Theatre

The Rude Mechanicals, Miss Emma Woodhouse, Beatrice and Benedick, Gub Gub the Pig and the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Porter will each take centre stage in the five outdoor plays at Lytham Hall this coming summer.

The programme for the 11th season of open-air theatre at the Hall has been warmly welcomed locally and organiser Julian Wilde is delighted with the reaction to the recent unveiling of the 2020 plans.

“I have received very many encouraging comments in the last few days, particularly for the return of Illyria with HMS Pinafore on August 23 when we are expecting Gilbert and Sullivan groups from all over the north of England.”

Peter Anthony, the General Manager at Lytham Hall, feels that placing three of the shows in mid-August, prior to the first staging of the Lytham Proms, with Russell Watson as the headliner, at the Hall at the end of the month, is a good decision.

“All eyes at that time will be on Lytham Hall and I personally am especially looking forward to Illyria’s version of Much Ado about Nothing on August 16 - they are superb at making Shakespeare accessible for all.”

Chapterhouse Theatre Company will launch the season on Sunday 21 June at 6.00 pm., presenting Richard Main’s production of Jane Austen’s iconic novel Emma, adapted for the stage by Laura Turner.

Alison Plackitt from Plackitt and Booth’s bookshop in Lytham’s Clifton Street feels that Emma is ideal as the opening play.

“Having a play with a strong female angle to open the season is first class. The performances of Little Women and Cranford in the last two summers drew strong support from local women’s groups and Laura Turner’s adaptations of classic novels for Chapterhouse are always superb.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream on July 12 and a spectacular family show The Further Adventures of Dr. Dolittle on August 22 will make up the five-play season, with tickets expected to go on sale at the end of February.