Rose Theatre Kingston Announces Autumn Season 8/29 - 12/11

This autumn, experience the best in classic and Contemporary Theatre up-close and personal at Rose Theatre Kingston. Be transported by world-class music and laugh out loud at their comedy line-up. Enjoy family shows with your kids and relax at the free events in the Culture Café.

The Rose is going to be full of sporting spirit this summer as the London 2012 Olympic Games are projected for free in the auditorium from Fri 27 Jul – Sat 5 Aug. Projected on to a 32 square meter screen, The Big Screen at the Rose is showing the opening ceremony and live highlights until 5 August. Our 80 inch plasma screen in the Culture Café is showing the remainder of the games until the closing ceremony on 12 Aug and then again from 29 Aug – 9 Sep showing live coverage of the Paralympic Games.

From Thu 2 – Sun 5 Aug the award-winning Indefinite Articles’ combine puppetry, shadows and illusion to bring Pinocchio to life. Watch Pinocchio getting carved on stage, brushes leaping into action to form a fox and The Shadows of two saws transformed into a giant shark in this fantastic one man show suitable for everyone aged 4 and upwards.

The Rose’s programme of work for young people continues with Terry Pratchett’s Mort the Musical (Wed 29 Aug – Sat 1 Sep). Wildly witty and inventive, Mort The Musical is based on Terry Pratchett’s classic Discworld novel. His acclaimed book is brought to life in this musical fantasy: sorcery, comedy and romance in one magical evening.

Created by Cirque du Soleil’s Guy Caron, Cirque Du Ciel (Thu 6 – Sun 9 Sep) returns to the UK by popular demand. With over 30 amazingly multi-talented and skilled performers, this 2 hour extravaganza, combines electrifying acrobatics, street dance routines, death defying aerial displays and jaw dropping feats of strength and skill – great entertainment for the whole family.

English Touring Theatre open their tour of W. Somerset Maugham’s The Sacred Flame at the Rose in September. A twist on the classic murder mystery The Sacred Flame (Thu 13 – Sat 22 Sep) is part thriller, part love story. What happened on the night the young war hero, Maurice Tabret, died at home in his bed? His doctor says he died from natural causes, but his nurse points a finger of suspicion at his beautiful wife, Stella...

Stephen Unwin is joined by Richard Eyre (Tue 18 Sep) and Michael Palin (Wed 24 Oct) in the Rose Theatre’s popular series of friendly conversations, Time to Talk. Time to Talk gives the public the opportunity to ask their own questions to some of the leading characters in the world of theatre.

At the end of September the Rose is producing a major revival of Arthur W Pinero’s The Second Mrs Tanqueray, directed by Stephen Unwin. The Second Mrs Tanqueray (Thu 27 Sep – Sat 27 Oct) is one of the masterpieces of Victorian theatre: sexy, dramatic, funny and very moving. When Aubrey Tanqueray marries for the second time, he knows his wife has a past. But little does he know the extent to which it will catch up with them…

One of Britain’s finest comedians and broadcasters, Marcus Brigstocke’s latest show The Brig Society arrives in Kingston on Sun 21 October. A regular on both radio and television, Marcus Brigstocke aims for no less than the total restructuring of every aspect of life in Britain via the medium of jokes.

Eagerly anticipated, An Evening with Sir Roger Moore (Sun 14 Oct) is a unique chance to see this legendary movie star, followed by a Q&A with the audience. On the release of his new book Bond On Bond, Sir Roger Moore chats about his astonishing life and career with inside stories and unheard anecdotes ranging from the iconic TV series’ The Saint and The Persuaders, to Hollywood blockbusters and the James Bond films.

The Comedy Store residency continues on Sun 30 September and Sun 28 October as “Comedy’s unofficial National Theatre” (The Guardian) bring the best and brightest comedians to Kingston. Every famous comic has played The Comedy Store at some point in the last 30 years and their critically acclaimed shows remain the place to see the stars of tomorrow today.

After working for 14 weeks in the run up to the Olympics, Kingston’s sporting and creative community arrive at the Rose for London 2012 Games Dreams (Sat 3 Nov). A free event to thank the army of volunteers who made Kingston truly an Olympic Borough, London 2012 Games Dreams is a free event full of live performances, film and music.

Tall Stories’ adaptation of the best-selling children’s book Room on the Broom (Wed 7 – Sun 11 Nov) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is returning to the Rose. In a spell binding adventure from the creators of The Gruffalo, a daft dog, beautiful bird and friendly frog help a witch and her cat escape the fearsome mouth of a hungry dragon.

For two nights only the Rose is travelling to the Masai Mara for How Lion Became the King of Tinga Tinga Land (Sun 18 – Mon 19 Nov). Five performers and two drummers lead you through a high-octane story full of music, puppets and dancing in the heart of East Africa. Based on African artwork from the Tinga Tinga family, this show is similar to that seen on Cbeebies but this is not a Tiger Aspects production or story.

Julian Lloyd Webber (Tue 20 Nov) is performing a selection of the finest works for the Cello including classics from Bach, Britten and Rachmaninov. Considered the doyen of British cellists, Julian Lloyd Webber enjoys one of the most creative and successful careers in classical music today.

At the Rose this November is a rare solo show from one of the best loved and funniest comedians in Britain, Jo Brand (Sat 24 Nov). A BAFTA award winning writer and best-selling author, Jo Brand is performing in aid of Momentum, a local charity that supports children with cancer and life limiting conditions.

This Christmas, the Rose’s family play is Cinderella The Midnight Princess. Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, former Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep, the Rose presents an enchanting version of this favourite fairytale from Friday 30 November - Sunday 6 January. Charles Way’s magical adaptation is perfect for all the family, a fairy godmother, wicked stepsisters and a glass slipper will all come together on one fabulous evening to warm the winter away.

The second Rose Christmas Concert (Tue 11 Dec) features carols, choirs and witty readings from celebrity guests including Friends patron Michael Aspel. A sell out success last year, the Rose’ Christmas Concert raises all important funds for Rose Theatre Productions.

The Rose Friends Loyalty card gives exclusive discounts and deals at the Rose as well as partner organisations in Kingston. Cards are £45 and available from the Rose Theatre Box Office on 08444 821 556 (bkg fee) in person or online (bkg fee).

The Rose’s Culture Café has an entirely new menu courtesy of the award winning The French Table in Surbiton, The French Tarte at the Culture Café now serves a mouth-watering range of pastries, quiches, baguettes and patisserie from 10am Monday – Friday.

General booking opens on Saturday 23 June. Tickets are available in person, over the phone on 0844 821 556 (bkg fee) and online at rosetheatrekingston.org (bkg fee).

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