Ten of the Best - Your guide to what to see around Northants in the coming days
From family fun to anxious comedy, there’s plenty to enjoy
1 CBeebies House Party Live, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday June 6
Join the superstars of CBeebies – Andy Day, Evie Pickerill, Rebecca Keatley, George Webster, Duggee with BSL interpreter Emma Jane Mansfield – as they throw an epic party. It’s a fun-packed stage show with songs, surprises and memorable moments, with dancing, singing, streamers, giant jellies and bubbles galore. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
2 Gary Delaney: Gary On Laughing, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sunday June 7
Gary Delaney’s last UK tour ran for two and a half years across 378 dates. His videos have hundreds of millions of views. So now he’s doing it all again with a brand new show. The Scotsman said he had “more quality jokes in one hour than most comics have in their entire careers,” while The Times called him “a master craftsman”. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
3 The Irish House Party, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday June 6
There are no twee costumes or backing tracks here – instead, there are talented musicians and dancers who simply want to bring audiences the sound and fun of Ireland in an intimate and homely setting. The show features All Ireland champion musicians and world champion dancers who combine a unique blend of light hearted audience interaction with stories about the music and the instruments themselves. The original show was set up in Dublin by a group of musicians who wanted visitors to the city to experience what a real Irish house party is like. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
4 A Night to Remember Motown Show, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Friday June 5
Head back to 1960s Detroit in this high-energy show, packed with the greatest Motown hits of all time. It stars The Voice UK finalist Bizzi Dixon, backed by the soulful vocal dynamics of The Motown Divas. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.
5 Amy Dowden & Carlos Gu: Reborn, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Monday June 8
Having made a return to the Strictly dancefloor, Amy Dowden MBE, accompanied by fellow Strictly Come Dancing star Carlos Gu, is back on stage. They share an intimate portrait of their lives and journeys, in which the inspirational and transformative power of dance shines through. The show features a cast of world-class dancers, live vocalists and a soundtrack of anthems from across the decades. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
6 Seann Walsh: This Is Torture, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Friday June 12
Award-winning comedian and “class clown” Seann Walsh is bringing his new show Northampton – and his trademark high-energy exasperation is reflected in its potentially offputting title. Seann has has decided to name the show after the thing he says the most in life - This Is Torture. He promises to bring his signature blend of chaos and charm in the brand-new, “anxiety-soaked” hour of comedy. Seann said: “I know - it’s unbearable having to go to another thing. Remember it’s a thing I have to go to as well. We can share the pain together and on the upside, you get to laugh and I get to offload without being overcharged by my therapist. I look forward to seeing you there.”
Seann Walsh has become one of the UK’s most recognisable and respected comedians. The Guardian called him “unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation”, with the London Standard describing him as “one of comedy’s hottest properties… very talented, very funny”. Over the years, he’s made countless appearances on television, including Live at the Apollo (three times), The Wheel, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Battle in the Box, and, of course, Series 22 of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.
7 Ministry of Science: Science Saved the World, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Sunday June 7
Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the world we live in – with a few loud bangs along the way. They’ll take an anarchic approach while looking at the scientists, engineers and inventors who have shaped the modern world. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen & hydrogen balloons, fire tornadoes, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane and even a self-built hovercraft. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.
8 The Addams Family, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Thursday June 4 to Saturday June 6
Youth musical theatre company Rare Productions presents a macabre comical feast. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.
9 An Evening with Jack the Ripper, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Thursday June 4
Between August and November 1888, in Whitechapel, London, a series of women were brutally murdered. It’s the greatest unsolved case in criminal history, one that continues to confuse and confound, generating argument, debate and a host of different theories. The identity of the killer remains a mystery – but this show tries to uncover it. An Evening with Jack the Ripper will delve into the sordid realms of Victorian London in an attempt to finally unmask the man who preyed upon the most vulnerable members of society. It’s presented by the award-winning producer and broadcaster Steve Morgan, who has captivated thousands of people on his celebrated Ripper Walks through the East End of London, where he retraces the steps of the notorious killer through the streets he stalked. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.
10 Paul Young Songs & Stories, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Wednesday June 10
Paul Young broke into the big time 40 years ago when his album No Parlez went to number one and spawned hits like Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). More success followed with the number one album The Secret Of Association and the worldwide hit Every Time You Go Away. He sang the opening line for Band Aid and made appearances at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid and Queen’s tribute to Freddie Mercury. Paul sustained that success while having fun in his Tex-Mex band, Los Pacaminos. Now, he’s looking back during these intimate shows that combine conversation and acoustic versions of hit songs. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.