NATIONAL NEWS:

Theatre

Masque Theatre celebrates anniversary with two plays

TWO plays, Scaramouche Jones and Happy Days, will be performed as part of the Masque Theatre on tour mini-season during February. The productions will be staged at three venues in the Northampton area as part of its 80th Anniversary. Happy Days, by Samuel Beckett, introduces the audience to Winnie, a chatty, constantly sunny housewife who happens to be buried up to her waist in rubbish.

A new show every night as improvised musical Showstopper! hits Derngate stage

SHOWSTOPPER! The Improvised Musical tours the UK this spring, and will visit Northampton’s Royal & Derngate for one night only on Thursday.

In The Loop star Addison returns to Royal & Derngate

CHRIS Addison, star of BAFTA-winning comedy The Thick Of It and Oscar-nominated feature film In The Loop, returns to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on Thursday as part of his new The Time is Now tour.

Lighthouse Theatre fired up for new season

CHILDREN’S shows, comedy and dance are all on offer this season at the Lighthouse theatre in Kettering.

Theatre review: Nutcracker!

IF you were expecting the traditional Nutcracker ballet featuring Victorian festive opulence, battling mice and sweeties that are actually ‘sweet’; you’re not going to get it here.

Talgat Kozhabayev and Alevtina Lapshina are playing Romeo and Juliet in the ballet production at The Royal & Derngate Theatre.

Theatre review: Romeo and Juliet ballet

THE words of Shakespeare as recorded in his plays and sonnets are widely regarded to be some of the most meaningful ever penned in the English language.

Puppet show for young audience at Corby’s Core theatre

THERE’S a treat for younger audiences next week with the puppet show The Elves and The Shoemaker.

Love, lust and murder in Oedipussy

CONTINUING on from its acclaimed 2011 Made in Northampton season, Royal & Derngate starts off the new year with Oedipussy – a subversion of the quintessential Greek tragedy.

Theatre review: All The Fun Of The Fair at Milton Keynes

MANY people over the age of 40 will remember David Essex fondly as a 1970s popstar who achieved 19 top 40 singles in the UK, including two number ones and 16 top 40 albums.

Moscow City Ballet brings Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake to Derngate stage

TWO of the most celebrated ballets will come to the Royal & Derngate next week, when the Moscow City Ballet visits Northampton.

It’s not too late to see a panto!

THERE is still time to get a taste of traditional panto fun this winter as the Paulerspury Players stage Snow White.

Theatre review: Oedipussy at Royal & Derngate

IN the entertainment business it is a well-known fact that in order to send yourself up as properly inept, you have to be considerably better than those who try hard but attain only mediocrity.

Theatre review: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Spanish Fiesta

I HAVE to admit I often underestimate the guitar as an instrument.

Roll up, roll up it’s David Essex at Milton Keynes

DAVID Essex stars in All the Fun of the Fair, his own musical set in a world of an East End funfair, at Milton Keynes Theatre this week.

CBeebies stars at Corby theatre

CBEEBIES’ favourite double-act Chris and Pui are inviting children to join them at The Core in Corby tomorrow for their show jam-packed full of games and giggles.

Theatre review: Jeremy Hardy at Royal & Derngate

A REVOLUTION is tricky to organise.

Crime thriller will have you on the edge of your seat

A CITIZEN on the run is hunted down for a nameless crime in the thrilling play The Trial, coming to The Castle in Wellingborough this week.

A magical carpet ride at The Castle

A SHOW for young families featuring music, film and magic is at The Castle in Wellingborough tomorrow.

Chron print works to become temporary theatre

PART of the Chronicle & Echo’s former printing works will be transformed into a stage for the Royal & Derngate’s 2012 season.

Theatre to tell the story of wartime wives

AUDIENCES will have the opportunity to step back in time to visit a Lancashire Town during the First World War with the next performance at The Playhouse Theatre, Clare Street, Northampton.