ impassioned tenor. Joining them on organ is the virtuosic Jim Watson, and the magically swinging drummer form Greece, Billy Pod.

A Day to Remember
2025-11-09 19:30
On a single day in May 1915, nearly 11,000 British and Indian soldiers were wounded or killed during the ill-fated Battle of Aubers Ridge. Among them were hundreds of young men from Northamptonshire, many of whom never made it more than a few metres from their trenches.
Performance poet Toby Thompson presents a powerful reflection on the lives lost during this devastating chapter of the First World War. Through vivid and evocative poetry, the piece delves into not only the brutality of the battle but also the youthful hope of the summer of 1914, and how modern generations continue to connect with the legacy of the Great War.
Featuring a rich soundscape by Buster Grey-Jung, and direction by award-winning theatre maker and Artistic Director Jesse Jones, A Day To Remember brings history into sharp focus through the voices of the present.
Originally commissioned by Royal & Derngate in 2015 as part of a wider project exploring the impact of the First World War on local communities.

The Rat Pack: Swingin’ At The Sands
2025-11-09 19:30
Featuring stars of the West End show The Rat Pack, Live From Las Vegas, this stylish, fully-choreographed show has something for everyone. Including all your favourites such as Fly Me To The Moon, Mr Bojangles and That’s Amore, not to mention the songs you simply cannot help singing along to, such as New York, New York and My Way. Truly emulating the ‘Kings of Cool’, The Rat Pack: Swingin’ At The Sands, will bring flair and class that only Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr could.
So take three outstanding singers, add perfectly timed comedy, rousing camaraderie with a pinch of the greatest songs ever written and what do you get? The perfect night’s entertainment with The Rat Pack: Swingin’ At The Sands.

Rave On
2025-11-13 19:30
Rave On is the 50s and 60s musical sensation sweeping the nation.
Featuring leading performers from West End Productions The Buddy Holly Story, Million Dollar Quartet and Dreamboats & Petticoats, Rave On transports you back to the fabulous 50s and swinging 60s in stunningly authentic style.

Charting the meteoric rise of Rock and Roll, Rave On is a thrilling tour through music’s most revolutionary decades. Prepare to be enthralled with an evening of singing along, vibrant vintage costumes, colourful staging and dancing in the aisles! Featuring note perfect renditions of the most loved 50s and 60s songs, Rave On is performed by an incredibly talented, era-obsessed group of musicians. From the emergence of rock and roll at Sun Records in Memphis, to the British Invasion and beyond, this is a musical adventure you won’t want to miss!
Rave On features hits from the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Connie Francis, The Who, Little Richard, Roy Orbison, Lulu, The Beach Boys and many more.
Rave On is a musical experience like no other.
