Ten of the Best - Your guide to what to see around Northants in the coming days
From showbiz legends to edge-of-your-seat comedy, there’s plenty to enjoy
1 Justin Live: Just In Time To Rock, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday April 25
CBBC favourite Justin Fletcher is back on stage in a new live show. The Bafta Award winner, star of Something Special, Justin’s House, Gigglebiz and Gigglequiz, is joined by his friends in a show bursting with music, dancing and plenty of giggles. It features DJ Engelbert, the coolest canine in the dog-house, who launches a contest to find the best rock song in all the land. Justin and his band – Justin Time to Rock! – are determined to win – but can they get their song to DJ Engy before the sneaky Rock Lord and his sidekick Vulture try to steal it? The show features songs including The Hokey Cokey, Music Man and Hands Up, plus new songs written by Justin and his team. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
2 Michaela Strachan: Not Just A Wild Life, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Thursday April 30
Much-loved presenter and Bafta award-winning wildlife enthusiast Michaela Strachan will celebrate a remarkable 40 years of television in her new show. She’s been “Wide Awake” on Saturday mornings, cuddling orangutans, wrangling Chris Packham and skating to the final of Dancing on Ice. Now, to mark four decades on TV, Michaela promises a high-energy, heartwarming evening of shared highs, lows and unexpected moments as she celebrates her varied career.
From Wide Awake Club to The Hitman and Her, The Really Wild Show, Countryfile, Springwatch and beyond, the live show will laugh at the chaos of TV, celebrate the beauty of nature and reflect on what it means to grow up - and grow older - on screen. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
3 The Shoop Shoop Show: The Cher Collection, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sunday April 26
The show spans every decade of Cher’s remarkable career, so be prepared to be dazzled by disco hits and pop-rock chart-toppers. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
4 Andy Zaltzman: The Zaltgeist, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Tuesday April 28
Chair of The News Quiz (Radio 4), host of the global hit satirical podcast The Bugle, and Test Match Special statistician, the stand-up comedian, broadcaster and writer, who has firmly established himself in the vanguard of British comedy with his unique brand of inventive, incisive political satire, returns with his latest stand-up show. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
5 Danny Baker: Aye Aye! Ahoy Hoy!, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Wednesday April 29
"The Unstoppable Talking Panjandrum Is Back In Town!,” says Baker, employing capital letters to fine effect. “Celebrating 50 Years Afloat On The Showbiz Seas! Dead Men Tell No Tales – So Might As Well Get Em All Told Now!” Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book. “Two Thundering Hours Guaranteed!”
6 An Evening With Jimmy Tarbuck, The Core at Corby Cube, Friday April 24
One of the most popular household names from the golden era of British stand-up is back with a bang. Jimmy says: “It’s been great, and I love getting on stage, where I belong. Now I am really looking forward to visiting the towns and cities where I learned my craft and built my fanbase. The crowds are always on great form and always ready to laugh. And laughter is the only drug I’ve ever needed!” Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.
7 Wham! The Show, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Friday April 24
After appearances on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity Masterchef, SAS Who Dares Wins, and winning Dancing On Ice, Jake Quickenden returns to the stage to showcase his vocals and charisma. The show features the biggest Wham! hits like Freedom, Club Tropicana, I’m Your Man and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, all the way through the back catalogue of George Michael such as Faith, Careless Whisper, Fastlove and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.
8 Kane Brown – Crowd Work King, The Core at Corby Cube, Wednesday April 29
It’s one hour of purely unscripted, unplanned comedy, all based around audience participation. Everything is made up on the spot, so the comedy unfolds in real time. Nobody knows what’s coming next – not even the comedian. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.
9 Mark Smith: For Valour – The Story of the Victoria Cross, The Core at Corby Cube, Thursday April 30
Step into history with Mark Smith, the medals and militaria expert from BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow, where he’s captivated audiences since 2014. Experience history brought to life as Mark delves into the origins of the Victoria Cross, debunks long-standing myths and shares remarkable stories of the extraordinary heroes who earned the prestigious honour. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.
10 Twist and Shout, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Friday April 24
The show gives music lovers a chance to relive the 1960s – or discover the decade for the first time. Twist and Shout is a musical extravaganza brought to life by an all-star cast from London’s West End. The production explores the explosion of British music that began in 1962 and spans the vibrant decade, from the rise of Beatlemania to the era of Free Love and psychedelia.
In Twist and Shout, audiences are invited to relive an unforgettable musical revolution when skirts got shorter, hair got longer, and rock 'n' roll reigned supreme. This show brings the golden era of British pop back to life with superb performances that pay homage to legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Manfred Mann, Lulu, Sandy Shaw, and many more.
The cast delivers a non-stop feast of 40 classic hits that promises to have audience members singing and dancing along from start to finish. Theatregoers can expect to hear timeless anthems like She Loves You, Glad All Over, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Ferry Cross The Mersey, Shout, You’re My World, Something Tells Me I’m Into Something Good, and many more.
And there’s more to Twist and Shout than the music. Bespoke costumes, combined with stunning stage design, aim to bring the colours and culture of the Sixties to life.
Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.