There’s never a dull month when it comes to theatre in the Midlands. Check out our selection of shows coming to venues across the region during the next few weeks... 

THE RED SHOES

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s dark fairy tale about a pair of enchanted shoes that take their wearer to places she doesn’t want to go, The Red Shoes has here been adapted by Nancy Harris and brought into the 21st century. 
The production is helmed by Kimberley Rampersad, making her Royal Shakespeare Company debut, and carries an age recommendation of seven-plus, with parental discretion advised for children younger than 12.

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sunday 19 January

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THE THREE MUSKETEERS

There’s plenty of swashbuckling fun to be had at the New Vic Theatre this festive season, courtesy of an imaginative stage version of Alexandre Dumas’ classic adventure novel The Three Musketeers. 
The story has been adapted by New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins, who reveals that the show was chosen after the theatre had engaged with prospective audience members: “Christmas is a time of year when our local families and schools look forward to the treat of a theatre outing together, and so we asked them what they would like to see this year. The answer came back loud and clear.  Theatre-in-the-round loves action, so their choice of an all-action adventure is perfect for the New Vic’s unique space.”

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until Saturday 25 January

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PETER PAN

A trip to Neverland is on the cards for Hippodrome audiences this Christmas, with the nowadays-near-legendary Matt Slack all set to shiver the timbers as salty seadog Smee, in what will be his 11th consecutive panto at the venue. 
And, as usual, the show’s humour will be aimed at both children and adults. 
“You’ve got to know where to draw the line and when to push the boundaries,” explains Matt. “We are aimed towards a family audience, but we also want to entertain the adults. It’s all about double entendre and disguising it - as long as it goes over the kids’ heads and the adults are laughing, job done!” 
Birmingham’s very own Alison Hammond will be joining Matt for the second year running, playing the Magical Mermaid. Danny Mac also stars. 

Birmingham Hippodrome, until Sunday 2 February

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THE SNOWMAN

Making a welcome return to The Rep in its traditional New Year slot, Raymond Briggs' The Snowman is best known, of course, for Howard Blake's classic song Walking In The Air.

When a young boy’s snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve, the two set off on a nighttime quest for excitement. On their travels, they meet reindeer, dancing penguins and some of the Snowman’s many and varied friends. 

The adventure's not without its anxieties, however, with the evil Jack Frost eager to get his icy mits on the pair of unlikely chums...

The Rep, Birmingham, until Sunday 12 January

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DRACULA

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is best known from its many and varied cinematic incarnations - but as theatrical productions like The Woman In Black have ably illustrated, a spinetingling story of horror can work just as well on the stage as on the screen... 
Cue, the critically acclaimed Blackeyed Theatre’s brand-new adaptation, a production which imaginatively blends Victorian Gothic with the contemporary... 
The company has deemed the show suitable for audience members aged 11 upwards.

Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 14 - Saturday 18 January; Lichfield Garrick, Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 April; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Friday 18 & Saturday 19 April

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BLOOD BROTHERS

Although it’s effectively a class-driven ‘scouse melodrama’, to describe Blood Brothers as such is to greatly underestimate the emotional response it produces within its audience. 

The show features adult actors playing children, a narrator who wanders through the scenes with warnings of impending doom, a good helping of sharp social awareness to counteract the sticky sentimentality, and a raft of much-loved musical numbers, including Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s Not True. Vivienne Carlyle takes the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone.   

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 21 - Saturday 25 January 

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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF)

A unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story, Pride And Prejudice*(*sort of) has proved a winner with critics and audiences alike. Indeed, celebrity fan Stephen Fry has described it as an evening of “hilarity, romance, madness and utter theatrical joy”. Alongside the raucously irreverent but admirably affectionate retelling of Austen’s rollercoaster romance, the 2022 Olivier Award winner also boasts a host of pop classics, including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain. 

Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

Malvern Festival Theatre, Tuesday 21 - Sat 25 January; The Rep, Birmingham, Monday 3 - Saturday 8 February; Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 13 - Saturday 17 May

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BIRDSONG

Sebastian Faulks’ epic and bestselling novel is set both before and during the Great War. It follows the fortunes of the young Stephen Wraysford as he embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire... 
This stage version was written by Rachel Wagstaff, who claims she got the nod from Faulks to adapt his novel after she impressed him by knowing the most recent result of his beloved football club, West Ham United. 

The Rep, Birmingham, Monday 27 January - Saturday 1 February

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MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

Following a sell-out tour of the best-selling crime novel of all time, And Then There Were None, Fiery Angel Productions and Lucy Bailey (Director of West End Witness For The Prosecution) will bring Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of another Agatha Christie classic to the stage in 2024.

Winter 1934 and an avalanche stops The Orient Express dead in its tracks. One murderer. A train full of suspects. An impossible case. Trapped in the snow with a killer still on-board, can the world’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot, crack the case before the train reaches its final destination?

Murder on The Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie’s greatest literary achievements, with a final twist that is amongst her very best. Gripping, tense and masterfully cryptic, this brand-new production is a deliciously thrilling ride and an ingenious murder mystery, guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end of the line.

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 28 January - Saturday 1 February

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THE SHARK IS BROKEN

Jaws - Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough big-screen offering - opened in cinemas a half century ago this year and caused a major splash. 

Based on the same-named bestselling novel by Peter Benchley and starring theatre veteran Robert Shaw alongside two young Hollywood hotshots, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider, the film told the story of a summer resort town being terrorised by a great white shark. 

Jaws may have become an immediate classic, but the cast and crew were certainly swimming in choppy waters during the making of the movie... This Olivier Award-nominated play is set in 1974 and takes a look behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s best loved and most famous blockbusters. Robert Shaw’s son, Ian, stars as his own dad in a show that’s described by its publicity as 95 minutes of ‘short tempers and short circuits, with no intermission’. 

Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 28 January - Saturday 1 February; The Rep, Birmingham, Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 May

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QUEENZ: DRAG ME TO THE DISCO

Loved and adored by celebrities including Gary Barlow and Dawn French, Queenz is described as ‘a trailblazing, life-affirming drag extravaganza that’s currently taking the UK by storm’. 
This latest show sees a selection of dazzling divas performing the biggest disco hits of all time - and if their previous production is anything to go by, there won’t be a lip-sync in sight! 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Friday 31 January; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thusday 13 March

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HAIRSPRAY

Theatre-goers looking for a memorable night of singalong fun should definitely catch this high-energy bubblegum musical when it stops off in the region this month. 
A show which has retained its popularity despite doing the rounds for many a year now, Hairspray is set in 1960s Baltimore and follows the trials and tribulations of the lovable Tracy Turnblad, a young girl whose dreams of dancing on national TV lead her somewhat unexpectedly to fighting a battle against racial segregation.
Boasting hit numbers including Welcome To The 60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat and Good Morning Baltimore, this latest touring version of the show features former Strictly Come Dancing star Joanne Clifton as Velma von Tussle and is directed by Hairspray veteran Brenda Edwards.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 3 - Saturday 8 February

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AN INSPECTOR CALLS

When Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family, his startling revelations not only shatter the foundations of their lives but also challenge them to examine their consciences...
Anybody who’s seen a production of JB Priestley’s classic 1945 play will have no trouble understanding why it’s been such a long-time worldwide hit. 
Presented by the National Theatre, Stephen Daldry’s epic production has won 19 major awards and been seen by more than five million theatregoers worldwide.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 February; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 March; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 May

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DAZZLING DIAMONDS

If you’ve been on the lookout for a comedy variety drag show, then your search is at an end! Bringing together ‘high-energy dance routines, spectacular live vocals, side-splitting comedy sketches and spectacular costumes’, Dazzling Diamonds features three critically acclaimed drag artists who are promising their audience an evening awash with ‘glamour, laughter and fun’. 

Brierley Civic, Friday 21 February; Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Saturday 22 February; Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 1 March

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CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

Everybody's favourite flying car makes a welcome return to the region, complete with the Sherman Brothers’ memorable score and a high-energy cast headed by Adam Garcia, Liam Fox and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne (Hippodrome casting tbc).
When eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts creates an amazing flying automobile, he uses it to take his family to the fictional country of Vulgaria. But all is not well in the European barony, where the sinister Baron Bomburst has decided to make children illegal...
Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song feature among the show’s best-known musical numbers.

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesday 4 - Sunday 9 March

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LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND

Eight years after Victoria Wood’s untimely death, Paulus The Cabaret Geek is touring this well-reviewed tribute to the comedy legend. As well as providing a whistle-stop tour of some of Victoria’s best-loved songs - including, of course, the iconic Ballad Of Barry & Freda (Let’s Do It) - the show also aims to offer a beginner’s guide to the comedian’s career for anybody yet to discover her. 

Black Heath Library, Sandwell, Friday 7 March

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ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES THE MUSICAL

Become reacquainted with loveable rogue Del Boy in this touring version of the hit West End musical. Based on John Sullivan’s classic BBC TV sitcom, the stage show is co-written by comedy legend Paul Whitehouse and John’s son, Jim. Much-loved characters Rodney, Cassandra, Grandad, Boycie and Marlene are all present and correct, as are more than 20 'hilarious' songs and a re-worked version of Chas & Dave’s iconic theme tune. 

Birmingham Hippodrome, Monday 31 March - Saturday 12 April

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DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen makes a welcome return to the Midlands. The show focuses on title character and high-school student Evan, a young man struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder, who has a therapeutic and self-intended letter stolen by classmate Connor Murphy. 
When Connor later dies by suicide, Evan inserts himself into the boy's past, a decision that leads to a series of lies and confrontational events...

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 1 - Saturday 5 April   

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GHOST THE MUSICAL

The ever-popular stage version of the award-winning film makes a welcome return to the Midlands. For those not in the know, the production tells the story of a ghost named Sam, who, caught between this world and the next, desperately attempts to communicate with girlfriend Molly and warn her that she’s in mortal danger from his murderer...
A timeless tale about the power of love - and beautifully blending the genres of romance and comedy - Ghost features The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody and numerous songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. The cast includes Les Dennis. 

The Alexandra, Brimingham, Tuesday 1 - Saturday 5 April

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THE BADDIES

Given the success of so many other stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s hugely popular stories (see, for example, The Smartest Giant In Town elsewhere on this page), it’s a real no-brainer to mount a live version of The Baddies. 
The company behind the show is Freckle Productions, who’ve got plenty of form when it comes to brilliant stage adaptations of Donaldson’s terrific tales. This one focuses on a witch, a troll and an ancient ghost who love nothing more than being very, very bad... Expect your kids to laugh out loud.

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tuesday 8 - Sunday 13 April

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THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN

Fierylight & Little Angel Theatre are the creatives behind this stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story. 
The title character is George, a giant who decides his scruffy days are a thing of the past and buys himself some oversized clothes. But when he encounters various animals needing his assistance - and, more particularly, his newly purchased items of clothing - George soon realises that it isn’t clothes that maketh the giant but rather a gargantuan sense of generosity and a colossal warm heart... 

Birmingham Town Hall, Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 April

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DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE

Dinosaurs are once again roaming the Midlands this autumn, thanks to this interactive show for all the family to enjoy. Youngsters get to meet a host of impressive prehistoric creatures - including, of course, every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. A special meet & greet after the show provides the perfect opportunity to make a new dinosaur friend. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tuesday 22 - Thursday 24 April

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CHICAGO

Featuring formation dancing, vaudeville influence and no shortage of fishnet tights, Broadway and West End hit Chicago delves into the dark and decidedly murky underbelly of the Windy City during the Jazz Age.
Kander & Ebb’s legendary musical, based on real-life events in the Roaring ’20s, centres on the character of Roxie Hart, a nightclub singer who shoots her lover. Together with her cell-block rival, double murderess Velma Kelly, Roxie battles to stay off Death Row - an endeavour in which she is ably assisted by smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn...
Coronation Street’s Faye Brookes and former Strictly Come Dancing favourite Kevin Clifton take the lead roles. 

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Monday 14 - Saturday 19 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 23 - Saturday 28 June

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& JULIET

Premiered in 2019 and featuring a string of hits by Max Martin, & Juliet tells an alternative story of Shakespeare’s famous heroine. 
In sharp contrast to the original tale, this one sees Juliet realising that she can survive without Romeo - a revelation that prompts her to set off on her own journey, both in love and life.
The award-winning production, which has proved a massive hit across four continents, visits the Midlands this month with former X Factor winner Matt Cardle taking on the role of the Stratford bard himself. 
“People will have assumptions because the show is about Juliet,” says Matt. “If you like Shakespeare and his plays, then great, you’ll come along. But if you have any fear that it might be Shakespearean and you’re not into that, that’s fine, because it’s not anything to do with Shakespeare. It’s spawned from one of his plays, but that’s as far as it goes. There’s a mention of it at the beginning, but the rest is absolutely brand new.
“This is one of the most joyous two hours you’ll spend in a long time. It will have you laughing, it will have you crying, it will have you up dancing. The message that runs through the show is that love is love - you can love whoever you want, you can be whoever you want - set to the most iconic pop tunes of the last 20 years. I defy anyone not to have the best time ever.”     

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesday 22 April - Saturday 3 May; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Monday 12 - Saturday 17 May