AN Oscar-winner, an international comedian and a highly-anticipated panto are just three of the shows announced as part of a Henley theatre’s new season.
Following its traditional summer closure, the Kenton Theatre has revealed details of its September to December season, with plenty on offer to please every taste.
The season kicks off on Saturday, September 16 with a special launch event, which will see Oscar-winning actress Hayley Mills take to the Kenton’s stage for a unique performance of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
Mills will be accompanied by two of the UK’s most-respected classical musicians, pianist Ashley Wass and violinist Matthew Trusler, performing music from the score of the BBC1 series, specially adapted by composer Carl Davis.
The performance is one of three events the theatre is holding to mark the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s death, followed by Henley Players’ adaptation of Sense & Sensibility in October and BBC historian Lucy Worsley’s Jane Austen at Home talk in November.
Irish comic Dara O’Briain will visit the theatre on Sunday, October 1 for the very first time to debut his new material ahead of a nationwide tour in 2018.
Music events at the theatre will include a capella quintet Africa Entsha on September 29, 60s singer PP Arnold, best known for The First Cut is the Deepest and collaborating with the Small Faces, on October 27, and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra on November 3.
After their award-winning production of Spamalot HAODS return in November with A Chorus Line, while younger theatregoers will be entertained by an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Why the Whales Came, from the award-winning team behind West End hit I Believe in Unicorns, as well as The Nutcracker and Henley Children’s Theatre’s Cinderella.
After previously starring at the Kenton in Aladdin and Peter Pan to great acclaim, James Clifford and Rochelle Parry return with this year’s professional pantomime Robin Hood, promising a traditional family show full of swordfights, songs and jokes, running from December 15 to 28. Other festive productions include the inaugural Christmas at the Kenton concert with Thames Valley Chorus and Ma Bessie, and Blake’s Christmas Classics.
- For more information, the full schedule and to book tickets visit www.kentontheatre.co.uk, or call 01491 575698.
