Take a trip to the theatre and discover the joys of marvellous musicals, chaotic comedy and one-of-a-kind one-man shows
Best of the box office
Cambridge-based community theatre company Festival Players is proud to present a fabulous production of Kinky Boots at the ADC Theatre, running from 2 to 11 June. Based on a true story, this all-singing, all-dancing show follows the unlikely friendship between Charlie Price, who has just inherited his family’s near-bankrupt shoe factory, and Lola, a drag queen in need of a sturdy set of stilettos. One of the challenges for the production team – Covid-19 disruptions aside – was finding a suitable Lola who would meet the exacting descriptions of co-creators Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein: ‘An Afro-Caribbean triple-threat with a prizefighter’s physique, draped in satin; a cross-dresser with a killer voice and winning ways.’ Festival Players found its star in New York drag queen Marcelle LaBrecque, aka Marilyn Monhoe, who flew to the UK especially for the production. The show promises to be every inch as spectacular as Lola’s iconic red boots!
There’s also a version of Stephen Sondheim’s hit musical Company, based on the George Furth play about dating, marriage and divorce in the 20th century. “This imagining is a funny and poignant look at marriage, vulnerability and loneliness,” says producer Bella Cavicchi. “Often considered one of the first modern musicals, our hope is to bring to life the question: what does it mean to be alive?” Catch it at the ADC between 14 and 18 June.
A treat for comedy lovers, the Footlights International Tour Show hits the ADC from 21 to 25 June. Launching a tour that takes the troupe to places like London, Edinburgh, LA and New York, this year’s sketch show follows five curious tourists on a holiday filled with hilarity and mayhem. “After four months of writing, editing and rehearsing, we are excited to take you on the trip of a lifetime,” says Kitty Beck, tour manager. “Something that eagle-eyed audience members can look out for is how our quirky characters progress through their 80 days of travel in transitions between sketches, becoming gradually more weathered throughout the show.”
Over at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Ore Oduba stars in cult musical the Rocky Horror Show, running from 20 to 25 June. This spirited extravaganza follows newly engaged sweethearts Brad and Janet, who take refuge in the haunted mansion of Dr Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist who initiates the couple in an unconventional sexual awakening. With timeless tunes such as Time Warp, plus a quirky plot, there’s plenty to keep you entertained!
Meanwhile, at the Town and Gown’s intimate theatre, take your pick from a variety of fringe-style shows. Highlights include Mark Farrelly’s insight into the life of a successful 1920s writer in The Silence of Snow: The Life of Patrick Hamilton, on 7 and 8 June. It explores the Gaslight creator’s struggle with alcoholism and how his wit darkened as life unravelled around him. On 10 June, for one night only, strap yourself in for time-travelling thriller-comedy LOVE, a one-man show with over 100 characters across a timespan of 10,000 years. It explores the inherent defects of love through the ages.
