Royal and Derngate Theatre

The new stage phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm now comes to Northampton Winner of BEST NEW PLAY at the Whatsonstage Awards, this edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller stars Jay McGuiness (The Wanted, BIG! The Musical, Rip It Up), Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, Silent Witness), George Rainsford (Call the Midwife, Casualty) and Vera Chok (Hollyoaks, Cobra). Written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny & The Battersea Poltergeist, 2:22 A Ghost Story comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at five West End theatres with a host of acclaimed star performances. It’s a brilliantly funny and adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear… What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth? “THERE’S SOMETHING IN OUR HOUSE. I HEAR IT EVERY NIGHT, AT THE SAME TIME” Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’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 they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.

You are the Sun is a very first opera for babies and grownups that explores the magic of nature. Combining the joy of gentle classical singing and sensory play, it is an invitation to see beauty in the smallest things and to let plants be our guides. Celebrate the gift of nature as we conjure a world out of breath, water, sunlight and soil in this magical musical adventure for 0-2s. HurlyBurly Theatre make playful theatrical experiences for babies and adults with classical singing at their heart. We make shows where babies are free to be themselves and grown-ups have a chance to relax, bond and play.

Don’t miss this year’s hilarious, fun-filled family pantomime. Playing the dashing Prince Charming will be TV presenter, actor and Strictly winner Ore Oduba, while Coronation Street superstar Wendi Peters will play the Wicked Queen, with the hilarious and much-loved Bob Golding returning as our dame, Nurse Nellie. The Magnificent Seven will be lead by Sarge, played by Dean Whatton (Game Of Thrones).  One of Britain’s most treasured comedians (and Northampton’s very own), Alan Carr, will appear as the Magic Mirror!* Alan Carr’s video appearance is in aid of Neuroblastoma UK, a charity which Alan is a proud patron of. The show will be written by Paul Hendy and produced by the award?winning Evolution, the same team behind last year’s smash-hit Jack And The Beanstalk and 2021’s brilliant Dick Whittington. With lavish sets, hilarious jokes and fun for the whole family, what’s not to love. And this year’s Panto is extra exciting because our brilliant Youth Theatre & Young Company Musicals group are taking to the stage alongside our stars as our Community Ensemble! Hi-ho, it’s off to panto you go! *Alan Carr will appear on screen in a pre-recorded video

Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is coming to Northampton for Christmas 2023! What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? This award-winning production, from the team behind Zog and Zog And The Flying Doctors, features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.

One of the most most beloved Christmas stories of all time is coming to The Royal Theatre stage this year. It’s a Wonderful Life has entertained generations with its heartwarming story of a young man whose life is saved by Clarence, the mysterious Christmas angel. In this version of the story, the actors of WBFR radio station gather in their Manhattan studio, Christmas Eve 1946, in front of a live audience to bring the story to life. A true classic story bringing the Christmas spirit to everyone.

The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End and beyond, the international smash hit musical SIX makes its royal return to Royal & Derngate, following its previous sell-out success! Winner of the Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, double winner of the Whatsonstage Award for ‘Best West End Show’ and a Gold-Disk winning album, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (New York Times). From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. Think you know the rhyme, think again… Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!