Pizza Shop Heroes, Cat in the Hat, Little Prince, Rocky Horror, Elf
Pizza Shop Heroes – tour starts 2 December
Pizza Shop Heroes has a cast made up of four former Unaccompanied Minor Refugees who came to the UK on their own as children and a refugee caseworker.
It is an autobiographical story that looks at male and cultural identity and covers the places they left behind, how they got here, where they’re going and what they’ve learnt along the way.
Pizza Shop Heroes is presented by Phosphoros Theatre who were shortlisted for the Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award 2016.
Having opened at Camden People's Theatre, the show tours to The Bunker London, Derby Theatre, Slough Curve, Nottingham Playhouse, South Street Reading and Theatre Deli Sheffield with further tour dates to be announced.
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat – tour starts 8 December
Much-loved book The Cat In The Hat has been adapted by Katie Mitchell with original songs by Tasha Taylor Johnson.
The cast is made up of Nana Amoo-Gottfried as the Cat, Charley Magalit as the Fish, Sam Angell and Melissa Lowe as the Boy and Sally, with acrobats Celia Francis and Robert Penny.
Direction is by Suba Das with associate director and circus choreographer Jack Horner.
The Cat In The Hat is presented by Curve and Rose Theatre Kingston. The show spends Christmas at Curve Leicester then visits Aylesbury Waterside, King’s Theatre Edinburgh, Liverpool Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Assembly Hall Theatre Tunbridge Wells, Nuffield Theatre Southampton, Northern Stage Newcastle and Rose Theatre Kingston.
The Little Prince – tour starts 12 December
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic story of a pilot who hears an extraordinary story from a small boy after he crashes his plane in the desert has been adapted into a dance theatre piece.
It has been devised by performers Andrew Gardiner, Donna Lennard, Faith Prendergast and Jack Sergison, was conceived and directed by Luca Silvestrini and has music composed by Frank Moon.
The show was co-commissioned by The Place and DanceEast.
The Little Prince visits The Point Eastleigh, Jerwood DanceHouse DanceEast, AMATA Falmouth University, Gulbenkian Dance City, Warwick Arts Centre, Theatre Royal Norwich and The Place London.
The Rocky Horror Show – tour starts 13 December
First seen at London's Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has achieved cult status with many of the songs, "Science Fiction–Double Feature" and "The Time-Warp" amongst them, becoming classics.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the cast varies across venue but includes Duncan James and Stephen Webb as Frank and Dom Joly, Beverley Callard, Alison Hammond, Steve Punt and Philip Franks as The Narrator.
Joanne Clifton and Ben Adams are Janet and Brad. Kristian Lavercombe is reprising the role of Riff Raff, Miracle Chance plays Columbia, Callum Evans plays Rocky, Laura Harrison plays Magenta and Ross Chisari plays Eddie / Dr Scott.
Anyone who has an itch to scratch and needs assistance should get themselves to one or more of Theatre Royal Brighton, Opera House Manchester, Sunderland Empire, Milton Keynes Theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, Sheffield Lyceum, Princess Theatre Torquay, New Victoria Theatre Woking, Grand Opera House Belfast, New Theatre, Oxford, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Liverpool Empire Liverpool, New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent, Grand Opera House York, Bristol Hippodrome Theatre, Winter Gardens Blackpool, Bord Gais Theatre, Dublin, King’s Theatre Glasgow, Leeds Grand, Theatre, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, Orchard Theatre Dartford and Edinburgh Playhouse.
Elf—A Christmas Spectacular – tour starts 14 December
Big selling arena show Elf—A Christmas Spectacular features pop music legend David Essex as Buddy the Elf’s father, Tam Ryan as the Elf, played by Will Ferrell in the movie, Elf, and television's Martine McCutcheon as the Elf's girlfriend Jovie.
They are accompanied by a cast of some 100 performers including up to 70 children from local Pauline Quirke Academies.
Performed across a 70-foot wide stage with a 60-foot long thrust, the special effects include a giant flying sleigh, an indoor snow blizzard, and computer graphic backdrops shown on giant screens.
Elf—A Christmas Spectacular has an original score with a book written by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan.
Elf visits Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Birmingham Genting Arena and Nottingham Motorpoint Arena.
Readers should note that Peter Pan—The Arena Adventure which was to have played Belfast SSE Arena, Leeds First Direct Arena and Manchester Arena has been cancelled.
Check web sites for information regarding post–show Q&As, captioned, signed and relaxed performances and age suitability. At the time of going to press, some dates may not yet be on sale.