TICKETS are now on sale for The Georgian Theatre Royal’s 2024 spring/summer season.

The new programme features an exciting array of high-quality drama, classical and popular music, stand-up comedy, and evenings with the stars.

“It is with great excitement that we launch this upcoming season,” said the theatre’s new chief executive officer Jo Mawhinney.

“We are pleased to welcome back old favourites but we also have new names and acts to delight and enthral. One of the headliners is the irrepressible Yorkshireman Barrie Rutter – a pioneer of Northern theatre for many decades – who will be presenting an evening on Shakespeare’s kings and queens."

Opening the season on Friday, February 16, is an award-winning comedy that delves into the bygone lives of farming folk in the North-East. These Things Do Happen is brought to us by the popular Castle Players and one of the characters is a 1932 Fordson N-type Tractor!

More drama follows with Wild Visions, Untamed Myth on February 29, which re-tells ancient myths from a female perspective and Mark Stratford returns to the Georgian with his compelling solo performance of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on March 16.

Lovers of the Bard will delight in Icarus Theatre’s contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s political thriller Julius Caesar (April 12) and a modern adaptation of Franz Kafka’s disturbing tale The Metamorphosis will take place on April 27. Completing the dramatic line-up is a beautifully crafted original work Remember by Stepps Theatre Group (June 15) which follows the trials and triumphs of two war-torn families.

Music lovers will not be disappointed by the comprehensive selection of musical acts. The engaging GreenMatthews duo explores our rich history of wordplay and melodic mirth with Witty Ditties: 400 Years of Comic Song on February 24.

Oscar Wilde’s epic tragedy The Duchess of Padua (March 2) funnels revenge and passion into an Italian-style opera. The new Richmond Chamber Orchestra led by international violinist Philippa Mo gives its inaugural concert on March 3; the award-winning duo Ahmed Dickinson and Eduardo Martin return with an evening of Cuban inspired music with The Bridge (April 20) and we are delighted to welcome Christian Garrick with the refreshingly unconventional Budapest Café Orchestra on May 11.

A firm favourite with Richmond audiences is the sax legend Snake Davis who will be teaming up with guitarist Gareth Moulton for an evening of gorgeous mellow music infused with pop, rock, jazz and soul on May 31. Fleetwood Bac is the world’s best Fleetwood Mac tribute act, and they will be featuring songs from the band’s Rumours era on June 21 and 22. Towards the end of the season, Marske Choir will present Good Old Days Music Hall (August 30 and 31) – a fun evening of magic, melodrama, mischief and mellifluous music.

The theatre is also proud to host two events as part of the renowned Swaledale Festival. An Exquisite Harmony on June 4 tells the story of one of music’s great love triangles through the letters, diaries and music of Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms; and the Chris Ingham Trio presents The Jazz of Dudley Moore on June 5.

Over the years, The Georgian Theatre Royal has built up a strong reputation for stand-up comedy and four top comedians will take up the comedy mic during the season. Award-winning gossip and Tik Tok starlet Daniel Foxx takes to the stage on February 23; followed by Jake Lambert as part of his first national tour (April 18); the Filipina comedian and scientist Ria Lina visits on May 15; rounding off with Kiri Pritchard-McLean – star of Have I Got News for You and QI – on September 4.

Another class act is Barrie Rutter with Shakespeare’s Royals on March 7. This powerhouse of Northern theatre will entertain audiences with anecdotes and memories from a career of playing and directing Shakespeare’s Royals, with Northern Broadsides and beyond, all over the world. Rebecca Vaughan is also making a welcome return to the Theatre with Austen’s Women: Lady Susan on 13 March. This brand-new show is based on Jane Austen’s first full-length work and follows the fortunes of the ‘devil-may-care’ black widow.

Also featured in the programme are Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society and Richmond Operatic Society. RADS presents Short Stories 2 – an evening of three one-act plays – from 21-23 March and then later in the season, Nell Gwynn, which charts the rise of one of England’s Britain’s most celebrated actresses and favourite of Charles II from July 25-27 and July 31 to August 3. ROS will take Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic HMS Pinafore forward in time and Space from May 21-25.

For more details, see the brochure available at the Box Office, via the website at www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01748 825252.