Corn Exchange Newbury has unveiled a huge summer season packed with theatre, comedy, circus, tribute concerts, family shows and free outdoor performances. Highlights include Sisters360, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Bog Witch, Danny Bhoy and a landmark moment as the historic Old Library opens as a new creative hub.
By Grace Hatchell
Well now, this one landed in my satchel with such a thud I nearly swerved the bike into a lamppost.
Corn Exchange Newbury has unveiled its summer season and let me tell you, it’s absolutely bursting at the seams with theatre, music, comedy, circus, dance and family fun. Honestly, if you can’t find something you fancy in this line-up then you’re clearly far fussier than me… and I once watched a three-hour experimental show about a man arguing with a teapot.
But there’s also a rather special milestone tucked into the announcement too. The historic Old Library is finally opening its doors to the public, becoming Newbury’s newest creative hub and the permanent home for the Corn Exchange’s workshops and courses. After two years of community support, the building is ready to welcome artists, audiences and anyone feeling a bit creatively curious.
Now, onto the shows.
The theatre programme gets underway with Sisters360 on 25 April, a new play by award-winning writer Asif Khan. Inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters, the production celebrates family, resilience and hope, which sounds like exactly the sort of uplifting story we could all use a bit more of.
Then comes one of theatre’s most gloriously chaotic comedy nights as the Reduced Shakespeare Company arrive with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) on 5 and 6 May. If you’ve never seen it before, imagine all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays squeezed into a single evening. It’s fast, ridiculous and frequently leaves audiences crying with laughter.
Literary legend Oscar Wilde also steps into the spotlight with The Importance of Being Oscar on 2 and 3 June, a one-man show from Original Theatre and Reading Rep Theatre exploring the wit, brilliance and tragedy of Wilde’s life.
Meanwhile, Bryony Kimmings brings her critically acclaimed show Bog Witch to Newbury from 17 to 19 June. It tells the hilarious and heartfelt true story of the artist uprooting her and her son’s lives in pursuit of a more “off-grid” existence.
Music fans won’t be left out either. The programme includes a whole run of tribute concerts celebrating some of the biggest names in music history. Audiences can belt along to 90s favourites at The Ultimate Boyband Party on 18 April, while tribute nights dedicated to Cher, Adele, Coldplay, ABBA, Bob Marley, Elton John and The Rolling Stones all make appearances across the season.
There’s even a K-Pop Live show arriving on 20 June, proving the Corn Exchange has its finger firmly on the pulse of global pop culture.
If you fancy something a little more jaw-dropping, the circus performances promise plenty of spectacle. Rollercoaster by Wes Peden and Gandini Juggling arrives on 3 May with pop-punk juggling, giant inflatables and electro beats. Later in the season, The Curtain Calls on 23 June showcases rising circus talent from Circomedia with a lively mix of acrobatics, aerial work, juggling and clowning.
Dance also takes centre stage with Ballet Cymru celebrating its 40th anniversary through a production of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty on 1 July. Meanwhile INTOTO on 4 June presents three fresh dance works created by graduates from the London Studio Centre.
Comedy lovers are well catered for too. Pinch Punch bring their Edinburgh Fringe favourite Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit on 27 June, where the entire murder mystery is created live and the audience holds the clues.
The Comedy Network returns with four nights of stand-up across April, May, June and July, featuring headline comedians including Aurie Styla, Huge Davies, Steve Bugeja and Sara Barron.
Elsewhere on the comedy bill, Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess returns in April with sparkly stand-up and songs, while international favourites Danny Bhoy and Rich Hall arrive in June. The season rounds off with Emmy-nominated comedian Michelle Wolf bringing her razor-sharp wit to the stage in July.
Families are in for a treat during May half-term too. Take Flight on 27 May is an aerial theatre show specially designed for babies. Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure on 29 May brings Kristina Stephenson’s beloved children’s book to life with puppetry, music and plenty of silliness.
And if dinosaurs are more your thing, Dino Tales: Jurassic Rescue stomps onto the stage on 31 May with enormous walking dinosaurs including Freya the dancing raptor and Roxy the mighty T-Rex.
Meanwhile illusion fans can catch the return of the Military Illusionist in Richard Jones: The Sound of Magic on 4 July.
But perhaps one of the loveliest touches this summer is that not everything requires a ticket. Two free outdoor performances will take place around Newbury’s streets and squares.
BLOCK on 21 June uses twenty enormous block structures, a bit like giant Jenga pieces, to create a playful physical theatre performance exploring life in a city. Later in July, Watchful offers a humorous and touching look at a couple’s journey through life together as the years pass.
Corn Exchange Newbury Director Jessica Jhundoo-Evans says the team are thrilled to welcome audiences to such a wide-ranging season, with entertainment for all ages. She also highlighted the excitement of presenting free outdoor performances from both UK and international companies, alongside the opening of the Old Library as a new space for creativity and community activity.
From Shakespeare chaos to circus acrobatics, dinosaur adventures to stand-up comedy, Newbury’s summer theatre calendar is shaping up to be delightfully busy.
So if you happen to spot a Yorkshire postwoman pedalling into town with a satchel full of theatre gossip… well, now you’ll know why
Full programme information can be found at
www.cornexchangenew.com
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