New season: Norwich Theatre Royal

MARK NICHOLLS

A fabulous new season of shows is today unveiled by the Theatre Royal in Norwich.

Some of the major names in entertainment are booked to appear at the city venue along with popular plays, ballets, musicals and imaginative one-night stands throughout the coming months.

And there is the ever-popular pantomime over the festive holiday with a hugely-entertaining version of Peter Pan, starring Derek Griffiths as Captain Hook.

Highlights include Blood Brothers, the Woman in Black, Saturday Night Fever, Oklahoma, Twelfth Night, Swan Lake and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, performances of Bizet's Carmen and appearances by King of the Jungle and comedian Joe Pasquale and rising opera star Katherine Jenkins.

Blood Brothers (August 29-September 10) is Willy Russell's smash-hit musical telling the story of twin boys separated at birth only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother's haunting secret.

Cuban dance spectacular arrives in Norwich in the form of Lady Salsa (September 12-17), a dazzling song and dance extravaganza, followed by the Woman in Black (September 20-24) with its ghostly themes.

Round The Horne Revisited 2 is a brand new show based on the cult Sixties radio show bringing with it the hilarity of characters such as Rambling Syd Rumpo and Julian and Sandy (from October 6-8).

Lesley Joseph, Grace Kennedy and Donna Steel are the stars of Thoroughly Modern Millie (October 18-22), a musical classical that takes the audience back to Manhattan and the height of the jazz age, with hot on its heels the National Theatre's production of Alan Bennett's new play the History Boys (October 25-29) starring Desmond Barrit.

From November 15-19, you can see Matthew Kelly as Malvolio in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, contrasted later in the month by Saturday Night Fever (November 28-December 3).

The pantomime takes over the festive holiday period, running from December 16 to January 15.

Always a sure-fire winner and money-spinner at the Theatre Royal, appearing alongside Derek Griffiths in Peter Pan will be Rebecca Sarker as Tiger Lily, Jim McManus as Delia the Cook, Richard Gauntlett in the title role and the ever-present Rikki Jay as Smee.

Perhaps on a similar theme, based on a children's story but following on a more serious scale from pantoland and Peter Pan is the new Royal Opera House production of Will Tuckett's Pinocchio (January 18-21) combining dance, song and theatre.

Oklahoma by the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society roars in on January 23-28.

The world premiere tour of Joanna Trollope's Marrying the Mistress calls at the Theatre Royal from February 6-11.

Horrible Histories (February 15-18) offers an unique insight into the history of this country followed on February 21-25 by David Eldridge's English language adaptation of Festen.

Edward Scissorhands (February 28-March 4) has been adapted from film to a dance spectacular by Matthew Bourne, while Dave Willets stars in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from March 6-11.

For fans of opera and ballet there is a feast of delights throughout the season.

Rambert Dance Company appear on October 12-14, the Northern Ballet with an adaptation of Madame Butterfly (November 1-5) and St Petersburg Ballet with Swan Lake (January 30-February 4).

Chisinau National Opera will perform Carmen and Nabucco (September 27-29) and Glyndbourne on Tour (November 8-12) bring Le Nozze Di Figaro and La Cenerentola.

And there are some magnificent one-night performances with appearances by Harry Hill (October 1), Marty Wilde and Joe Brown (October 4), Katherine Jenkins (October 9), the Drifters (October 23), Aled Jones (November 6), Joe Pasquale (November 13), Al Murray (December 5) and Basil Brush (February 13).

For more information call the box office on 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk