Something for Everyone at The Quay this Summer

As we say goodbye to those April showers and cross our fingers for the sunshine, The Quay Theatre’s new programme of events has something to brighten everyone’s day, whatever the weather brings.   A little music, a sprinkling of drama, live screenings, award winning children’s theatre and cracking comedy are all in the mix.

First up, on Wednesday 3^rd May, (with a second screening on Wednesday 31^st), is C.P Taylor’s Good, the latest National Theatre live streamed production to hit The Quay.  David Tennant stars in this blistering reimagining of one of Britain’s most powerful political plays. A good, intelligent German professor finds himself pulled into a movement with unthinkable consequences.

‘Britain’s Jazz Ambassador’ Digby Fairweather makes a welcome return to The Quay on Friday 5^th May with Digby’s Half Dozen presenting an accessible evening of Jazz featuring the finest members of the UK scene.

Sudbury Dramatic Society’s first production of the season is The Importance of Being Earnest which runs from Wednesday 10^th to Saturday 13^th May.  This established classic is given a couple of new, but completely authentic, twists resulting in the Earnest everyone knows and loves, but free from the Edwardian straight jacket.

Eastern Angles latest production Medieval Miracles checks in at Sudbury on Tuesday 16^th May.  Heaven is empty and Hell is full - What is God to do?  The answer comes in The Trials of Mary and Joseph a retelling of the nativity tale like no other.  Paired with this, Mankind, also adapted and translated by Ivan Cutting and Tony Ramsay, is England’s comedy of the 90s, (the 1490s that is), retold as a boisterous story of a climate conscious young man.

The Edwardian era’s most celebrated gentleman thief Raffles is the latest subject to be brought to dramatic life by Don’t Go Into The Cellar Productions.  Learn more about E.W Hornung’s suave cat-burglar creation on Wednesday 17^th May.

David Harewood and Zachary Quinto star in The National Theatre’s live streamed Best of Enemies on Thursday 18^th May. It’s 1968 in America and two men fight to become president, but all eyes are on another battle between the cunningly conservative William F. Buckley Jr. and the unruly liberal Gore Vidal as a new frontier of American politics opens.

Whilst Tom Davis’s return to stand-up on 19^th May has already sold out, there is an alternate alternative comedy offering in the shape of The Quay’s Big Deal Comedy Night’s on Thursday 25^th May and Wednesday 28^th June.  These evenings promise the very best circuit comedians alongside resident MC Jason Stampe.

The Royal Opera House’s production of The Sleeping Beauty is broadcast live on Sunday 28^th May.  Prepare to be swept away by Tchaikovsky’s ravishing music and Oliver Messel’s sumptuous designs with this gem of a production.

It may be time to ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ on Friday 2^nd June because the greatest tribute to Jeff Lyne’s Electric Light Orchestra, ELO Encounter are arriving in Sudbury for one night only.

Sudbury-raised musician Matt Simpkins is a notorious ‘sinner-songwriter’ and the fourth generation of his family to become an ordained priest. A cancer diagnosis drew Matt back to music and in An Evening With Rev. Simpkins on Saturday 3^rd June he performs in his hometown for the very first time playing music from across his career, including his new project Pissabed Prophet.

Night of The Vampires is a theatrical anthology of the undead, retelling classic tales which will horrify you to the core on Wednesday 7^th June.

Rather than ‘One Wild Night’, The Quay is offering two when Wrong Jovi visit on Thursday 8th and Friday 9^th June.  These purveyors of pure rock promise to transform the auditorium in to an arena filled with the tunes of Jon Bon Jovi and his much loved band.

The Julie July Band make a welcome return on Saturday 10^th June with The Sandy Denny Experience. The evening promises Denny’s haunting compositions recreated alongside the band’s own work, inspired by the much-missed musician.

Il Trovatore is being broadcast live from the Royal Opera House to the Quay auditorium on Tuesday 13^th June.  Manrico and the Count di Luna compete for Leonora’s affections but little do they know that her mother has been keeping a terrible secret for decades.

A special birthday show is scheduled for the fabulous Robbie Gladwell who will be joined by a ‘Who’s Who’ of musical friends for an evening not to be missed on Friday 16^th June.

Twice voted the Best UK Tribute Band, Purple Zeppelin combine the music of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin on Saturday 17^th June.  Expect Ritchie Blackmore’s on-stage antics, Jimmy Page’s twin neck guitar and a very special violin bow solo.

Charlie Haylock’s informative and hilarious talk ‘An Eccentric Look at Suffolk’ is legendary and can reduce an audience to tears of laughter.  He returns to Sudbury on Wednesday 21^st June.

Mark Farrelly’s hugely acclaimed solo play Quentin Crisp : Naked Hope is a glorious, uplifting celebration of a genuinely unique life. Depicting degradation and adulation during two distinct periods of Crisp’s life, the show plays at The Quay on Thursday 22^nd June.

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Coburn brings his tribute John Lennon – In My Life to the theatre on Friday 23^rd June promising Beatles anecdotes alongside all the classics.

The Real Magic Show is an exciting showcase of some of the finest magicians in the country. Mind blowing tricks for ages 10+ are on offer on Saturday 24^th June.

The music of Depeche Mode is the focus for The Devout on Friday 30^th June when they bring their authentic reproduction of these classic songs to life with astounding visual and aural accuracy.

Sudbury Dramatic Society take on Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters this July with a run from the 4^th – 8^th.  This uplifting true story from the writer of Billy Elliot concerns a group of Northumbrian miners in 1934 who learn to paint.  Soon their work is the talk of the art world and exhibited to great acclaim.

On Tuesday 11^th July Mark Thomas will be appearing in England and Son a work in progress play written especially for him by Ed Edwards.  Expect deep, dark laughs and prepare for a kaleidoscopic odyssey where disaster-capitalism, Thatcherite politics and stolen wealth merge into the simple tale of a boy who just wants his dad to smile at him.

They say that behind every great man is a great woman and Liz Grand’s moving portrayal of Clementine Churchill has won countless plaudits whilst seeking to answer this perennial question. Mrs Churchill – My Life With Winston plays in Sudbury on Friday 14^th July.

The music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Cream are brought together by Voodoo Room a high-energy power-trio on Saturday 15^th July whilst Richard Hannay is reimagined by Jonathan Goodwin in The 39 Steps on Wednesday 19^th.  Can the riddle of The Black Stone be solved in time to avert a global conflict?

The Beyond Shakespeare team return to The Quay this summer for an evening of history, drama and literature, this time exploring The Battle of Bosworth Field on Thursday 20^th July.

Two bands grace the stage on Saturday 22^nd July, namely Who Are You and The Konks.  Reprising the hits of The Who and The Kinks respectively, the sound, dynamics and feel of these two groups will be recreated in an evening of timeless classics.

DOT Productions bring not one, but two shows to the theatre on Wednesday 16^th August.  Firstly an enchanting interpretation of, Alice In Wonderland for younger audiences in the afternoon and secondly an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion in the evening.

The Bubble Show is a phenomenon. An enchanting show for all the family.  On Tuesday 22^nd August The Quay stage will be bedecked with bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles and square bubbles. There will be magic, there will be science and there will be storytelling. Be sure not to miss out.

Finally, on Friday 25^th August the The George Harrison Project promises the best loved hits from the Liverpudlian’s solo career and his time with The Beatles and The Traveling WIlburys.