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| Albert Pierrepoint – the focus of a new drama at The Dukes |
Famous names past and
present play their part in The Dukes forthcoming season – and outlaw Robin Hood and England’s most famous hangman, Albert Pierrepoint, are central characters in two 2013
Dukes productions.
For its return to
walkabout theatre in Lancaster’s Williamson Park, The Dukes has chosen
Robin Hood, an all-new actionpacked production, running from 5thJuly 10th August 2013.
Robin Hood ends a season
which begins with The Dukes co-production of Pierrepoint – The Hangman’s
Tale from 31stJanuary until 23rd February.
This play about England’s last hangman tells how Pierrepoint combined his job as a Lancashire pub landlord with
being the country’s official executioner.
The Dukes second production
of the season is Savage Children which features two plays. Mirad, Boy From
Bosnia(21st – 22nd May) and Wild Girl (23rd – 25th May) are about children from very
different worlds, based on real historical events and question the notions of
family, freedom and children’s rights.
Making their Dukes debuts
in 2013 are the nationally renowned company, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory
with their full cast production of Two Gentlemen of Verona from 7th – 11th May; and
Northern Ballet, one of the UK’s premier ballet companies with their
bite-sized, child friendly show Ugly Duckling on 5th April.
The Waving Cat of Japan featuring
sign language arts, puppets and traditional Japanese imagery is another treat
for young children on 25th May.
Northern Broadsides
return on 19th – 23rd February with Rutherford & Son directed by Jonathan Miller.
This unflinching portrayal of an industrial Edwardian familystars Wendi Peters, who
played Cilla Battersby Brown in Coronation Street.
Comedy continues its
popular run at The Dukes with Jason Manford’s show in May already sold
out. Other laughtermakers lined up are Hardeep Singh Kohli(1st March); Zoe
Lyons(20th March) and John Shuttleworth(22nd March).
Agony aunt Virginia
Ironside is Growing Old Disgracefully on 2ndMay in one of two Listen Up at The
Dukes events this season which also features recordbreaking British
mountaineer, Kenton Cool on 27th February.
And the best of the
Edinburgh Fringe is brought to Lancaster on 23rd – 24th April with The Trench, an
awardwinning new play set in World War One.
Performances by and for
young people are also an important strand of The Dukes new season.
University of Cumbria students return with Lady Windermere’s Fan from
16th – 19th January and Equus from 23rd – 26th January.
And Wasted, a play by
Kate Tempest, the UK’s most exciting performance poet, on 12th March is
followed on 25th March by Whole, a play about a group of Liverpool teenagers.
Also in March, The Dukes Senior Youth Theatre present We Lost Elijah as part of the 2013 National Theatre Connections
Festival and the two Lancaster grammar schools Return to the Forbidden Planet.
The Dukes Young Actors
& Young Company, who stormed the theatre with The Unsociables last spring, perform
their version of Hamlet from 16th – 20th April.
Lancashire Youth Dance
Festival is staged in May and The Dukes Shattering Images Theatre Company for
young adults with learning disabilities present Diamonds Aren’t Forever
in July.
At the other end of the
age range, The Dukes collaboration with Age UK continues this spring with Mind
Walking(27th-28th March), which combines aerial performance with an
emotionally charged story about the enduring love of a mature couple.
The Dukes musical
offering this spring continues to be varied. Wired In has proved so popular
that it’s moved to The Round on 11th March and 22nd April.
Also striking a musical
note this season are N’DOdO, Iain Hunter’s reincarnation of
Afro/Jazz/Rock group NO DODO from the Nineties(16th March); Hope & Social,
described by The Independent as one of the UK’s top five bands(30th April);
and the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, whose rousing repertoire features a performance
by a genuine Fakir on 4th May.
• To book tickets for any of the new season
events, ring The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org