Hit musicals, drama, international orchestras and more feature in the new season of shows being announced today by Norwich Theatre Royal.
Hollywood stars Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw, who appeared in the 1970s movie Love Story, are reuniting on the stage for the show Love Letters, a poignant production about first love and second chances, which is in Norwich from October 10 to 14.
Meanwhile Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers, the moving story of two twins separated at birth, returns to Norwich from September 19 to 23, and Beautiful, the story of singer-songwriter Carole King, will run from October 3 to 7. The two shows add to the previously announced musical line-up which includes Crazy For You from October 31 to November 4, and new production The Band, which will feature the music of Take That and the winners of the BBC's Let It Shine TV show, from February 6 to 12.
The National Theatre's production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler will be at the theatre from November 7 to 11, meanwhile the Alan Ayckbourn comedy How The Other Half Loves will run from November 27 to December 2, and Slava's Snow Show is returning from November 21 to 25.
The theatre is hosting its first International Concert Series which will begin on October 22 with St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra performing music by Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Rimsky Korsakov. The season then continues with the European Union Chamber Orchestra on March 24 2018 and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra on April 15 2018.
English Touring Opera will present Giulio Cesare on October 16 and 17, and Glyndebourne will perform Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte on November 14 and 16, Il Barbiere Di Siviglia on November 15 and 18, and Hamlet on November 17. Northern Ballet is bringing a production of Han Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid from September 26 to 30, and contemporary dance company Rambert is presenting a triple bill from October 19 to 20 which includes Ghost Dances.
The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will also return with a trio of shows from September 14 to 16.
John Bultitude, from Norwich Theatre Royal, said: 'Our new season truly is wide-ranging with Hollywood superstars, a highly-anticipated drama production and some of the globe's finest orchestral musicians all forming part of it.
'Add in a host of top superstars as part of our popular run of one-night shows and you have a very diverse range of productions and performances running into early 2018 right here on the doorstep without the time or cost of a trip to London's glittering West End.'
For more information about when tickets go on sale and how to book, visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000.
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