What’s on at the theatre this March in Northampton

The Derngate has so many comedy nights ahead this month that Sammy Jones has had to write her own one-liners to give them all a plug!
It’s not all comedy though; death and disease in the Middle Ages gets a mention, and The Old Savoy is bringing smart lady Coleen Nolan to the stage.
Here’s the lowdown…

The giggles start with Stewart Lee (Derngate, March 1) who returns for another outing of Basic Lee. The man who is known for his groundbreaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, is doing an about turn with this delivery; just one man and his mic.
Al Murray is back as The Pub Landlord in Guv Island (March 2), Axel Blake, 2022’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent will be In Style (March 3, Royal), and Miles Jupp (March 5, Royal) presents On I Bang, ‘a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified practitioners.’

Rosie Jones (March 8, Royal) will deliver a show of unapologetic cheekiness, nonsensical fun and unadulterated joy, which she has titled Triple Threat.

The decidedly sharp dressed man that is Troy Hawke arrives with The Greeters Guild (March 9, Royal). We spent a night in his company (not that sort of a night!) in Milton Keynes recently, and Troy was terrific, which won’t come as a surprise to those of you who have enjoyed his exploits online.

Troy will ‘examine his unlikely genesis and explore why a well-dressed man being nice to people has caused such a kerfuffle.’
To date, he has puzzled Premiership footballers, been threatened by heavyweight boxers and improved the vocabulary of Formula 1 winners. He’s nothing if not sporting!

Ross Noble’s Jibber Jabber Jamboree (March 12, Derngate) is his 21st solo stand-up tour, but it’s rather pointless to try and guess what he’ll wax lyrical about. He probably doesn’t even know himself yet.

The Scummy Mummies present Greatest Hits (March 14, Derngate) with their most-loved songs, sketches and stand up. ‘Guaranteed to make you feel normal about your parenting skills, or very smug about being child-free,’ they promise, ‘Bring your gin-in-a-tin, pop a panty liner in, and let’s party!’

Ania Magliano delivers I Can’t Believe You’ve Done This, about the worst haircut of her life (March 16, Underground). The same day, Matt Green brings That Guy to The Royal. Take a pew for a show featuring jokes about politics and jokes not about politics.

Iain Stirling is Relevant (March 20, Royal), Lucy Beaumont (March 20, Derngate) presents The Trouble and Strife, and Daniel O’Reilly (March 21, Royal) will talk you through Out of Character – a look at the mischief, the mistakes and the madness of his career so far.

Comedy aside, here are some of the other goodies coming for you in March.

Professor Alice Roberts (March 7, Royal) will be back on the stage to launch her new book, Crypt, the final instalment in her trilogy exploring the experience of life, death and disease in the Middle Ages and beyond.

Alice looks at the archaeological evidence for terrible brutality directed at an ethnic minority in medieval England, explores the impact of incurable epidemics sweeping through Europe, and finds out how modern science is unlocking secrets from the watery grave of the Mary Rose shipwreck.

Zog and the Flying Doctors (March 15-17, Derngate) will charm young minds; this delivery is perfect for little folks aged three years and up.
New dark comedy Cracking (March 19, Royal) is part stand-up, part theatre and it’s being sold as a funny, touching thought-provoking solo performance that sews together fact and fiction into one seamless whole.

If you saw the Oscar winning film starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman you’ll know all about The Father (March 22 & 23, Royal), which exposes the emotional toll dementia takes on a man and his family – told through the eyes of the man with the condition. Local actors Ian Spiby and Kate Billingham star.
Over at The Old Savoy (March 2), Loose Woman Coleen Nolan will take centre stage in her first solo show, Naked. She’ll sing the songs that have been the soundtrack to her life, and there will be time for a chat too. Read our exclusive interview with Coleen on pages 8 to 10 for more.