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...

FRANKIE GOES TO BOLLYWOOD

Frankie never wanted to be a star; she just wanted a family. But after a chance encounter with an up-and-coming director, she finds herself transported to Bollywood...

Described as a breathtakingly colourful journey of romance, sweeping songs and vibrant dance, Frankie Goes To Bollywood has been inspired by real stories of British women who’ve been ‘caught in the spotlight of the biggest film industry in the world’.

The show is a Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre and HOME Manchester co-production.

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, until Saturday 6 July

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WHAT THE BUTLER SAW

Joe Orton’s fast-moving farce is somewhat overshadowed by two of his other plays - the scandalous black comedies Entertaining Mr Sloane and Loot - and there’s a very good reason why; Orton completed What The Butler Saw just a month before he was brutally bludgeoned to death by his lover, Kenneth Halliwell, in the summer of 1967, meaning that he had no time to give the script what he called in his diary ‘the final polish’... The play is here getting new life breathed into it by London Classic Theatre.

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until Saturday 6 July; Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 9 - Saturday 13 July

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THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL

When Sir Peter Teazle marries a young country girl, he assumes that her innocence and naivety will ensure she’s of little bother to him. But he’s reckoned without his new wife’s decision to take up with three of the most outrageous scandalmongers in town...
Sheridan’s 18th-century comedy here receives the RSC treatment, with the Company promising ‘an exuberant feast of big wigs and even bigger laughs’ in a show that’s ‘styled to the nines with period flair’.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Friday 6 September

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TWELFTH NIGHT: A CORNISH DELIGHT

Comedian Seann Walsh takes on the coveted role of Malvolio in this Stafford Festival Shakespeare production, the second to be performed in the Gatehouse theatre rather than outdoors in the grounds of the town’s castle. 

As with many Shakespeare comedies, Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy and causing all manner of awkward romantic shenanigans. However, the play’s continuing popularity can mainly be attributed to its hilarious (well, by Shakespeare’s standards anyway) comic sub-plot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch and his foolish companion, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, seek to humiliate the pompous Malvolio (and achieve their aim in fine style)... 

As the show’s subtitle makes clear, this particular version of Twelfth Night comes complete with a Cornish theme. 
Natalie Anderson and the Bafta-winning Molly Windsor also star.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, until Sunday 7 July

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KYOTO

Written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, Kyoto is being produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with Good Chance - of which the aforementioned Joes are founders and co-artistic directors. The organisation started life in the Calais ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in the mid-2010s, where thousands of people were waiting for their ‘good chance’ to reach the UK. When the Joes visited the camp, they decided to build a dome theatre there, so that people of all nationalities could come together to share stories, music and art. 

Having since enjoyed a major critical success with a play about the refugee experience (The Jungle), Murphy and Robertson have now turned their attention to another highly topical subject: climate change... 
Described as a fast-paced political thriller, their new play takes audiences into the heart of the historic 1997 climate summit, which took place in the Japanese city of Kyoto (hence the title). 

With time running out, the world’s nations scrabble to agree the first-ever legally binding emissions targets. They’re desperate to get the deal signed, sealed and delivered - but American oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman has other ideas... 

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 13 July

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HAMILTON

It would require a seriously strong mantelpiece to successfully support all the silverware that this breathtakingly impressive show has accumulated across the years... 
Its roll-call of glittering gongs includes 11 Tonys, seven Oliviers, the Pulitzer Prize for drama and a Grammy for best musical theatre album. 
Blending hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s cultural phenomenon tells the story of America’s Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. An immigrant from the West Indies, Hamilton became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape the foundations of modern-day America.
“People love the show for so many different things,” says Sam Oladeinde, who plays Hamilton’s friend and then nemesis, Aaron Burr. “Every single element of the show is a strength - the choreography, the direction, the music, the band, the performances on stage, the sound, the lighting. The show has won record numbers of awards in the UK, in America, around the world, and that’s for a very good reason.”

Birmingham Hippodrome, until Saturday 31 August

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UNCANNY: I KNOW WHAT I SAW

Danny Robins, the creative force behind  spooky podcast The Battersea Poltergeist and spinetingling stage production 2:22 - A Ghost Story, here makes a welcome return with a chilling showcase of ‘true’ stories of the supernatural. 
Brought to life through ‘thrilling theatrical invention in a mix of projection, sound and spellbinding storytelling’, the terrifying tales relate to very modern hauntings. 
Danny and the team will not only be recounting the strange encounters but also debating what they think actually happened in each case.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 3 July

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CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW

Musical theatre and jaw-dropping circus combine in this intriguing touring show. The production sees stars of the West End performing alongside ‘amazing aerialists, incredible contortionists and fabulous fire jugglers’ as they undertake ‘thrilling feats of agility and flair’...

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 4 July; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thursday 27 July; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Friday 13 September

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THE SCUMMY MUMMIES PODCAST LIVE

“Our speciality is comedy for less-than-perfect parents, so that means all parents!” says Ellie Gibson about Scummy Mummies, her popular double act with Helen Thorn. “Our live comedy shows cover a wide range of parenting topics - from pelvic floors and play-dates to farting and fish fingers. Expect songs, sketches, stand-up and very scummy stories!” 

Ellie and Helen will be joined for their afternoon show at MAC by local MP Jess Phillips, who will be talking about the ways in which she has supported and championed women and mothers.

Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Saturday 6 July

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RHYTHM OF THE DANCE

Audiences are promised an evening of fabulous flutes, flailing fiddles and inspiring dances when popular touring show Rhythm Of The Dance stops off in the Midlands this month. 
Taking its fans on a two-hour trip through hundreds of years of Irish dance and music, the hit show boasts award-winning world and Irish dance champions, multiple costume changes, a state-of-the-art light & sound presentation, and performances by talented vocalists and multi-instrumentalist musicians. 
If you’ve never before seen the production, this month’s Midlands stop-offs provide a perfect opportunity to catch up with one of the most popular Irish step dance shows in the world.

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 6 July; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Friday 12 July; Malvern Theatres, Worcestershire, Sunday 14 July

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ODDSOCKS: JULIUS CAESAR

When Roman emperor Caesar is assassinated by a group of prominent senators, one of his staunchest supporters, Mark Antony, manages not only to turn the crowd against the conspirators but also to defeat them in battle... 

But let’s avoid getting too bogged down in the whys and wherefores of Shakespeare’s extremely serious tale of conspiracy and bloody murder - given that it’s here being presented by zany funsters Oddsocks! 
The ever-entertaining band of theatricals are promising their audiences thrills and spills aplenty, including the tearing of togas, the swishing of swords, some splendidly preposterous puppetry and the biggest battle scene ever created by five actors. 

In short, it’s time to brace yourself for the kind of laughs you have no right to expect in a production of Julius Caesar... 

Bowring Park, Telford, Sunday 7 July; Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Thursday 12 July; Victoria Gardens, Tewkesbury, Sunday 14 July; Brueton Park, Solihull, Tuesday 13 August  

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ANTON DU BEKE AND GIOVANNI PERNICE: TOGETHER

Are you in urgent need of a Strictly ‘booster-jab’ while waiting for the arrival of the 2024 series? Then this is most definitely the production for you. Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice, two of the hit BBC TV series’ biggest and all-time best-loved professional dancers, are here joining forces to present a show that’s being described as a mesmerising experience for all ages.  
It was recently announced that Giovanni won’t be participating in the next series of Strictly, making it even more important for his legion of fans that they catch up with him in this live touring show.
Expect ‘breathtaking routines, innovative choreography, and a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary dance styles’.  

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 9 & Wednesday 10 July; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Friday 12 July

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PLAYER KINGS

Here renamed, Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays offer up some of his most beautifully drawn characters, including Mistress Quickly, Pistol, Justice Shallow and irrepressible comic knight Sir John Falstaff.             

 The epic tale finds England in turmoil, the king’s position weak, the Prince of Wales under the corrupting influence of Falstaff, and civil war inevitable...                                       

This highly acclaimed modern-dress production stars Sir Ian McKellen, who, perhaps surprisingly, is here playing the larger-than-life Falstaff for the very first time in his distinguished career. 

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 July

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THE GURFFALO

Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s delightful children’s book is once again brought vividly to life, this time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its publication. The Gruffalo is presented by award-winning theatre company Tall Stories, who’ve garnered an excellent reputation in terms of performing Donaldson & Scheffler’s work. Their imaginative retelling of the much-loved story comes complete with talented cast, catchy songs and magical characters.

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Thursday 11 & Friday 12 July; Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 September

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UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE WITCH

Marketed as a tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers, Unfortunate has a subtitle that makes it pretty clear what the show is all about. 

Ursula, for those who’ve never come across the character before, is a villainous sea witch and the main antagonist in the 1989 animated film, The Little Mermaid. 

A Disney Diva par excellence, she’s been making waves in her very own stage musical for the past five years and visits Birmingham this month in the form of Orange Is The New Black’s Shawna Hamic.
The show features strong language, partial nudity, scenes of a sexual nature and plenty of trademark filthy humour - so if you’re of a decidedly delicate disposition, you may want to go swim in a different sea.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 11 - Sunday 14 July

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MY SON'S A QUEER (BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?)

Written & performed by ‘social-media sensation’ Rob Madge, this Olivier Award-nominated production is a celebration of ‘the joy and chaos of raising a queer child’. Age-guidance for the show is 12-plus and comes with a rather unusual warning: Contains some swearing, a fair bit of precociousness and scenes of utter joy. May cause happiness! 

Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thursday 11 - Saturday 13 July; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Monday 15 - Wednesday 17 July

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THE SORCERER

Charles Court Opera here presents a real treat for Gilbert & Sullivan fans on the final day of this year’s Lichfield Festival...
Rarely performed and not widely known, The Sorcerer was one of G&S’s very first operas. Premiering in the autumn of 1877, it focuses on the character of Alexis, a man whose obsession with the idea that everybody should fall in love leads to him enlisting a sorcerer from London to administer a love potion to the entire village in which he lives. But as each villager falls for the first person they see after partaking of the magical brew, it soon becomes apparent that love may not always be a many-splendoured thing...

The Hub at St Marys Lichfield, Sunday 14 July

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GREASE

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and get ready for the most fun-filled high-octane rock’n’roll party of them all. Grease is the original high-school musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit 1978 film, including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy and Greased Lightnin’.

Leicester Curve’s artistic director, Nikolai Foster, helms this latest touring version, with choreography by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips.

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Monday 15 - Saturday 20 July

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PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL

Based on the still-adored 1990 movie that turned Julia Roberts into a superstar, the musical stage version of Pretty Woman has become quite a phenomenon in its own right, with record-breaking runs on Broadway and in the West End.

Co-written by the film’s director, the late Garry Marshall - best known as the man behind 1970s TV hits Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy - the show comes complete with original music & lyrics by pop superstar Bryan Adams (and his long-term collaborator, Jim Vallance). Two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell both choreographs and directs the production. Amber Davies, Oliver Savile and Ore Oduba take the lead roles.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Monday 15 - Saturday 20 July; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 20 - Saturday 24 August

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LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE

The trials and tribulations of relationships - not forgetting the associated subjects of dating, sex, weddings, babies and divorces - offer plenty of ripe subject matter for playwright/lyricist Joe DiPietro & composer Jimmy Roberts’ highly regarded show. 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 16 - Saturday 20 July

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HERE YOU COME AGAIN: THE DOLLY PARTON MUSICAL

‘Rollicking and joyous new musical’ Here You Come Again features the music of Dolly Parton and centres around the character of diehard Dolly fan Kevin, who finds solace in his own imagined version of the woman herself.
“The show is very funny,” says Steven Webb, who plays Kevin. “It’s a really touching journey of self-discovery and self-healing, and comes with the awesome back-catalogue of Dolly Parton’s songs. It’s not a ‘jukebox musical’; it’s just me and Dolly Parton in an attic, listening to her music.”

Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 16 - Saturday 20 July; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tueday 10 - Saturday 14 September

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CHARLIE COOKE'S FAVOURITE BOOK

Given the success of so many other stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s hugely popular stories (see, for example, Zog And The Flying Doctors elsewhere on this page), it’s a real no-brainer to mount a live version of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book. 

Presented via the ever-popular combination of clever puppetry and enchanting songs, the show follows Charlie’s attempts to get his sister to read. 

Charlie himself loves reading. For him, there’s nothing better than settling down to enjoy a favourite book about a pirate... who also has a favourite book... about Goldilocks... who also has a favourite book... about a knight... who also has a favourite book... You get the idea?... 

Created for children aged between three and eight, the show has a running time of one hour.

Palace Theatre, Redditch, Tuesday 16 - Wednesday 17 July; Theatre Severn, Shrewbury, Friday 27 - Sunday 29 September  

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THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

Everybody’s favourite tea-guzzling tiger is back in town, dropping in on Sophie and her mum just as they’re settling down for an afternoon cuppa... Adapted by David Wood from the late Judith Kerr’s 1968 book of the same name, this 55-minute show features singalong songs and plenty of magic - not to mention a big, stripey tiger, of course!

Worcester Swan Theatre, Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 July

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THE HAUNTING OF BLAINE MANOR

When Doctor Roy Earle, a renowned American parapsychologist famous for discrediting hauntings and exposing fake mediums, accepts an invitation to attend a seance at ‘the most haunted building in England’ - the Blaine Manor of the title - he finds himself, along with his companions for the evening, temporarily cut off from the outside world by a raging storm. 
And as every lover of the ghost/horror genre very well knows, where there’s a raging storm and a haunted house, there are also, inevitably, things that go bump in the night...
An award-winning love letter to both the Golden Age of Hollywood and the era of Hammer Horror movies here in the UK, The Haunting Of Blaine Manor is described by its publicity as the new Woman In Black - only scarier. That’s quite a claim to make, but then there are also plenty of theatre critics and audience members who would be in absolute agreement about its quality.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thursday 18 & Friday 19 July

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ACCIDENTAL INFULENCER

This lighthearted exploration of the digital age’s impact on identity and success features cabaret performer and self-proclaimed internet idiot Stage Door Johnny - a man who, back in 2020 and the days of lockdown, found himself unexpectedly catapulted to social-media stardom, ‘all while stuck in a flat in the West Midlands’.

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Friday 19 & Sunday 21 July

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MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE

An anarchic approach to science communication is the name of the game when the Ministry Of Science comes to town. 

As well as taking a look at the inventors and engineers who’ve shaped and inspired the modern world, the show’s presenters will be conducting clever demonstrations aplenty - so expect the occasional loud bang! 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sunday 21 July

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CLUEDO 2

Inspired by the success of the original Cluedo play, this brand-new comedy whodunnit is based on the famous detective boardgame of the same name. 

Heartbeat and Casualty star Jason Durr and Strictly champion Ellie Leach top-bill in a Swinging 60s-set show that features a new house, new suspects, and plenty of dead bodies...

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 July

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SAUNA BOY

Award-winning writer & performer Dan Ireland-Reeves takes a semi-autobiographical look behind one of the world’s most secretive and seductive industries: the gay sauna.

“I tell the stories really candidly,” Dan recently explained to festmag.com, “without getting bogged down in the disgusting minutia of it all. I try to do it no-holds-barred. That’s how I like to tell all stories, really - from a place of truth, not just pornographic titillation.”

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thursday 25 - Sunday 27 July

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MY MOTHER'S FUNERAL: THE SHOW

A new play by Kelly Jones, My Mother’s Funeral: The Show not only tackles the inequalities around death but also looks at the cost of turning a loved one into art...
The production is a collaborative venture, with one of the partners being Paines Plough, a London-based company whose 50th anniversary has coincided with them announcing a move to the Coventry Belgrade. 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 July  

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FIREMAN SAM

Now an impressive 37 years into his firefighting career, Fireman Sam is still putting out blazes in Pontypandy and lighting up children’s eyes with delight. 

In this brand-new adventure, perpetual troublemaker Norman Price follows two famous animal explorers into the mountains and ends up stranded in a cave. As ever, it falls to Fireman Sam to come to the rescue and save the day...

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thursday 25 July; William Aston Hall, Wrexham, Saturday 3 August; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Saturday 24 August

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PERICLES

A rarely performed Shakespeare play - perhaps in part because of questions over its authorship - Pericles sees the title character fleeing for his life after learning of an incestuous relationship between King Antiochus and his daughter... 

This new Royal Shakespeare Company production is helmed by Tamara Harvey, who recently became the RSC’s co-artistic director.

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Friday 26 July - Saturday 21 September

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BLUEY'S BIG PLAY

Blue Heeler puppy Bluey has certainly had plenty to bark about since making her television debut six years ago. The Australian animated pre-school series in which she stars has not only developed a huge international fanbase but also picked up a prestigious Emmy award.
On the back of such global success, it was only a matter of time before the popular pup’s adventures made it onto the stage... This 50-minute show finds Bluey and younger sister Bingo determined to thwart their dad’s plan to enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon...

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 July

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THE WIZARD OF OZ

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne stars as the Wicked Witch of the West in this classic story from the imagination of L Frank Baum.  
A marvellous mix of magic, mayhem and munchkins, the terrific tale tells the story of Kansas resident Dorothy Gale and her unexpected trip over the rainbow to the colourful land of Oz. 
Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film - including Follow The Yellow Brick Road, We’re Off To See The Wizard and of course Over The Rainbow - this hit show visits the Midlands direct from the London Palladium and includes additional songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 30 July - Sunday 4 August

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PEPPA PIG'S FUN DAY OUT

If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and enjoyed the experience of watching them having a fantastic time - you’ll be in no doubt that this latest production is well worth catching.

The show sees Peppa, along with her family and friends, enjoying a fun-packed day at the zoo and the beach. 

Parents are advised to prepare their children for all manner of cracking capers, including singing and dancing with colourful scarecrows, feeding penguins, building big sandcastles, and swimming in the sea! 
Looks like an oinktastic time is going to be had by all!

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wednesday 31 July & Thursday 1 August; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 August; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 September; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 September; Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17th October

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IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE!

If your little ones are big fans of the much-loved CBeebies television series, they’re certain to adore this live version as well. And it’s not only the kids who’re in love with the stage shows; according to audience surveys and parents’ reviews, nine out of 10 adults consider In The Night Garden Live to be a five-star theatrical experience. 

The show lasts for 55 interval-free minutes, sees Igglepiggle looking for his friends in the Night Garden (by following their funny sounds), and features a very special visit from ‘the amazing flying Pinky Ponk’.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wednesday 4 & Friday 5 September

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AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL

If you’re a nostalgia buff with a soft spot for the 1980s, this is a night out at the theatre not to be missed.  

Based on the same-named Academy Award-winning film starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger, Leicester Curve’s well-reviewed show tracks the heady romance that develops between Zack Mayo - a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate - and a young, captivating and seriously fiery woman named Paula Pokrifki. 

The story unfolds against a backdrop of classic 1980s pop songs from the likes of Blondie, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. It also features the Oscar-bagging hit, Up Where We Belong, which was recorded by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 23 - Saturday 28 September  

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DEAR ZOO

First published in 1982, Dear Zoo - a lift-the-flap book by Rod Campbell - has delighted generations of children and accumulated millions of sales worldwide. 

This hugely popular stage version of the story features music, child-friendly puppets and lots of audience participation.

Worcester Swan Theatre, Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 September

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SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE

This brand-new family-friendly stage production - touring to Shrewsbury courtesy of London’s world-renowned Science Museum - aims to ‘ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you in new and exciting ways’.

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 12 October

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THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY

The People’s Theatre Company - highly rated creators of the fabulous Don’t Dribble On The Dragon - here bring one of the world’s best-loved nursery rhymes to life. 

Their show comes complete with colourful animal characters and numerous singalong songs, including If You’re Happy And You Know It and Incy Wincy Spider... 

Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire, Saturday 12 October; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Friday 18 & Sat 19 October