Acclaimed shows from across the globe will head to Coventry later this year as an historic city centre venue begins an exciting new chapter.
The Albany Theatre in Coventry has announced an array of renowned international productions and high quality local and national shows as part of its Autumn/Winter programme for 2022/23.
The new programme is the theatre’s first batch of new shows since major redevelopment to the venue on Albany Road in Earlsdon began, and will include a pair of flagship festive shows produced in-house by Albany Theatre Productions.
Swati Natekar, one of the most respected voices in Indian music, will perform classical and popular South Asian music spanning genres from Semi-Classical, popular Urdu Ghazals to Classic Bollywood, accompanied by UK-based musicians. Swati will present Nazrānā - An Offering on Friday, September 23 at 7.30pm.
The African Masquerade Tour will head to the Albany Theatre on Friday, October 14 at 6pm after taking the UK by storm with their blistering grooves and outlandish dance moves. Based in London, the band features top class Congolese and Latin musicians inspired by global performance traditions.
A brand-new stage adaptation of Helen Forrester’s hugely popular autobiography Twopence To Cross The Mersey, will be on show from Wednesday, October 19 to Friday, October 21 with performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
The UK premiere tour of the stunning period drama set in the early 1930s in the midst of the Great Depression is adapted by Rob Fenah and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.
Audiences will also be able to indulge in classic and contemporary Christmas tales throughout the festive period with Nativity! The Musical from Coventry Youth Operetta Group (November 9-12 – 2.30pm, 7.30pm) and a spellbinding interpretation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from Albany Productions (December 3-26 – 2.30pm, 7.30pm).
Albany Productions will also present family-favourite pantomime, Cinderella from Friday, December 30 to Sunday, January 8 with performances at 2pm and 7pm.
On Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 at 7.30pm, the producers of the hit show Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners, bring Fairytale of New York – the ultimate feel-good Irish-inspired Christmas show with an international cast to Coventry audiences.
Children’s shows including Milkshake! Monkey’s Musical (September 24 – 12pm, 3.30pm) and a brand-new adaptation of Horrible Histories creator Terry Deary’s True Ghost Stories (October 23 – 7pm) will also hit the stage, along with a range of comedy, music and dance performances into 2023.
Ballet Theatre UK’s production of Beauty and the Beast will retell the enchanting tale on Wednesday, November 2 at 7.30pm while acclaimed stand-up comedian Dom Joly will entertain crowds with globetrotting tales in his new show Holiday Snaps on Sunday, September 18 at 7.30pm.
Marti Pellow, lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, will tell all about his life and career as a singer-songwriter in an evening of stories and songs in the new show Pellow Talk on Saturday, November 20 at 7.30pm.
Tribute acts revisiting the greatest hits from the likes of Pink Floyd, AC/DC and Elton John will also perform at the Albany across the Autumn/Winter season.
Kevin Shaw, CEO and Artistic Director of the Albany Theatre, said: “We are delighted to reveal our broad and brilliant line up of new shows and seasonal favourites at the Albany Theatre through to 2023.
“It is a very exciting time for everyone involved at the theatre with development works in full swing, and we hope to pass that feeling onto visitors joining us for our Autumn/Winter shows.
“We have brought together productions from all over the world while highlighting the very best local performers and nationally-operating companies, and can’t wait to share these with the people of Coventry, Warwickshire, and the wider West Midlands.”
For more information and full listings visit www.albanytheatre.co.uk/whats-on