Storyhouse Announce Star-Studded Autumn Season Of Headline Shows

A star-studded programme of headline shows is heading to Storyhouse this autumn, completing a fantastic year of live entertainment at the Chester venue.

The coming season's spotlight firmly falls on musicals, and theatregoers will be spoilt for choice with the high calibre of shows heading to the city.

Season highlights include Saturday Night Fever, The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, and Calendar Girls The Musical - bringing a real "feel good factor" to Chester.

The new season programme starts with Bill Kenwright's reimagined and revitalised stage version of cult film Saturday Night Fever from Tuesday 10 September to Saturday 14 September.

West End star Richard Winsor dons the famous white suit in the iconic role of Tony Manero, made famous in the Box Office smash hit film by Hollywood actor John Travolta. The musical features the greatest hits of The Bee Gees including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than a Woman, as well as 1970s favourites Boogie Shoes, Disco Inferno - the show also features a group playing The Bee Gees live on stage.

Cult classic The Rocky Horror Show returns to the stage this autumn for the return of one of theatre's naughtiest musicals from Monday 16 September to Saturday 21 September. Theatregoers can expect a guaranteed party combining science fiction, horror, comedy and music - and audience participation means (optional) outrageous fancy dress!

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank 'n' Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It's an adventure they'll never forget with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity - bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

Strictly's Joanne Clifton plays Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, and is joined by James Darch as Brad; Stephen Webb as Frank 'N' Furter; and Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff. Television actor Philip Franks, known for his roles in The Darling Buds Of May, Heartbeat, Absolutely Fabulous, Foyle's War, and Midsomer Murders, plays The Narrator.

Continuing the theme of film favourites, Bill Kenwright returns with Cabaret from Tuesday 24 September to Saturday 28 September.

It's 1931, Berlin is a haven of divine decadence and the legendary Sally Bowles is about to take stage at the infamous Kit Kat Klub. This multi award-winning production of Kander and Ebb's landmark musical features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes, and iconic songs including Money Makes The World Go Round, Maybe This Time, and Cabaret.

The cast features former EastEnders actor and West End star John Partridge as Emcee; fresh from Cilla The Musical, actress and singer Kara Lily Hayworth as Sally Bowles; and singer and screen icon Anita Harris as Fraulein Schneider.

Musical fun and frolics continue with Calendar Girls The Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth from Tuesday 29 October to Saturday 2 November.

Calendar Girls The Musical is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who create a Women's Institute (WI) calendar to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital in memory of one of their husbands. The twist is they appear nude in the pictures. This musical comedy highlights life in their Yorkshire village, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, but most of all how a group of ordinary women achieved something extraordinary. Their story was also made into a smash hit film.

The cast features Ruth Madoc, Rebecca Storm, Sarah Jane Buckley, Sue Devaney, Julia Hills, Judy Holt, and Lisa Maxwell. They are joined by Phil Corbitt, Ian Mercer, Sebastian Aberneri, Alan Stocks, Pauline Daniels, Ellie Leah, Danny Howker, Isabel Caswell, and Tyler Dobbs.

Continuing with music, Wireless Wise - A Celebration Of Radio 4 is on Sunday 22 September.

Wireless Wise brings together a remarkable group of seasoned radio personalities - Alistair McGowan, the Reverend Richard Coles, Garry Richardson, Charlotte Green, and special guest Richie Web - to celebrate BBC Radio in an unforgettable evening of comedy, anecdotes, sketches, music and nostalgia. Collectively, these presenters have appeared on the airwaves for more than two centuries.

There's something gruesome and thrilling for youngsters with a double bill Horrible Histories from Tuesday 5 November to Friday 8 November with brand new shows, Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians.

Terrible Tudors take a trip through the horrible Henrys to the end of evil Elizabeth and hear the legend (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry's headless wives and his punch-up with the Pope. Survive the Spanish Armada as it sails into the audience! Terrible Tudors runs from Tuesday 5 November to Friday 8 November 2019.

Awful Egyptians invites visitors to meet the fascinating Pharaohs, gasp at the power of the pyramids, and discover the foul facts of death and decay with the meanest mummies in Egypt. It's the history of Egypt with the nasty bits left in! Awful Egyptians runs from Wednesday 6 November to Friday 8 November 2019.

Comedy continues to feature strong on the Storyhouse programme, and this season dates include Ed Byrne, Ben Elton, Tom Rosenthal, Vikki Stone and Laurence Clark.

Ed Byrne presents his new show If I'm Honest on Monday 18 November. Ed's new masterclass in observational comedy comes hot on the heels of his 2017/2018 tour, Spoiler Alert. Ed takes a long hard look at himself, and tries to decide if he has any traits that are worth passing on to his children. Ed has recently appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, The Pilgrimage, Top Gear, and QI.

Catch Ben Elton Live on Tuesday 10 December. The comic burst onto television screens more than 30 years ago hosting Channel 4's ground-breaking?Saturday Live. Now, after a 15-year absence, Ben is back on the road with an all-new stand-up show - and promises to try and make sense of a world which appears to have gone stark raving mad.

Tom Rosenthal brings his Manhood show to Storyhouse on Friday 20 September. Known for his roles in Friday Night Dinner and Plebs, Tom was named Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year and was also nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist at the British Comedy Awards.

Multi award-winning comedian and musician Vikki Stone presents her show, Songbird, on Thursday 24 October. The show promises an evening of full of Vikki's trademark comedy songs and stand up. Vikki has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Now Show, BBC One's John Bishop Show, and the BBC Proms Podcast.

Comedian Laurence Clark brings his inspirational show An Irresponsible Father's Guide To Parenting to Storyhouse on Sunday 8 September. Growing up Laurence never saw dads with cerebral palsy, which made him think he'd never be a parent himself. The BBC1 documentary We Won't Drop The Baby followed his family's journey as they welcomed their second child. This new stage show gives a brutally honest and charming account of what it's really like to be a disabled parent. Challenging and engaging, it has the potential to reach new audiences by exploring the commonality and differences in the experiences of disabled and non-disabled fathers.

An exciting autumn season concludes with the Storyhouse show for Christmas 2019 - Peter Pan, which runs from Friday 6 December 2019 through to Sunday 12 January 2020.

Following last year's stunning production of The Wizard Of Oz, Storyhouse presents classic Peter Pan to entertain audiences of all ages this festive season. Journey to Neverland for a high-flying adventure. The forever young Peter Pan sails through the skies to bring Wendy and the Darling children to the Lost Children's enchanted island, where the fearsome Captain Hook rules over the high seas. Based on the timeless book by JM Barrie.

Storyhouse Artistic Director Alex Clifton commented: "No sooner does one season finish, than we start counting down to starting all over again and welcoming a brand new programme of entertainment. The spotlight is most definitely on music and dance for autumn, and as the evenings draw in and the days get shorter, what's better than a trip to the theatre to experience a live show - giving you the real feel-good factor."

Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.

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