They say good things come in threes and that couldn’t be truer as the season kicks off with the first of our trio of marvellous musicals; the razzle dazzle smash hit Chicago (25 – 30 Jan) starring Marti Pellow as Billy Flynn and Emma Barton (Eastenders) as Roxie Hart. Then family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies into Milton Keynes for three weeks (23 Feb – 13 Mar) bringing with it sensational sets and stunning special effects and a cast and crew of over 100 (including 10 dogs!) Topping off the trio is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical triumph Whistle Down the Wind (26 Apr – 01 May). The extraordinary uplifting tale based on the famous sixties film starring Hayley Mills shows how powerful love can be when childhood innocence collides with the cynical adult world.
Drama enthusiasts will be delighted to see two weeks of feel good fun as Calendar Girls (15 – 27 Mar) based on the inspiring true story of the group of ordinary women who do something quite extraordinary when they pose for a WI calendar with a difference. The touring production stars Lynda Bellingham, Gemma Atkinson, Judith Barker, Debbie Chazen, Letitia Dean and Jan Harvey. This will be followed with Alan Bennett’s comedy, Enjoy, which opened in the West End to rave reviews and now visits Milton Keynes with the original cast including Alison Steadman and David Troughton.
The world class Welsh National Opera return for their annual visit (30 Mar – 03 Apr) with three spellbinding classics. One of the world’s best loved operas, Tosca by Puccini, tells a tale of desire, deception and self sacrifice set in Napoleon’s time, Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen is full to the brim of instantly recognisable music and set on the 1929’s Orient Express The Abduction from the Seraglio by Mozart will delight in its comedy. Dance aficionados can look forward to the return of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake (01 – 06 Feb) and Northern Ballet Theatre’s Peter Pan (20 – 24 Apr).
If that wasn’t enough there is an abundance of one night shows to look forward to. The Glenn Miller Orchestra will take you in a trip down memory lane with a spectacular evening of music to whisk you Back to the Forties (19 Jan). The award winning Eva Cassidy Story Over the Rainbow (11 Feb) continues to touch audiences and has received standing ovations across the UK and That’s Amore (12 Feb) celebrates the life and career of Dean Martin.
For those who like a laugh you will be spoiled for choice as for one night only Milton Keynes is visited by Rhod Gilbert and The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst (13 Feb), Top female comedy trio, Fascinating Aida (07 Apr), Jimmy Carr on his Rapier Wit Tour (24 & 25 May), award winner Dara O’Briain (29 May) and The Armstrong and Miller Show (17 Oct).
For just two nights Derren Brown (8 – 10 Apr) will bewilder and baffle audiences as only he knows how and due to popular demand will return for another one-off performance on 25 Jun. Another unique theatrical experience will be Traces, a high energy display of urban acrobatics which took the 2007 Edinburgh festival by storm will wow Milton Keynes with their thrill a minute circus skills.
General booking for the new season opened on 18 November. Make sure you don’t miss out and book your tickets now at Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office 0844 871 7652 or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes
