Cambridge Junction
Of Riders and Running Horses, a unique show coming to Cambridge Junction, is generating much interest – certainly one for your diary this month. Performed on 10-11 September, by an all-female dance troupe, it’s an exciting new dance event which takes the action outdoors at dusk, to celebrate urban spaces.
A beguiling double bill takes place on 14 October. Portraying two sides of a tender love story, Without Stars/There We Have Been is based on the bestselling novel Norwegian Wood. Bromance is the debut show from hot young acrobats Barely Methodical Troupe. They won the Total Theatre and Jackson’s Lane Award for Circus at the Edinburgh Festival, and use parkour, humour and tricks to bring you something rather special. Catch them if you can on 28 October.
Hard-hitting monologue Men in the Cities, 4 November, offers up a ‘fractious, emotive exploration of what it means to be a man in Britain today’ (The Telegraph), then Disco Pigs, 11 November, draws us into the obsessive friendship of ‘Pig’ and ‘Runt’ and their turbulent fantasy world.
For something with an Eastern flavour, watch Chotto Desh on 22 November. It’s a poignant dance-theatre experience for families, using sound and visuals to tell a compelling tale of a young man’s memories of Bangladesh.
Find out more at the Junction’s Season Launch Night, Thursday 10 September. www.junction.co.uk
Arts Theatre
Always bound to draw a crowd, J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls returns to Cambridge Arts Theatre, 6-10 October, ready to thrill and surprise. It’s worth seeing for the impressive set alone, while the story – an inspector turns up unexpectedly at a prosperous family’s home with chilling news – is a true modern classic and a masterclass in suspense.
A critically acclaimed new play by Moira Buffini, Handbagged imagines how the fractious relationship between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher played out behind closed palace doors. Two strong women, two enduring icons, born within a year of each other. But what about when the gloves were off? Handbagged has played to packed houses at the West End where it was hailed as ‘witty and confident’ by the Evening Standard and ‘sensational’ by The Times. It’s with us 12-17 October.
Continuing the royal theme is Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III, running 19-24 October. Written in blank verse, the play looks at the unwritten rules of democracy and the people beneath the crowns.
There’s a double bill of Horrible Histories shows scheduled this autumn. Groovy Greeks is joined by a brand-new show, Incredible Invaders, 27-31 October; both by Birmingham Stage Company. See online for times.
Another one direct from the West End, Bad Jews arrives in town 2-7 November. This critically acclaimed comedy takes us to Manhattan, where family tensions are running high.
And Cambridge Operatic Society make a welcome return with the magnificent Sister Act, 24-28 November. Made famous by the film starring Whoopi Goldberg, it’s a sensational journey of self-discovery with singing nuns – what more could you want from a night at the theatre?
ADC Theatre
Cambridge University’s student theatre, the ADC, has announced its autumn programme to coincide with the new term – and it looks like a corker. It makes a strong start with Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, always a promising, vivacious play with plenty to explore. It’s on 6-10 October.
We’re big fans of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, so very much looking forward to seeing the cream of Cambridge’s acting crop put their spin on this rollicking tale of infamy, music, madness and 18th century decadence and decay (13-17 October). The classics continue with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (27-31 October), then Coram Boy will be worth a watch in November. It’s the fascinating adventure story of two young boys: one saved from an African slave ship, the other an heir to a large fortune.
As ever, there’s a host of late shows and comedy at 11pm, and don’t forget to check out their sister theatre, the Corpus Playroom, for performances in a more intimate space.
