Corby stage has something for everyone with new season

Highlights of an exciting dance programme include performances by internationally renowned companies Arcaladanza and Motionhouse.

Engaging with the great EU debate, The Core stages the entertaining Should We Stay or Should We Go Show.

The enhanced drama programme includes a new adaptation of the classic tale of Jekyll & Hyde, along with the return of Macbeth – Blood Will Have Blood, while the new musical for Corby, Danny Hero, takes to the stage.

The comedy line-up includes visits from Rich Hall, James Acaster and magician Pete Firman, with music highlights including singers Barb Jungr and Tony Christie, jazz pianist John Law and cabaret from actress Anne Reid.

Family entertainment includes a selection of brilliant dance shows for younger audiences and stage adaptations of the popular picture books The Snail and the Whale and Stick Man.

As a great example of town hall theatre, on the eve of one of the most important votes in the UK’s history The Core at Corby Cube invites audiences to an action-packed cabaret, debating and responding to the key issues of the EU referendum. Featuring up-to-the-minute plays and sketches, performance lectures, special guests from both sides of the argument and a house band, The Should We Stay or Should We Go Show will be out and about at selected festivals in June before returning home for its fun-filled finale in Corby.

This Summer’s theatre programme includes 2Magpies Theatre’s new and exciting live performance, Ventoux, telling the story Tour de France, staged as part of Corby CycleFest.

In the year that marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, The Core is delighted to see the return this Autumn of Macbeth – Blood Will Have Blood, after sell-out performances last year. Re-invented for 9 to 13 year olds, this one-man adaptation by The Core’s director Nick Walker is an accessible and unforgettable introduction to Shakespeare’s shocking story of ambition and greed.

A dramatic new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic melodrama, Jekyll & Hyde, also comes The Core for three days, with sumptuous sets and costumes providing a brilliant backdrop for this riveting production.

The heart-warming new musical, Danny Hero, selected by a panel of local people and theatre professionals from ideas presented to the community as part of the Made in Corby initiative, takes to the Core stage in October, performed by a cast of local people.

Lovers of dance will be spoilt for choice this Summer and Autumn at The Core, with a widely-varied selection of dance shows for all ages.

While looking forward to the return in October of acclaimed dance company Motionhouse with their mesmerising show Scattered, audiences can enjoy the home-grown talent of the Core Dancers in July, when they present Assemble, an evening of contemporary dance created after a term of working with top dance artists including Jasmin Vardimon and Jack Pointer Mackenzie. Multi-award-winning international dance company Arcaladanza return to the UK with their dance theatre production for families, Vuelos (Flights), exploring the visionary genius of Leonardo da Vinci.

Other dance shows for younger audiences include Northern Ballet Theatre’s The Tortoise & the Hare, a delightful production aimed at introducing small children to live ballet. The Doodle Dance Show is a playful, interactive story-show that will get the whole family drawing and moving. Toddler’s Room is a beautiful piece of mini-dance-theatre from Norway set inside a magical white dome.

Other highlights for families include the funny, thoughtful and thrilling adventure A Boy and a Bear in a Boat, a new play based on the award-winning novel by Dave Shelton, and Tall Stories’ production of The Snail and the Whale, a magical, musical adaptation of the fantastic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

In November there will be the chance to see a stage adaptation of another of Donaldson and Scheffler’s popular books, when Scamp Theatre bring their production of Stick Man to Corby.

The Core is delighted to bring more great comedians to Corby over the coming months. Radio 4 and Mock the Week regular Mark Watson returns with his latest show I’m Not Here while rising star Rob Beckett makes his first visit to The Core, and dry-witted American comic Rich Hall brings his grouchy, deadpan style to his show 3:10 to Humour.

Looking ahead to the Autumn, tickets are now on-sale for Kettering-born comic James Acaster and top comedy magician Pete Firman.

Well-loved actress Anne Reid, star of popular TV series Last Tango in Halifax, reveals her hidden talents as a cabaret performer with her show I Love to Sing!

Other music highlights include a return visit from Corby favourite Barb Jungr who will be performing songs from her new album, Shelter from the Storm, which includes material by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, as well as original compositions.

Top jazz pianist John Law is joined by his quartet New Congregation for an intimate gig that can be enjoyed from cabaret-style table seating. Wartime cavalcade We’ll Meet Again returns for another afternoon of hits from the Blitz.

There is a wealth of Irish talent in this Summer’s music season, with visits from The Dublin Legends, comprised of former members of The Dubliners, legends of Irish music and song The Fureys, and the group credited with revitalising traditional Irish music, The Kilkennys.

The season also includes some of the best tribute bands around, including favourites such as The Illegal Eagles, The Cavern Beatles, Johnny Cash Roadshow and Let’s Hang On, with Fisher Stevens as Elvis in Vegas to also look forward to in September.

The Autumn also brings legendary singer Tony Christie to The Core on his Golden Anniversary Tour, and for the sixth year Bip Wetherell presents his popular Strictly Sixties show, featuring top sixties icons The Fortunes and Clem Cattini’s Tornados.

This Summer also sees the launch of a brand new monthly music night at The Core, following the recent upgrade to The Core’s sound equipment. Programmed in conjunction with Stevie Jones and celebrating five years since Wildfire Sessions began, Lab Music Nights will showcase brilliant local talent and the best live bands on the circuit.

Talented young performers from The Core’s Get Involved groups come together as Core Company to present the heart-warming play It Snows, written by acclaimed playwright Bryony Lavery and the Artistic Directors of Frantic Assembly. After its initial performances in The Core’s Lab, It Snows will also be performed as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate.

The Core also welcome a wide range of local groups to the venue, including Starlight Dance and Musical Theatre School with Cirque de Mystique, Corby Amateur Theatrical Society with their summer musical production Grease, Sharon Potter and Dena Smith School of Dance with their annual showcase, C&D Productions with The Importance of Being Earnest and Nene Valley Dance with It’s Showtime. A number of local dance and music groups come together for the fundraiser Let’s Sing and Dance for Charity while young people from the age of 4 to 21 come to compete at The Core in Corby Festival of Dance.

Alongside The Core’s regular film programme, there is also the opportunity to see some top theatre events on the big screen, including Romeo & Juliet, with a cast including Derek Jacobi, from Branagh Theatre Live.

The Core’s Get Involved programme also continues to offer an extensive range of workshops, projects and weekly sessions for all ages, developing the creative skills of local people in the fields of drama, dance, music, film-making, digital animation and more, including for the first time The Core’s very own Ukulele Orchestra.

For more information, and details of dates, times and prices for all of these events and activities, visit the website www.thecorecorby.com, or call the ticket line on 01536 470470.