Cambridge Arts Theatre

A Children's Theatre Partnership and Rose Theatre production: The Boy at the Back of the Class. Based on the book by Onjali Q. Raúf Adapted for the stage by Nick Ahad Directed by Monique Touke There used to be an empty chair at the back of the class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He’s nine years old (just like me), but he’s very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn’t like sweets – not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite! After learning that he has fled his own war-torn country, Ahmet’s classmates have ‘The Greatest Idea in the World’ – a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his family. An unexpected and often hilarious adventure follows, all topped off with a terrific twist. Told from a child’s perspective, balancing heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class highlights the power of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us that everyone needs a place to call home.

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MIND-BENDING NEW COMEDY DIRECT FROM THE WEST END Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer, creators of the global smash hit The Play That Goes Wrong and BBC series The Goes Wrong Show, return on tour with Mischief’s riotous new comedy MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE. Join the Mind Mangler as he attempts a spectacular return with his acclaimed two man solo show. Witness hilarious feats of mentalism spiral into chaos as he attempts to read your mind, mind, mind… Following last year’s sold-out UK Tour and a disastrous season in New York, don’t miss Mind Mangler at Cambridge Arts Theatre, a guaranteed night of laugh-filled magic and mind-bending silliness that will leave you gasping for breath!

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There is a way to be good again. Direct from Broadway, The Kite Runner, an outstanding and unforgettable theatrical tour de force is returning to the UK in 2024. Based on Khaled Hosseini’s international bestselling novel, adapted by Mathew Spangler and directed by Giles Croft, this haunting tale of friendship spans cultures and continents and follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a country on the verge of war and best friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul, the skies are full of colour and the streets are full of the excitement of a kite flying tournament, but no one can foresee the terrible incident that will shatter their lives forever. One Broadway season and two West End seasons have garnered international acclaim for this incredibly powerful story, don’t miss it.

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A DINO-MITE ADVENTURE DIRECT FROM THE WEST END! Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family. Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus! A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. Don’t miss this entertaining and mind-expanding jurassic adventure, live on stage. Book now before tickets become extinct!

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Todd Boyce (Coronation Street’s notorious baddie, Stephen Reid) and Neil McDermott (EastEnders, The Royal) star in Anthony Shaffer’s masterpiece, directed by award winning Rachel Kavanaugh (The RSC/Chichester Festival Theatre). A young man (McDermott) arrives at the impressive home of a famous mystery writer (Boyce), only to be unwittingly drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and gamesmanship, where nothing is quite as it seems... This dark psychological ‘thriller about thrillers’ makes for an intriguing study of human conflict, jealousy, and manipulation. Proving to be far more than a ‘whodunnit’, it promises to baffle even the most proficient sleuth! Sleuth is one of the greatest ever stage thrillers and played for a total of 12 years in both London and New York. Winning the Tony Award for Best Play, it also became the inspiration for the hugely successful film starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Cain.

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Get ready for the Mother Of All Pantos to fly into Cambridge as the Arts Theatre proudly presents MOTHER GOOSE. Cambridge's #1 pantomime dame Matt Crosby (Dick Whittington, Aladdin, ITV's Nolly) stars alongside Charlotte Wakefield (The Great British Bake Off Musical), Gemma Sutton (Tammy Faye), Pippa Duffy (Only Fools and Horses the Musical), Steven Roberts (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Georgia Nicholson (Hetty Feather), Nathan Taylor (Spamalot) and Alicia Belgarde (Grease the Musical). Gertie Goose lives a simple life in her little Cambridge cottage with family and best friend Priscilla… who just happens to be a talking Goose! A cook in the kitchens of Eiderdowning College, Mother Goose longs to open her own bakery… but with the lovesick Squire Purchase raising rents and a cost-of-living crisis looming, money is tight and her dreams remain unfulfilled. Caught between the forces of good and evil, Mother Goose is headed for an eggs-istential crisis of epic proportions! Will beauty, fame and fortune change her? You’ll have to book to find out! Full of cracking jokes, songs, magic and a few surprises, the traditional rags-to-riches pantomime story is given a fun, modern, Cambridge twist by the same creative team that brought you last year’s ★★★★★ production of Dick Whittington. Eggs-pect the uneggs-pected with this must-see family pantomime for all ages!

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Spot is having a very special birthday party and you’re invited! With party hats, songs, dancing and lots of interactive party games, this is going to be the best birthday party ever! Join Steve the Monkey, Tom the Crocodile and Helen the Hippo to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPOT! Based on the beloved Eric Hill classic Happy Birthday Spot, this brand-new adaptation brings your favourite pup and his friends to life in an interactive and accessible show suitable for ages 2+ and their grown-ups. (Please note Makaton will be used throughout the performance). Every ticket to Spot's Birthday Party comes with a free party hat and a post-show meet & greet with Spot! Copyright © The Eric and Gillian Hill Family Trust / Salspot Ltd. 2024. FUN WITH SPOT is a trademark of Salspot Ltd. Used under license from Salspot Ltd. All rights reserved.

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The Marlowe Society returns to the Arts Theatre stage to present a brand-new production of William Shakespeare’s great tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. A tale of star-crossed lovers, family feuds and forbidden passion, Shakespeare’s story is stripped back to reveal a society where love and intimacy are dangerously prohibited... As one of Cambridge University’s most prestigious drama groups, the Marlowe Society’s recent acclaimed productions include Othello, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Marlowe Society has launched the careers of some of Britain’s greatest actors including Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson and Rachel Weisz, and continues its tradition of showcasing the best theatrical talent at the university. Director Josh Seymour’s recent productions include That Face (Orange Tree Theatre), Suddenly Last Summer (English Theatre Frankfurt) and The Narcissist (Chichester Festival Theatre).

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Pulled from the previously untouchable heights of Mount Olympus, Zeus is called to court to be held accountable. Has he wielded power with care and consideration, or callous disregard? His own divinity hangs in the balance, as he is challenged by gods and mortals alike. This exciting new piece of theatre interrogates Greek mythology through a contemporary lens, using expressive movement and original writing. The cast of neurodivergent and disabled performers are training on the Bedazzle Foundation Course (an inclusive drama school). Always striving to reflect and challenge the wider issues in society, Bedazzle Inclusive Productions presents their latest work: Mythic Trials.

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‘No matter your size, we all have a mouse and a lion inside.’ A heart-warming tale about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar. In a dry dusty place where the sand sparkled gold, stood a mighty flat rock, all craggy and old. And under that rock in a tinyful house, lived the littlest, quietest, meekest brown mouse. Fed up of being ignored and forgotten by the other animals, Mouse wishes he could roar like Lion. But, as he discovers, even the biggest, bossiest people are scared sometimes ... and even the smallest creatures can have the heart of a lion! Based on the best-selling story by Rachel Bright & Jim Field, this brand new stage adaptation is directed by Sarah Punshon (The Jungle Book), with music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer (Brief Encounter).

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Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show, The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns to Cambridge. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem... expect to be surprised!

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The new stage phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm now comes to Cambridge. Winner of BEST NEW PLAY at the Whatsonstage Awards, this edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller stars Jay McGuiness (The Wanted, BIG! The Musical, Rip It Up), Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, Silent Witness), George Rainsford (Call the Midwife, Casualty) and Vera Chok (Hollyoaks, Cobra). Written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist, 2:22 A Ghost Story comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at five West End theatres with a host of acclaimed star performances. It’s a brilliantly funny and adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear… What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth? "There's something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time." Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.

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The glorious London City Ballet are back! After an absence of almost 30 years, the company returns to stages across the world with a sublime programme of ballet and contemporary dance. Featuring a fantastic, international company of dancers, this comeback production includes acclaimed works including the revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1972 one-act ballet Ballade, unseen in Europe for over fifty years. Ashley Page’s Larina Waltz celebrates its 30th anniversary in this production, and Olivier-award winner Arielle Smith creates a brand-new work. Eve, a full company piece by London City Ballet’s Artistic Director, Christopher Marney, which premiered at Sadlers Wells in 2022 closes the evening. Formerly a resident company of Sadler’s Wells, London and internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading dance companies, the prolific London City Ballet was famously patronised by Diana, Princess of Wales, before closing its doors in 1996. With beautiful dance fused with glorious music and unrivalled on-stage talent, the company is back with a vengeance.

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When Stella sets off to visit London with her parents, she has no idea her life is in danger! When Stella wakes up three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell her what has happened. But not everything Alberta tells her turns out to be true and Stella quickly discovers she’s in for the fight of her life against her very own awful Auntie! Following their acclaimed productions of Gangsta Granny, Billionaire Boy and Demon Dentist, Birmingham Stage Company are proud to present a fabulous new production of David Walliams’ amazing adventure, featuring a small ghost, a huge owl and a very awful Auntie! “The BSC’s live shows of my books are always brilliant - I can’t wait for the fun to begin again! It’s going to be a hoot!” David Walliams

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Running is Alice’s happy place – you might even say it’s in her DNA. She’s the best runner at her school but is struggling to prove her worth. Jade is slowly coming to realise that prejudices can be found everywhere, even in the most surprising places. Realising that her education is ill-equipped to encompass her own history and heritage, and taunted by bullies at school, she knows it’s time to tell her own story. Meanwhile, litter is piling up in the local forest, and all over the world an environmental crisis is looming. Chloe is determined to make a change, starting with the town. Three girls prepare to stand up for what they believe in despite the injustices stacked against them in this new play exploring what it takes to make a difference, the power of friendship, and the importance of believing in your own voice.

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Direct from its London run, the must-see comedy of 2023 hits the road this Spring! Join George, Amy and Michael for the premiere of their brand-new version of The Time Machine. H G Wells’ comic deadly serious masterpiece will never be the same again as this hapless highly skilled group of actors embark on a journey of a lifetime! Will George persuade the others to stick to the script he’s worked so hard on? Will Michael be able to explain time travel without the help of excessive props? Will Amy get to sing her Cher tribute? And ultimately… will they be able to defeat the space time paradox – or at least get through the second half? All to be revealed…….* *(no nudity!) Starring Michael Dylan (Wilf), George Kemp (Jack Absolute Flies Again) and Amy Revelle (Offside). From the team behind the smash hit comedy The Hound of the Baskervilles and the award-winning Original Theatre (Murder in the Dark, The Mirror Crack’d, Caroline’s Kitchen, Invincible, The Habit of Art). Post-show talks Thu, 15/02/2024 - 19:30

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