The Corn Exchange, Newbury |
Box office
01635 522733
The Corn Exchange, Newbury. 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
Inter Alia, 4th to 27th September, various dates
See Theatre at the Cinema.
Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind
Prima Facie.
Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, a loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright?
A searing examination of modern motherhood and masculinity.
Mrs Warren's Profession, 23rd to 28th October at Newbury
Corn Exchange and Vue Newbury, various dates
See Theatre at the Cinema.
An NT Live production.
Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?
This new production explores the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.
Step the Fifth, 27th November to 3rd December at Newbury
Corn Exchange and Vue Newbury, various dates
See Theatre at the Cinema.
An NT Live production.
The critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.
After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.
Reviews of Dick Whittington
29th November 2024 to 5th January 2025
Review from the Newbury Weekly News and the British Theatre Guide.
It’s pun-time!
Full house at the Corn Exchange for pantomime fun with Dick Whittington
The Corn Exchange is bedecked with festive decorations, a beautiful real tree in the foyer and festoons of lights in the auditorium for this year’s Christmas panto Dick Whittington – and it’s an absolute winner.
Once again, the award-winning creative team of Plested. Brown and Wilsher return for their sixth year at the helm, with Adam Brown inventively directing what is a refreshing new interpretation of the traditional story, fizzing with energy and pace.
Saturday’s capacity enthusiastic audience was out for a fun evening and they were certainly not disappointed… it was absolute joy.
Grace Kelly Miller was our Detective Fairy Bowbells, determined to keep law and order in Newburyshire, adding a bit of magic to help out.
Our hero Dick, impressively played by the charismatic Kai Harris dressed in his Scout uniform with proficiency badges along the sleeve, quickly wins the audience over as together with his cat Cosmo (Jade Johnson) he sets off to seek fortune in old London town.
They meet Alderman Fitzwarren (Chris Rankin) and his daughter Alice (Shannon Bourne), down on their luck as their emporium is losing money because the city is overrun by rats.
Alex Crandon played the true villain as evil Percy Rat, relishing the audience’s loud enthusiastic boos.
Every panto needs their Dame and Scott Riney, making his debut, filled the role in abundance, carrying off the most outlandish costumes.
Look out for Captain Bird’s Eye fish fingers sequence – a hilarious take on the traditional ghost scene.
The hardworking ensemble Adam Craig, Finna Hardy and Jake Poolman were superb, adding so much to this sparkling production.
Miranda Wilford’s imaginative choreography was breathtakingly dynamic and the cast energetically performed with flair and brio everything from tap to breakdancing. It was exhausting to watch.
Musical director Ben Barrow, assisted by Luke Hinchliffe, provided a spirited score that was spot-on.
With puns galore, local references and oodles of audience participation, including everyone joining in the Time Warp, this vibrant production is purrrrrrfect entertainment for all the family.
Not to be missed.
ROBIN STRAPP
Review from the Newbury Weekly News.
Purr-fectly pitched for grown-ups
Dick Whittington Adult Night
With its roots stretching back over 500 years, to the bawdy theatre of Commedia dell’Arte, what is now the traditional Christmas pantomime has always sailed close to the wind when it comes to double entendres and lightly risqué scenarios. So, the idea of taking the format and performing it to an audience of adults seems only natural.
Since the early 1990s a handful of producers have dabbled with creating ‘blue’ pantomimes, laden with bad language and seafront postcard gaggery. However, as far as I’m aware, the Corn Exchange was among a pioneering (and evidently enterprising) group of civic venues who, around 20 years ago, started to set aside one evening of their annual family panto run, which was just for grown-ups. What they have done brilliantly over the years is to maintain that these performances are broadly the same show they would do for a family audience, so there is nothing additionally smutty or off-colour about them.
Staying true to this objective, the Plested, Brown and Wilsher team have written and directed a perfectly pitched panto that, on adult night, can lean a little more into the gags that would otherwise fly over the heads of a family crowd, and the audience can let their hair down a bit.
This year, with lead roles that include Dick and his Pussycat, there is some potential low hanging fruit, which is plundered to good effect, by the whole company. With the Dame traditionally given the lion’s share of near-the-knuckle material, Scott Riney’s Jolene Malone resists the urge to go off the rails. But then, their most edgy puns and plays on words are in the original script for all audiences.
Alex Crandon is a buoyantly villainous Percy (King) Rat. His playful moments with Detective Fairy Bowbells (Grace Kelly Miller) are among the funniest in the show
(both adult and family versions). Jade Johnson as Cosmo the Cat and Chris Rankin as Alderman Fitzwarren run a good line in breaking character, pulling solid laughs by exposing the hardships of a pantomime actor.
Shannon Bourne (Alice) and Kai Harris (Dick) play the whole thing straight, while trying also to hold it together. And speaking of holding it together, Adam Craig, Finna Hardy and Jake Poolman seem to be having an absolute blast as the small ensemble team; they are camper than a Strictly Christmas special.
The strongest moments were those that were authentically playful, either because the actors were caught off guard, or were genuinely having the best time! This meant that, on the odd occasion that someone tried something overtly ‘adult’, it actually felt somewhat out of place, falling flatter than more innocently hilarious moments.
This may in part be because the script itself is a fast paced, whip smart and completely bonkers reinterpretation of a classic pantomime which retains many traditional set pieces, while proving contemporary and engaging. Such is the success of the Corn Exchange’s ‘adult’ shows, there are four this year (the last one being Saturday, January 3). However, to be honest you can enjoy this festive treat at any time, with or without the kids.
TONY TRIGWELL JONES