Darlington Hippodrome Announces Autumn Season

As the nights draw in and the countdown to winter begins, Darlington Hippodrome is pleased to announce a hot season of shows leading up to the annual family festive Pantomime.

As opening shows go you can't do better than a world premiere! Darlington Hippodrome and Wisecrack Productions present The Great Joe Wilson - a comedy drama set in Darlington about Joe Wilson, arguably the greatest ever north-east singer / songwriter. Written by top playwright Ed Waugh (Alf Ramsey Knew my Grandfather, Dirty Dusting, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham) with musical input by internationally renowned musicians Pete Scott and Alex Glasgow this is a must-see production. The Great Joe Wilson runs on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September.

Week-long shows

Two of British theatre's finest actors star in the deeply moving and funny play Duet For One from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 September. Belinda Lang and Jonathan Coy rise to the challenge of playing out the psychological duel between two razor-sharp minds and the humour that underlines their relationship.

What better way to re-live the memories of sunshine, sea and sandy beaches than with a trip on an old London Bus and the iconic musical Summer Holiday. Starring Ray Quinn, this is a brand new stage musical based on the 1960s Cliff Richard and The Shadows movie. A fabulous, feel-good show with bundles of energy and lots of laughs, Summer Holiday runs from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 September.

Three classic Savoy Operas are presented by the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company accompanied by the National Festival Orchestra. On Monday 1 October Iolanthe tells the topsy-turvy love story about fairies and members of the House of Lords and contains some of Gilbert and Sullivan's most famous music including the Peers Chorus and the Nightmare Song. On Tuesday 2 October Ruddigore is the mysterious tale of love and an old family curse. The Pirates of Penzance storm onto the Hippodrome stage on Wednesday 3 October. This wonderfully jolly romp with swashbuckling pirates, a hopeless police force and a dotty Major General has all the elements for a delightfully entertaining time at the theatre.

The smash hit musical Rock of Ages blasts into Darlington from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 October. A love story packed full of 25 classic rock anthems, Rock of Ages stars Zoe Birkett, Danielle Hope and Kevin Kennedy. Lose yourself in a time when dreams were as big as the hair, a global smash with hit seasons on Broadway, in the West End and Las Vegas and a star studded Hollywood movie.

Flying on to the Hippodrome stage from Wednesday October 24 to Saturday November 3 is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang presented by the award-winning Darlington Operatic Society. With sensational sets, stunning special effects and, of course, a magical flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the eternal family favourite musical.

Another world premiere is on its way to Darlington with the Touring Consortium Theatre Company's production of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Completely re-imagined by an exciting creative team from London's West End this brand new, multi-sensory stage adaptation is brought to irresistible life in a contemporary interpretation of the horror classic starring Cheryl Campbell. Dracula runs from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 November.

Drop everything and get ready for The Full Monty. Based on one of the most acclaimed British films ever, The Full Monty stage play has become one of the most phenomenal theatrical productions ever. Six out-of-work steelworkers from Sheffield with nothing to lose embark on a journey of friendship and self-discovery. The Full Monty is at Darlington Hippodrome from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 November.

Cilla The Musical is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series by BAFTA award winner Jeff Pope. The story follows the extraordinary life of the teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible rise to fame as Cilla Black. Featuring a musical score full of 60s classics, Cilla The Musical runs from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 November.

With the festive season on the horizon thoughts turn to Pantomime - oh, yes they do! From Saturday 8 December to Sunday 6 January Darlington Hippodrome will be home to a spectacular and thrilling production of Aladdin. This amazing adventure is brought spectacularly to life with stunning sets, sensational song and dance numbers and more than a touch of genie magic by the world's biggest pantomime producer, Qdos Entertainment. The cast of Aladdin is headed by Louie Spence with Zoe Birkett, Robin Askwith, Eric Potts and Liam Mellor.

Shorter-runs

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment come to Darlington on Sunday 9 and Monday 10 September. On the Sunday they present The Apple Tree - a concert created specially for 2 - 5 year olds at The Hullabaloo. Learn about the changing seasons through a mixture of Baroque and Folk music. On Monday roll the clocks back to 1926 for an historically-informed performance featuring a big-screen adaptation of Strauss' classic opera Der Rosenkavalier played on instruments from the time the music was written.

Comedy legends Cannon and Ball bring their play The Dressing Room to the Hippodrome on Tuesday 11 September. Part play, part variety show and also starring Stu Francis and Johnnie Casson, The Dressing Room is set in a run-down theatre where the fading stars enjoy telling their showbiz stories and what they really think of their audiences! Prepare to shed tears of laughter in this show suitable for the entire family.

Classic hits from Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes are just a small section of The Magic of Motown on Friday 14 September followed on Saturday 15 September by the amazing Flawless as they present Chase The Dream: The Reboot - a fantastically high energy, acrobat-fused, feel-good family show.

Another not-to-be-missed family show is This Is The Greatest Show on Wednesday October 17. Inspired by the imagination of PT Barnum, join a cast of the finest West End Singers and a live band who will take you on a journey through music from The Greatest Showman, Moulin Rouge, Smash, Barnum and many others.

The two original vocalists with The Real Thing come to Darlington with their Feel The Force tour. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut hit single You To Me Are Everything, The Real Thing boast three million-selling hit singles making them one of the UK's best-selling groups of the late 70s.

Here we go again - Abba Mania returns to Darlington Hippodrome on Saturday 20 October. Accepted as the world's number one touring Abba tribute production, the show celebrates the music of Abba, reviving special memories of when the quartet ruled the airwaves.

You are guaranteed a night of laughs on Sunday 18 November with a comedy double bill of Jasper Carrot and Alistair McGowan who present a show of pure laughter and entertainment not to be missed. On Monday 26 November join The Manfreds and Georgie Fame with their show Maximum Rhythm and Blues - a fabulous evening of music and nostalgia. On Tuesday 27 November the songbook of Adele is celebrated with Someone Like You staring Katie Markham who was hand-picked by Adele herself to star in the show.

Take a trip back to the decade of the New Romantics, big hair and even bigger shoulder pads with 80s Mania at Christmas on Wednesday 28 November. Currently taking the UK by storm the show features the music of 25 chart-toppers including Duran Duran, Human League, Culture Club, Wham!, Madness, Soft Cell and many, many more.

Pure musical theatre entertainment is brought to you by Beyond The Barricade on Thursday 29 November. The UK's longest running musical theatre concert tour features past principal performers from Les Misérables and delivers over two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End. On Friday 30 November stand-up comic Lee Nelson presents his Serious Joker show for one night only following his 150 date smash-hit UK tour.

The life and music of Neil Diamond is celebrated on Saturday 1 December with A Beautiful Noise. Award winning Fisher Stevens stars in the show with his sensational band taking you through five decades of Diamond's biggest hits - the ultimate journey that all Diamond fans old and new have been waiting for.

At the Hullabaloo

Comic Steve Bugeja was voted 'most likely to be forgotten' at school. To prove his former classmates wrong he hits the road for his third and largest UK tour Almost which comes to the Hullabaloo on Tuesday 9 October. French-born singer Flossie Malaville has become an accomplished performer playing at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK. On Sunday 21 October she plays the Hullabaloo and, with her quaint northern twang and humorous banter will no doubt leave you with a smile on your face.

For the last two years Pip Stewart has travelled on expeditions to the Amazon to get a close view of the issues in the region. On Tuesday 6 November Pip will recount tales from her exciting journeys. The Black Sheep Frederick Dickens are an electro duo from Darlington, appearing at the Hullabaloo on Friday 23 November. They take the tragic story of Charles Dickens' wastrel brother, Frederick, and use it as a metaphor for the modern day.

More comedy from Matt Richardson with his show Slash on Saturday 24 November. Most comedians hope to win accolades and make many people laugh. Very few end up with Heat magazine's Weird Crush trophy. Who could resist this festive treat - A Christmas Carol brought to life by Guy Masterson on Wednesday 28 November, guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit!

Tickets for this new season go on sale from 10am on Monday 3 September.

For further information and to book contact the box office on 01325 405405, or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk to choose your own seats online. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To post a comment, you must register and login.