Community shows with twists, turns and tunes aplenty!

Gala performances, showcase events and tribute opportunities rule in theatre-land this month. Pulse’s Sammy Jones has your preview…

There’s an opportunity to check in on rising talents from the town (July 2) when Limelight Theatre School presents Groovy Baby at the Derngate.

The young talents will lead you on a journey back to the ‘60s and cut loose the best songs from the decade that swung!

The UK premiere of composer James Burton’s The Lost Words will be realised at the venue (July 5) when choirs from across the primary and secondary schools of the David Ross Education Trust clear their throats and release their voices in the work which ‘celebrates the wonder of the natural world through a series of spell-poems.’

Local talent continues to shine with The Big Top Murders: A Musical Double Bill (July 7 & 8) at the Underground, courtesy of the Royal & Derngate Youth Theatre & Young Company.

Brace yourself for twists and turns and toe-tapping tunes as intriguing plots of love, deceit and shattered dreams unfold.

Classical music fans will be thrilled by the arrival of conductor Delyana Lazarova, who visits the Derngate (July 7) with the orchestra of the East Midlands, Sinfonia Viva to deliver Beethoven’s Symphony No.3, Eroica. 

The piece revels in drama and flamboyance and ignited the spark for what would become the Romantic period.

The musical programme continues a day later, but the genre will be rather different; the UK Pink Floyd Experience will celebrate 50 years of the classic Floyd opus, The Dark Side of The Moon in a two hour celebration of the band, complete with a befitting light show.

There’s a double bill of NMPAT: Generations 2023 (July 9) with performances by County Junior Orchestra, County Junior Brass Ensemble, County Junior Strings, Jazz 3, NMPAT Singers and County Junior Wind Orchestra at midday, with a second concert – from 6pm – featuring County Training Wind Orchestra, Guitarlactica, County Training Brass Band, Jazz 2 and County Training Orchestra.

Caitlin Moran (July 10) pops by to discuss her brand new book, What About Men?

‘Come and join the start of a new, urgent, but also often amusing conversation – and bring your husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, nephews, boyfriends and best friends with you,’ she urges, ‘Porn, violence, Star Wars, fatherhood, sex, banter, Andrew Tate, Jordan B Peterson’s lobsters, and what’s actually good about masculinity: we’ll discuss it all.’

If you fancy saying ‘hi’ Caitlin will be signing copies of the page-turner post-show.

The Royal & Derngate Actors Company will present a funny, high-energy, swashbuckling adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel The Three Musketeers (July 14 & 15, Royal).

Back at the Derngate, Open Stage Performing Arts Company presents Any Way We Want It! (July 15) in a show featuring their entire school of children and adults, and bursting with ballet, tap, modern, classical Greek and jazz dance, and much more. There will be fancy footwork, and plenty of it in this afternoon show.

And while we’re on the subject of toe-tapping, Dancing Schools UK – The Final will have more.

The 10th annual presentation of this ballroom and latin dance event sees regional schools from Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire competing to be crowned champions and lift the glitter ball trophy.

Musical theatre meets circus in CIRQUE: The Greatest Show (July 18 & 19) in a brand new variety spectacular that will leave the whole family agape with its spellbinding style and kaleidoscopic colour, and huge numbers from your favourite shows.

The Royal & Derngate Community Choir present Windrush 75 (July 21 & 22, The Royal), part verbatim, part theatre and part musical this new show boasts original songs inspired by local people, reflecting the positive impact of Windrush, both here in Northamptonshire, and nationally.

Over at The Old Savoy, the Ultimate Acro Gala (July 2) will celebrate the talent and artistry of acrobatic dancers from across the country; from high-flying aerial routines to intricate balances and lifts, this performance promises to leave you amazed and inspired. And maybe a bit dizzy?

If tribute shows get you excited, you’ll want to set up temporary base at The Core in Corby this month, with tributes to Neil Diamond (A Beautiful Noise, July 13), Pink Floyd (The Floyd Effect, July 14), The Small Faces (All or Nothing Experience, July 15), 80s pop superstars (Club 80s, July 20) and Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Bac, July 21).

> Book tickets:

Derngate, Royal & Underground: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Old Savoy: theoldsavoy.co.uk

The Core: thecorecorby.com