Northampton BID

Murder At Midnight
2026-02-19 14:30 (Europe/London) | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
A murder mystery like no otherâ€¦
Starring national favouritesÂ Jason DurrÂ (Heartbeat,Â Casualty),Â Susie BlakeÂ (Victoria Woodâ€™sÂ As Seen On TV, Coronation Street),Â Max Bowden,Â best known for his role as Ben Mitchell inÂ EastEnders,Â andÂ Katie McGlynnÂ (Waterloo Road,Coronation Street, Hollyoaks).
A killer night out!
From the writer ofÂ Murder in the DarkÂ comes a deliciously twisted crime caper like no other.
Itâ€™s New Yearâ€™s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and a killer is in the houseâ€¦
We meet Jonny â€˜The Cyclopsâ€™-the notorious gangster, his glamorous wife, his trigger-happy sidekick, his mumâ€”whoâ€™s seeing things, her very jittery carer, plus a vicar whoâ€™s hiding something and a nervous burglar dressed as a clown.
Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, and one infamous unsolved murderâ€¦ What could possibly go wrong?
Join us for a murder mystery with a difference. One house. Seven suspects and a Murder at Midnightâ€¦
Written by acclaimed writer Torben Betts and produced by the award-winningÂ Original TheatreÂ (Birdsong,Â Murder In The Dark,Â The Mirror Crackâ€™d)Â Murder At MidnightÂ is a gripping murder mystery filled with twists, chilling suspense and wickedly dark humourâ€“guaranteed to keep you guessing until the final stroke of midnight.
Cast also includesÂ Callum Balmforth, Peter Moreton, Iryna Poplavska, Bella FarrÂ andÂ Andy McLeod.

Candlelight: Ed Sheeran meets Coldplay
2026-02-14 18:00, 2026-02-06 18:00, 2026-01-03 18:00 | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
â�Â CandlelightÂ concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Northampton. Get your tickets now and experience the music of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
ðŸ“� Venue: Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
ðŸ“… Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
â�³ Duration: 60 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes before the show. No entry once it starts.
ðŸ‘¤ Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
â™¿ Accessibility: this venue is wheelchair accessible
â�“ View the FAQs for this eventÂ here
ðŸª‘ Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
ðŸ•¯ï¸� If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), clickÂ here
ðŸŽ» Check out all theÂ Candlelight concertsÂ in Northampton
ðŸŽ� To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, clickÂ here

Programme
Coldplay â€“ Clocks
Coldplay â€“ Something Just Like This
Ed Sheeran â€“ Bad Habits
Coldplay â€“ Adventure of a Lifetime
Coldplay â€“ Fix You
Ed Sheeran â€“ Photograph
Coldplay â€“ The Scientist
Coldplay â€“ Feelslikeimfallinginlove
Ed Sheeran â€“ Shivers
Ed Sheeran â€“ Perfect
Coldplay â€“ Viva la Vida
Ed Sheeran â€“ Give me Love
Coldplay â€“ Sky Full of Stars
Performers
String Quartet â€“ Ensamble M

The Gruffaloâ€™s Child
2026-02-08 13:30, 2026-02-07 13:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
The Gruffalo said that no gruffalo should

Ever set foot in the deep dark woodâ€¦
Follow the Gruffaloâ€™s Child on her adventurous mission inÂ Tall Storiesâ€™ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book byÂ Julia DonaldsonÂ andÂ Axel Scheffler.
One wild and windy night the Gruffaloâ€™s Child ignores her fatherâ€™s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures â€“ but the Big Bad Mouse doesnâ€™t really existâ€¦ does he?
Let your imagination run wild with songs, laughs and scary fun for everyone aged 3 to 103.

Adapted from Julia Donaldson and Axel Schefflerâ€™s award-winning picture book
The Gruffaloâ€™s ChildÂ Â© Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2004â€“Macmillan Childrenâ€™s Books

Access Enhanced Performance
Relaxed Performance
The performance onÂ Sat 7 February 10.30amÂ will beÂ Relaxed.
Audio Described & Touch Tour
The performance onÂ Sun 8 February 1.30pmÂ will beÂ Audio Described.Â (Touch Tour begins at 12.30pm) This performance will be described by Talking Theatre.
PleaseÂ click hereÂ for Access Performance Information

EDUCATIONAL RATE
Â£12 with 1 free ticket for every 10

Click hereÂ to find out more about how to make a group booking at the above prices.

Shen Yun
2026-01-21 14:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Experience China Before Communism
The moment the curtain opens, you enter a wondrous dream.
Shen Yun takes you on an extraordinary journey through Chinaâ€™s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture. Exquisite beauty from the heavens, profound wisdom from dynasties past, timeless legends, and ethnic traditions all spring to life through classical Chinese dance, enchanting live orchestral music, authentic costumes, and patented interactive backdrops. Revisit a time when scholars and artists sought harmony with the Tao, or the â€œWayâ€� of the universe, and when divine beings walked upon the earth to inspire humanity.
Join us for a night filled with beauty, wisdom, courage, and hope. Witness Heavenâ€™s beauty on stage and experience the magic of Shen Yunâ€”live. Itâ€™s an experience of a lifetime!

2:22 A Ghost Story
2026-01-17 14:30, 2026-01-14 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Following seven West End seasons, a record-breaking UK and Ireland tour and thirty productions across the globe, the stage phenomenon 2:22 A Ghost Story now returns to Northampton.
Winner of Best New Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards, this supernatural thriller starsÂ James ByeÂ (Eastenders),Â Natalie CaseyÂ (2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps),Â Gary LucyÂ (Hollyoaks) andÂ Shvorne MarksÂ (Three Little Birds).
Written byÂ Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcastsÂ Uncanny & The Battersea Poltergeist,Â 2:22 A Ghost StoryÂ comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at five West End theatres with a host of acclaimed star performances. Itâ€™s a brilliantly funny and adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appearâ€¦ What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth?
â€œThereâ€™s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same timeâ€�
Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isnâ€™t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so theyâ€™re going to stay upâ€¦ until 2:22â€¦ and then theyâ€™ll know.

Mog's Christmas
2025-12-26 13:00, 2025-12-24 11:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Itâ€™s Christmas time, and the Thomas family are looking back on the past year and all the adventures theyâ€™ve shared with their cat, Mog from catching a burglar in the spring to a dramatic summer chase at the V.E.T. Now as they prepare for the festive season, Mog is baffled by strange noises, peculiar smells, and whatâ€™s this? A tree moving indoors! Amidst the festive chaos, will Mog ever come inside for Christmas? Join Mog and the Thomas family for a heartwarming Christmas adventure filled with surprises, snowy mischief, and the true meaning of family. The Wardrobe Ensemble (whose The Stage Award-winning Education, Education, Education transferred from Royal & Derngate to the West End) adapt Judith Kerrâ€™s beloved and iconic stories for the stage in a lively and enchanting production directed by Helena Middleton (Pippi Longstocking), with songs, live music, and a menagerie of creatures little and large. These timeless tales of family, friendship, and festive fun are brought to life to allow a new generation of children to fall in love with Mog. Based on the bestselling Mog picture book series by Judith Kerr, published by HarperCollins Childrenâ€™s Books. Originally produced by Royal & Derngate, Northampton, The Old Vic and The Wardrobe Ensemble.

Miracle On 34th Street
2025-11-29 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
A true Christmas classic comes alive this holiday season with White Cobra‘s staged radio performance of Miracle On 34th Street. The story is based on the famous 1947 film, which was first presented as a radio play at the Lux Radio Theatre.
A formidable Macy’s store executive, Doris Walker is desperately searching for a new store Santa Claus. She hires ‘Kris Kringle’ who insists that he is the real Santa Claus and proves immensely popular. However, when a conflict with the store’s incompetent psychologist erupts, Kris finds himself at Bellevue where, in despair, he deliberately fails a psychological test. All seems lost until Doris’ friend, Fred Gailey, reassures Kris of his worth and agrees to represent him in the fight to secure his release. Fred arranges a hearing in which he argues that Kris is sane because he is in fact the real Santa Claus!
The White Cobra cast bring alive a lively crew of characters, with radio jingles and sound effects that will delight audiences, young and old.

Fawlty Towers
2025-11-22 14:30, 2025-11-20 14:30, 2025-11-19 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
The ‘Greatest British Sitcom of All Time’ (Radio Times) is back – this time on stage!
50 years since it first graced our TV screens, Fawlty Towers is now a brand-new stage play adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Fresh from a sold-out West End season! This laugh-out-loud production was universally acclaimed by every London and national critic, selling out every single performance during its record-breaking West End run.
Join Basil (Danny Bayne), the delightfully bumbling Major (Paul Nicholas) and Polly (Joanne Clifton) and an 18-strong cast as they bring to life all your favourite moments from the show’s unforgettable twelve episodes. With sharp wit, chaos, and calamity at every turn, this is the comedy event of the year!
Secure your tickets now and relive the madness of Fawlty Towers live on stage. It’s a staycation you’ll never forget!

Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile
2025-11-08 14:30, 2025-11-05 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
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.

A Squash And A Squeeze
2025-11-02 13:30, 2025-11-02 10:30, 2025-11-01 15:30, 2025-11-01 13:30, 2025-11-01 10:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
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.

NMTC – Jesus Christ Superstar
2025-11-01 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
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.

The Mystery Tours - 'The Great Fire of Northampton'
2025-09-20 17:30 | Northamptonshire
The Mystery Tours â€“ â€˜The Great Fire of Northamptonâ€™

Sunday 29th June at 5pm, Sunday 31st August at 5.30pm and Saturday 20th September at 5.30pm.
Step Into the Flames of History!

Join us for an immersive journey back to September 20th, 1675, when a single spark ignited a catastrophic fire that reduced much of Northampton to ashes. Guided by our enigmatic Time Traveller, you’ll witness the unfolding disaster, hear the tales of survival, and see how the town rose from the ashes.
Tour Highlights
St. Mary’s Street
Stand at the very spot where the fire began and discover how a single flame in a thatched house led to devastation.
Market Square
Hear the dramatic accounts of desperate townsfolk, the crumbling of historic buildings, and the narrow escapes from the inferno.
All Saints’ Church
See how this iconic landmark rose from the ashes, thanks to King Charles II’s donation of timber.
Sessions House
Marvel at one of the first buildings to be rebuilt, symbolizing the town’s determination to recover.
Meeting Point: St. Peter’s Church, Northampton (Outside main gate)
End Point: Top of Abington Street
Duration: 90 minutes (approximately)
Suitable for: Adults & children over 10
Tickets: £15 (including booking fee)
Important Information
This is a walking tour—please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Book Your Spot Now!
Suitability: Adults and children over the age of ten. Lasts approx 1hr. Tickets: £15 inc booking fee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystery.tours/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themysterytours
To book, click the link.

Bat Out Of Hell
2025-09-20 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Get ready for the ultimate rock experience as BAT OUT OF HELL roars into Northampton in 2025! The iconic music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf will once again shake the stage, delivering an electrifying journey that will ignite your love for rock like never before.
This heart-pounding experience, with a powerhouse eight-piece live band on stage, delivers a new production with sprawling multi-level platforms to transport you from Raven’s bedroom to the underground world of the Lost in a visual feast that pushes the boundaries of live theatre.
Headlining this epic production, we are thrilled to welcome back Glenn Adamson, Sharon Sexton, and Rob Fowler in the iconic roles of Strat, Sloane, and Falco, joined by the sensational Katie Tonkinson as Raven. Their unmatched vocal talents will bring Meat Loaf’s anthems to life, including I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love, and, of course, Bat Out of Hell.
Brace yourself for a legendary night of rock ‘n’ roll as BAT OUT OF HELL: The Musical explodes back onto the stage, promising a spectacle that will leave you breathless!

Trigger Warning: Please note strobe lights are in use.

Heritage Open Days Tour
2025-09-17 15:00, 2025-09-17 14:00, 2025-09-17 13:00, 2025-09-17 12:00, 2025-09-17 11:00 | The Old Savoy â€“ The home of The Deco Theatre, Abington Square, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 4AE
Heritage Open Days Tour

Will be held on Saturday 13th September & Wednesday 17th September 2025
First tour at 10:00 am, last tour at 3:00 pm

This is a free event

The Old Savoy and The Deco Theatre are now one of Northampton’s premier venues available for hire for theatrical productions, conferences, meetings, wedding receptions, parties and other social or corporate events, and although it certainly didn’t start that way when it was first built, it has always been a home of family entertainment.

The building first opened on Saturday 2 May 1936 in a blaze of publicity as “the Savoy”, described as “Northampton’s only super Cinema” and reported to be “the last word in comfort”. It was part of the ABC group, designed by their prolific house architect WR Glen and built in under nine months on the site of the original Technical College. It was constructed in the International Modernistic style and is arguably the best remaining example of Glen’s work, with all the main features still in place and sympathetically renovated.

The Savoy was very popular and originally held almost 2000 people in the 696 seat circle and 1200 seat stalls. It was designed both as a cinema and theatre complete with orchestra pit. It hosted shows and concerts as well as films.

In the 1950s it was renamed the ‘ABC’ in line with the group’s national branding policy and was the local venue of choice for the touring bands of the ’60s, including the Beatles in both March and November 1963, the Rolling Stones in 1965 and infamously PJ Proby in 1965, when he was arrested for splitting his trousers on stage!

A number of the ’60s bands have returned to play The Deco Theatre in recent years, including the Hollies, the Searchers and Billy J Kramer.

In 1974, it was converted to a three-screen complex by using the rear of the stalls with a dividing wall for the 2 smaller screens and leaving the main auditorium circle as the main ‘ABC 1’.

By the mid-’90s, however, the ABC now renamed Cannon cinema was unable to compete with the modern multi-screen complexes and it finally closed its doors in 1995 with the appropriately named “Terminal Velocity”.

The building was derelict for five years until 2000 when it was converted to a multi-purpose venue opening in October 2004.
