Ten of the Best - Your guide to what to see around Northants in the coming days
From a modern musical classic to real-life criminal investigations, there’s plenty to enjoy
1 Top Gs Like Me, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Monday February 23 to Saturday March 7
This biting new comic satire about the influence of online culture takes threads humour through the story of a group of aimless young adults. It centres on the sometimes dangerous relationships that young people can have with social media and with influential figures who curry favour with people on the cusp of adulthood. The auditorium will be transformed into a skatepark with audiences seated in the round.
The cast will be joined by a community chorus, the ‘internet ensemble’, representing the online world on stage and made up of 25 third-year acting students from the University of Northampton.
The production is recommended for ages 14 and upwards. Call 01604 624811 or visit royalandderngate.co.uk to book.
2 The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Thursday February 26 to Saturday February 28
White Cobra Theatricals presents Jim Cartwright’s Olivier Award-winning modern classic. Shy and reclusive LV spends her days locked away in her bedroom, finding solace in her father’s old records. But when she opens her mouth to sing, something extraordinary happens: the powerful voices of countless divas pour out. When a sleazy talent scout hears her gift, LV is thrust into a spotlight she never asked for, much to the annoyance of her brash, larger-than-life mother. As dreams clash with desperation, Little Voice must find the courage to speak – and sing – for herself. Call 01604 624811 or visit royalandderngate.co.uk to book.
3 Vincent Simone - Tango Passions, The Core at Corby Cube, Wednesday March 4
Argentine Tango King and Strictly Come Dancing legend Vincent Simone comes to the stage with his new show, Tango Passions. Accompanied by world-class Argentine Tango and Latin specialists, the original Italian stallion takes theatregoers on a journey to Buenos Aires and tell the tale of love, passion and lust set at the turn of the 20th century. The show features classic and modern Argentine Tango music from the likes of Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.
4 Spitfire Girls, Royal & Derngate, Thursday March 5 to Saturday March 7
The extraordinary true stories of the women who dared to fly during the Second World War come to life in this new play. Spitfire Girls, written by Katherine Senior, begins on New Year’s Eve, 1959. Decades after answering the call to serve, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of The Spitfire pub. As they tell their story, the audience is transported back to a time when female pioneers defied expectations and soared through the skies. The production, marking the 80th Anniversary year of the end of the Second World War, premiered in March 2025 and enjoyed a successful debut tour, garnering standing ovations and critical acclaim. It’s billed as “funny and heart-warming, and “an untold story of strength, courage and loss – but above all else, hope”. The team behind the production has been working on the play with the Royal British Legion. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
5 Waiting for Godot, Sharnbrook Mill Theatre, Tuesday March 3 to Saturday March 7
Samuel Beckett’s classic tragicomedy starts with two men waiting by a lonely tree, their conversation spinning between the tragic, the comic and the absurd. What are they waiting for, will they or won’t they ever arrive and what does it all mean? The timeless masterpiece features the spell-binding main characters of Vladimir and Estragon, in the roles made famous over the years by actors including Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson. Director Ian Hammond-Stark said: “We have pulled all the comedy out of this wonderful play – it’s been a lot of fun.” Visit sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk to book.
6 The Makings of a Murderer – The Undercover Detective, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, March 1
Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted, as he lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations. From the gritty realities of infiltrating criminal gangs to his own terrifying experience of becoming the target of a murder plot, Peter shares the untold stories of the most high-stakes cases. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.
7 Garth Marenghi: This Bursted Earth Book Tour, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sunday March 1
From the fevered imagination of horror fiction’s grand frightener, author of Sunday Times-Bestselling Garth Marenghi’s Terror Tome and Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat, come three freshly rancid tales. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
8 Chloe Petts: Big Naturals, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday February 28
As seen on Have I Got News For You and Live At The Apollo Chloe returns to the stage following another sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. In her new show, she’s taking a deep dive into her upbringing at the height of lad culture. From Page 3, to fronting a Christian rock band, to accidents on the golf course, join Petts for her most loutish hour yet. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
9 The Mersey Beatles, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Saturday February 28
With the costumes, instruments, cheeky Scouse wit and, of course, that brilliant era-defining Mersey sound, The Mersey Beatles’ live stage show is a hit-packed celebration of the music that changed the world. Their new show celebrates 60 years of the classic album Revolver. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.
10 Taylormania 2026, The Deco, Northampton, Saturday February 28
The award-winning extravaganza that plays tribute to one of the leading contemporary recording artists of our time. Katy Ellis, a full-on ‘Swiftie’ with a live band and dancers, promises to deliver an authentic recreation of a Taylor Swift show. Expect the likes of Shake It Off, Blank Space, Love Story, You Belong With Me, Look What You Made Me Do, I Knew You Were Trouble and many more. Visit theoldsavoy.co.uk or call 01604 491005 to book.