Events

A new comedy, set in Northampton, about growing up online. FULL CAST ANNOUNCED! Aidan’s lost. His best mate’s starting uni, his mum can’t get out of bed, and his new side hustle has questionable legality. Meanwhile, he’s stacking shelves at the supermarket wondering if this is all he’s cut out for. He’s got hobbies – hanging out at the skate park and doom scrolling his days away. As he’s lapping up the algorithm ‘Hugo Bang’ appears with the promise to help Aidan become the alpha he was born to be. Will Hugo Bang help Aidan get his life back on track, or will he lead Aidan to a darker, more dangerous place? Directed by Jesse Jones, this brand-new play by local playwright Samson Hawkins (author of Stratford East’s critically acclaimed Village Idiot) crackles with dry humour and a modern-day wit. Transforming the Derngate auditorium into a skatepark, this Made In Northampton production dives headfirst into the influence of online culture, the pull of toxic masculinity, and the search for identity in the digital age. Top Gs Like Me was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme. Initially developed through the Royal & Derngate Generate programme in partnership with Andy Routledge.

The critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show created by Jonathan Rockefeller features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. The production faithfully adapts four stories by author/illustrator Eric Carle: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Busy Spider and of course, the star of the show – The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969 selling more than 48 million copies worldwide. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, now celebrating 50 years, has sold more than 18.2 million copies. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is a vibrant celebration of Eric Carle’s adored classics and the perfect introduction to live theatre. “A Triumph!” – Time Out “Charming and ingenious” – The Stage

The critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show created by Jonathan Rockefeller features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. The production faithfully adapts four stories by author/illustrator Eric Carle: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Busy Spider and of course, the star of the show – The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969 selling more than 48 million copies worldwide. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, now celebrating 50 years, has sold more than 18.2 million copies. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is a vibrant celebration of Eric Carle’s adored classics and the perfect introduction to live theatre. “A Triumph!” – Time Out “Charming and ingenious” – The Stage

PAY WHAT YOU CAN: Join us for the Relaxed performance on Saturday 11 April at 2.30pm. A great option for parents, with babes in arms welcome, and a more informal atmosphere designed to help audiences feel comfortable. Relaxed performances are open to everyone. Three parties. One weekend. The invitations have been sent and there’s no going back…it’s Party Season! Xander is back in town, and this weekend he’s on parenting duty. The kids are in the ball pit; the Entertainer is blowing bubbles; the adults gobble Perelló olives and pretend to like each other. As ancient grudges rear their heads, the tension rises like a helium balloon. Caught between who he was and who he’s supposed to be, Xander must decide whether he’s going to grow up or just pass the parcel. From the multi-award-winning creators of Education, Education, Education and The Last Of The Pelican Daughters comes a sugar-fuelled, bobbin-winding fever dream where class identities collide, social niceties unravel, and underslept parents do their best to hold it all together. Party Season is a razor-sharp new comedy about privilege, party rings and the pressures of being a parent. RSVP! A Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Wardrobe Ensemble and Lowry co-production Audience Notices: This production contains Strong Language,...

PAY WHAT YOU CAN: Join us for the Relaxed performance on Saturday 11 April at 2.30pm. A great option for parents, with babes in arms welcome, and a more informal atmosphere designed to help audiences feel comfortable. Relaxed performances are open to everyone. Three parties. One weekend. The invitations have been sent and there’s no going back…it’s Party Season! Xander is back in town, and this weekend he’s on parenting duty. The kids are in the ball pit; the Entertainer is blowing bubbles; the adults gobble Perelló olives and pretend to like each other. As ancient grudges rear their heads, the tension rises like a helium balloon. Caught between who he was and who he’s supposed to be, Xander must decide whether he’s going to grow up or just pass the parcel. From the multi-award-winning creators of Education, Education, Education and The Last Of The Pelican Daughters comes a sugar-fuelled, bobbin-winding fever dream where class identities collide, social niceties unravel, and underslept parents do their best to hold it all together. Party Season is a razor-sharp new comedy about privilege, party rings and the pressures of being a parent. RSVP! A Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Wardrobe Ensemble and Lowry co-production Audience Notices: This production contains Strong Language,...

After a smash-hit UK tour, Frankie Goes To Bollywood returns – bigger, bolder, and bursting with Bollywood glamour. This dazzling musical comedy-drama dives deep into the glitzy, high-pressure world of Indian cinema, where dreams are mass-produced, identities are reshaped, and women are expected to smile and play by the script written for them. At the centre of it all is Frankie, a young British woman with little interest in fame. But her quiet suburban life is turned upside down as she is thrust into a world of dazzling lights, choreographed perfection and media obsession. Frankie must decide: Can she become a star without losing who she really is? What must she give up to succeed in a man’s world – and what is she willing to fight for? With show-stopping choreography, lavish costumes, and a cast of unforgettable characters, Frankie Goes To Bollywood is a bold, uplifting story of ambition, transformation, and the power of telling your own story. Featuring original Bollywood songs by hit composer Harry Anand, this is Rifco Theatre Company’s most ambitious production yet – a celebration of love, identity and courage, packed with joy, drama, and spectacular entertainment. Whether you’re a fan of musicals, Bollywood films, or powerful British stories, this is...

After a smash-hit UK tour, Frankie Goes To Bollywood returns – bigger, bolder, and bursting with Bollywood glamour. This dazzling musical comedy-drama dives deep into the glitzy, high-pressure world of Indian cinema, where dreams are mass-produced, identities are reshaped, and women are expected to smile and play by the script written for them. At the centre of it all is Frankie, a young British woman with little interest in fame. But her quiet suburban life is turned upside down as she is thrust into a world of dazzling lights, choreographed perfection and media obsession. Frankie must decide: Can she become a star without losing who she really is? What must she give up to succeed in a man’s world – and what is she willing to fight for? With show-stopping choreography, lavish costumes, and a cast of unforgettable characters, Frankie Goes To Bollywood is a bold, uplifting story of ambition, transformation, and the power of telling your own story. Featuring original Bollywood songs by hit composer Harry Anand, this is Rifco Theatre Company’s most ambitious production yet – a celebration of love, identity and courage, packed with joy, drama, and spectacular entertainment. Whether you’re a fan of musicals, Bollywood films, or powerful British stories, this is...