The Corn Exchange, Newbury |
Box office
0845 5218 218 (calls will cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s Access Charge)
The Corn Exchange, Newbury. Visitor information is
here.
Some performances may be at The Base, Communications Road, Greenham Business Park,
Greenham, RG19 6HN. Unless a specific location is given for a performance, it's
at the Corn Exchange.
Next
Cinderella, 26th November to 2nd January
The classic rags to riches tale has delighted generations and now Plested and Brown (Clare Plested, Adam Brown and Amanda Wilsher) are back with their fresh take on this beloved story.
Will Cinderella make it to the ball? Will the Fairy Godmother save the day? And will her step-sisters ever give her a rest and help her with the housework?
Cinderella is full of traditional Corn Exchange pantomime fun with plenty of jokes, songs from across the decades, and more magic and sparkle than you can shake a wand at.
Dig out your best frock, polish your glass slippers and prepare for a pantomime party like no other.
See the reviews below.
Matilda the Musical Jr, 20th to 22nd January
Rebellion is nigh in Matilda Jr, a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.
A great musical for all the family with some amazing show tunes as well.
Leopoldstadt, 30th January, 15:00
See
Theatre at the Cinema.
The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much, 2nd February
Chaplin meets Hitchcock meets Spaghetti Western.
Winner of the Les Enfants Terribles and Greenwich Theatre Award 2020, this fast-paced whodunnit is an intercontinental, inter-genre, cinematic caper of accusations, accidents and accents.
Roger Clement is a Frenchman in 1950's New York. His days have always followed a highly predictable yet not-unpleasant routine, until a minor delay saves him from an explosion - igniting a powder-keg of twists and turns as Roger chases his wanna-be assassins around the world to discover the truth.
Raucously funny and endlessly inventive, this Lecoq-trained theatre company delights and stuns.
Spontaneous Potter, 5th March, 20:00
The smash hit is an entirely improvised Harry Potter comedy play, based on an audience suggestion of a fanfiction title.
Hilarity ensues as an entirely new Potter adventure is magically improvised on the spot - with live musical accompaniment!
The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage, 9th March, 19:30
See Theatre at the Cinema.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, 10th to 12th March, 19:45
A thrilling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy.
Doctor Henry Jekyll is a good man. Successful within his field and respected by his peers, he’s close to a neurological discovery that will change the face of medical science forever. However, his methods are less than ethical, and when a close friend and colleague threatens to expose and destroy his work, Jekyll is forced to experiment on himself, whereupon something goes very wrong… or very right.
And suddenly Jekyll has a new friend, the brutal Edward Hyde. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde immerses you in the myth and mystery of 19th century London’s fog-bound streets, where love, betrayal and murder lurk at every chilling twist and turn.
Hex, 17th March, 20th March, 15:00
See
Theatre at the Cinema.
Crimes, Camera, Action, 22nd to 23rd March
Crimes, Camera, Action whisks the audience to golden-era Hollywood and introduces a new lead detective, a world-weary, hard-boiled private-eye in the mould of Humphrey Bogart: meet Stan Shakespeare.
The case? A screen starlet is stabbed as a result of a prop mix-up on set. It sets in motion a typically fast-paced and hilarious chain of events that sees a cast of four exceptional comic actors take on multiple roles, sometimes within the same scene. Expect the usual New Old Friends mix of great theatrical set pieces, the quickest of quick changes, lightning fast wordplay and a thrilling plot driving the action at breakneck pace.
Reviews of Cinderella
26th November 2021 to 2nd January 2022
Review from the Newbury Weekly News and British Theatre Guide.
Having a ball... oh yes we are!
It’s that time of year again and panto is back at the Corn Exchange, bigger and better than ever, with enthusiastic youngsters and their parents eagerly anticipating this year’s Cinderella, written by Claire Plested and Adam Brown, who also directs.
This well-known rags to riches story is given a fresh new vibrant interpretation in this fun filled fast paced show.
Jade Johnson is the cheeky Fairy Liquid, determined to clean up the village.
Chloe Gentles sparkles with energy, giving a stellar performance as poor Cinderella who is under the thumb of her stepsisters, played by Susan Harrison and Ali James hooked on snap chat and other apps.
Forced to do housework all day she dreams of a new life. Perhaps a chance meeting with an old lady in the woods might secure her future?
Every panto needs a Dame and Justin Brett as Lady Barbara Hardup fits the bill and the ever growing outrageous costumes perfectly.
William Beckerleg as Prince Charming dreams of poetry and love. He meets Cinders in the wood and falls instantly in love but she disappears.
His trusty Stewart Deldini – think of Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses – and you have his character decide to change places in the pursuit of finding the girl.
Party invitations are delivered for the Prince’s ball but Cinderella is tricked into tearing hers up by her sisters.
Her Fairy Godmother comes to the rescue and, in a magical transformation scene, she travels to the ball wearing a spectacular dress in a sparkling coach.
However, she must be home by midnight and in her rush to depart she loses a shoe which starts the Prince’s quest to once again find and marry her.
Jordan Benjamin and Rachel Breeze provide strong support in the ensemble. The beautiful colourful sets and costumes are a delight and the songs and choreography are impressive.
With oodles of audience participation, local references and groan-making puns this is a joyous panto hit that shouldn’t be missed.
ROBIN STRAPP
There is a review from The Stage ("strong songs and some fine singing" - ★★).
For more details
see the Corn Exchange web site at www.cornexchangenew.com.
Previous productions
Sleeping Beauty, 29th November 2019 to 4th January 2020. See the review in the archive.
Great Expectations, 6th to 7th September 2019. See the review in the archive.
Jack and the Beanstalk, 30th November 2018 to 6th January 2019. See the reviews in the archive.
Beauty and the Beast, 1st December 2017 to 7th January 2018. See the reviews in the archive.
Cinderella, 25th November to 31st December 2016. See the review in the archive.
Dick Whittington, 27th November 2015 to 3rd January 2016. See the reviews in the archive.
Aladdin, 28th November 2014 to 4th January 2015. See the reviews in the archive.. See the review in the archive.
Jack and the Beanstalk, 29th November 2013 to 5th January 2014. See the reviews in the Archive.
Cinderella, 30th November 2012 to 6th January 2013. See the reviews in the Archive.