Northampton BID

Mog's Christmas
2025-12-24 11:00 (Europe/London) | 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, 2025-08-31 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.

We Will Rock You: Young@Part
2025-08-16 18:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
This is VCL’s first Summer Youth Project in Northamptonshire the cast comprises of young performers from around the county who are “breaking free” to showcase their talents in the dynamic musical “We Will Rock You: Young@Part.”
Is a special adaptation of the iconic Queen musical is tailored for a younger cast and offers a vibrant platform for our aspiring actors, singers, and dancers to bring the legendary music and story to life.
Set in a dystopian future where musical instruments and rock music are banned, “We Will Rock You” follows a group of rebels led by Galileo and Scaramouche as they fight to restore freedom and individuality through the power of rock ‘n’ roll.

Dinosaur World Live
2025-07-24 11:00, 2025-07-23 11:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Roarsome fun for all the family!
Looking for fun days out with the kids? Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family!
Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!
A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. Don’t miss this entertaining and mind-expanding jurassic adventure, live on stage.
Olivier Award winner for Best Family Show 2024!

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell
2025-07-19 14:30, 2025-07-17 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Midnight Bell comes to Northampton for the first time in 2025.
In 1930s London ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption.
Inspired by the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location – the London Pub.
Hailed by The Observer as ‘the undisputed king of dance theatre’, master storyteller Bourne has produced some of the most successful dance theatre productions of the last 30 years including Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Edward Scissorhands.

In Conversation with Matthew Bourne
Join us after the performance on Tue 15 July 7:30pm for a fully BSL interpreted chat with Matthew Bourne himself for a unique opportunity to discover the insights of creating this show. This event is free with a ticket to the performance that evening.

Young Company: Boudica
2025-07-19 14:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
“I’d rather walk in blood than walk a slave”
On the furthest outreaches of the Roman Empire, the edge of the known world, rebellion is brewing…
The King of the Iceni has died. His widow, Boudica, comes to claim her rightful throne and territories in defiance of the occupying force, Rome. For daring to try and take what is hers the native queen is flogged, her daughters raped, and they are banished from their homeland. But now Queen Boudica has returned. And this time, she has an army.
She will take back her land, her freedom, and more, much more: she will have revenge. She will have blood.
Join us for Boudica (written by Tristan Bernays, directed by Anna Simpson with fight choreography by Kiel O’Shea) and watch the Royal & Derngate Young Company bring this play based on ancient history hurtling into the 21st century, exploring urgent and provocative questions about occupation and oppression, the legacy of colonial violence, and how people try to hold on to their humanity amidst war’s brutality.
Performed in arrangement with Nick Hern Books.
From our Community.

Content Warning: Contains strong language, depictions of violence and death, and references to sexual assault.

Actors Company: Jekyll and Hyde
2025-07-05 14:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
How far would you go to fight for change? Unravel the world of 19th century Victorian England through the eyes of Mrs Jekyll and watch how the lines between past and present collide in this powerful adaptation by Evan Placey on Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, directed by Tonia Daley Campbell and Gemma Boaden.
With the oppressive nature of patriarchal England looming over the recently widowed Mrs Jekyll she finds herself facing continued confrontation and challenge. Torn between her polite societal desire to act against injustice and her growing rage to transform into something, or maybe someone, who might just be able to fight back. This story cleverly brings the past into the future and the present into the past, with this wonderful unique adaptation that leaves you questioning exactly how much has changed for women in the last 200 years.
Watch this thrilling, bloody and provoking play brought to life by The Actors Company in the very beautiful Victorian Royal Theatre.
Performed in arrangement with Nick Hern Books.
From our Community

The King’s Speech
2025-06-21 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Britain is in crisis, and so is The King.
As Hitler threatens Europe, a concerned nation needs to hear from its monarch. But facing the biggest moment of his life, King George VI is unable to find his voice.
Based on the Academy Award-winning film starring Colin Firth, this is the moving story of how The King overcame his fear of public speaking through the help of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue
The King’s Speech details the unlikely relationship between royalty and a tough Australian speech therapist, who empowers the stammering future King with the ability to speak to, and for, the nation.
From our community.

Only Fools and Horses: The Musical
2025-06-07 14:30 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
Stick a pony in your pocket – The Trotters are back and coming to a town near you! The smash hit show Only Fools and Horses: The Musical – direct from a record-breaking four-year sold-out run-in London’s West End – featuring Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad, Cassandra, Raquel, Boycie, Marlene, Trigger, Denzil and Mickey Pearce.
Based on John Sullivan’s legendary television show, this critically acclaimed home-grown musical spectacular features cherished material from Britain’s best loved TV series. With a script and original score written by John’s son, Jim Sullivan, and comedy giant Paul Whitehouse, prepare to get reacquainted with Britain’s most lovable rogues and experience the classic comedy brought to life on stage through an ingenious script and 20 hilarious songs.
Fans and critics alike praised Only Fools and Horses: The Musical in their droves during its triumphant West End run: The Sun awarded five stars, hailing it “One Del of a show!”; the Daily Mirror said it was “a treat for Trotter fans” in their five-star review. The Sunday Times bestowed four stars and remarked that “Only Fools is a blast from our wide-boy past. A hearty stage adaptation of the 1980s BBC television comedy”. Evening Standard also awarded four stars, complimenting the “unashamedly British night out. A jubilant lovely jubbly!”. While the Daily Mail urged its readers to “raise a glass of Tittinger to Del Boy and Rodney as Only Fools and Horses storms the West End!”
Join us as we take a trip back in time, where it’s all kicking off in Peckham. While the yuppie invasion of London is in full swing, love is in the air as Del Boy sets out on the rocky road to find his soul mate, Rodney and Cassandra prepare to say ‘I do’, and even Trigger is gearing up for a date (with a person!). Meanwhile, Boycie and Marlene give parenthood one final shot and Grandad takes stock of his life and decides the time has finally arrived to get his piles sorted.
With musical contributions from the iconic Chas & Dave, the beloved theme tune as you have never heard it before, and an array of brand-new songs full of character and cockney charm, you’re guaranteed to have a right ol’ knees-up! Only Fools and Horses The Musical is a feel-good family celebration of traditional working-class London life in 1989 and the aspirations we all share.
So don’t delay, get on the blower, and get a ticket for a truly cushty night out – only a 42 carat PLONKER would miss it!
