- November 2013
This is Euripides' tale as you've never seen it before, set in the week of the London riots, August 2011. Wild Bacchants are tearing down Pentheus' city, driven by the elusive Dionysus, and in their midst is Pentheus' young daughter, Agave, caught up in this seductive and mysterious mob. Physical theatre, live percussion and multimedia footage combine to bring this ancient tale of hedonism firmly into the modern day.
- November 2013
From Joni Mitchell to Paramore, Alanis Morissette to Florence and the Machine, Blondie to brand new writing... It's Girls. And they've got guitars. Get ready for an eclectic night of acoustic entertainment and discussion celebrating about what songwriting has done for women all over the world, socially, politically and sexually, throughout the last century. Girl Power.
- November 2013
Richard Nixon has received a full pardon from Gerald Ford and will never face trial for his involvement in the Watergate affair. In an effort to recuperate some of his reputation, he agrees to an exclusive television interview with British talk-show host David Frost. Twelve interviews, no scripts, and no prior knowledge of the questions. It’s more than just a battle of wits between journalist and politician, it’s a struggle between the flamboyant and eccentric world of showbiz and television, and the sombre, tight-lipped political organisation. With time running out, Frost finds himself faced with the greatest challenge of his career: how to make a politician crumble.
This award winning show will be brought to the ADC stage this Michaelmas in a new quick, slick, ensemble based production.
- October–November 2013
Following highly-acclaimed appearances in Edinburgh, Manchester, and Cambridge (Smashed Shakespeare: Hammered Hamlet, Footlights Smokers), and as heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra, rambunctious sketch troupe CowsDrinkMilk are coming to the ADC with a slick, uncontrollable hour of wild comic vignettes, several of which will comprise unlikely but humorous situations. Combining highly-honed comedy with original electro-swing sounds by Red Violin (Big Fish Ents, Clare Ents), and starring veterans of Cambridge theatre, expect nothing less than a comedy sketch show. With funnies. Lots of funnies.
Previous suitably-qualified people have said of CDM; "pitch-perfect... hilarious, immediately and consistently" * The Tab, "really really funny" Varsity, "a group of very promising young comedians" The Stage.
- October–November 2013
Cambridge University Opera Society presents The Magic Flute at the ADC!
The adventurous Prince Tamino promises the Queen of the Night that he will rescue her daughter Pamina from the enchanter Sarastro. He begins his quest, accompanied by the bird catcher Papageno, but all is not as it initially seems...
Sung in modern English, this fully staged production of an opera that has charmed audiences for centuries offers comedy, danger, romance, and drama. Cambridge University's vibrant opera scene bursts onto the ADC stage, uniting Mozart's enchanting score with an exciting theatrical spectacle.
- October 2013
A new world calls across the rehearsal room…
From the creator of 'Parade' and 'The Last Five Years' comes a stunning, usually abstract song cycle, revolving entirely around how one decisive moment can propel the subject into a new world. It is 2013, and a day's rehearsal at the theatre is coming to an end. But while the actors may want to call it a day, some stories just will not be kept from being told. What starts as the creative exploration of new worlds, accessed by the simple power of imagination, soon takes hold as the lines between actor and character merge. From the deck of a Spanish sailing ship, to the bustling streets of New York, to the depths of the North Pole - the stories may be varied; they may shock and surprise; but the decisions to be made about love, life and liberty touch us all.
- October 2013
Yellow Cup Theatre presents a rehearsed reading of its first full length play.
Brought to you by an all-female company "The Other Line" is a witty, fresh and provocative piece of new writing that follows five women over 24 hours.
Previous praise for members of the Company includes: '****'- (The Times), 'You saw them here first'- (Varsity), 'Not a weak link in the cast'- (The Skinny), 'The ensemble performance is brilliant' (Broadway Baby)', Certainly the best production I have seen in Cambridge and possibly the best production I have ever seen'- (TCS), 'If you're a person of any description you'll enjoy it'- (The Tab).
- October 2013
Sex, drugs and trance music. That’d be village gala day. Gala queen Phaedra is missing. Anarchist, waster and ex-daredevil motorcyclist Johnny “Rooster” Byron, infamous for his anti-social raves drawing the local ne’er-do-well youths, is suspected by Phaedra’s stepfather Troy of involvement. To add to Rooster’s problems, the council is sending a riot squad to evict him from his illegally parked mobile home in a wood next to the new estate. But Rooster is in good spirits. Seen by many as a menace to society, he provides safety for those from broken homes and the unconventional. He enthrals with stories of ancient myth and forest spirits. He may even be one. He is also an absentee father, has violent episodes and likes young girls. Crafted with deep intelligence and insight, fast, funny and sexy, see the “instant classic,” a vision of contemporary England that galvanized critics from London to New York.
This will be one of the first major performances of the work since it finished in the West End and Broadway.
- July–August 2013
Looking for a show? So are they.
"So you’re calling this the profession of madmen, then? We’re all crazy?"
Pirandello's modern masterpiece is hurtled into the present day in this thrilling, visceral new adaptation by CUADC. When a rehearsal is interrupted by six characters swarming the stage, demanding that their tale be put on, what can a director do? He's got a slot booked on one of the Mile stages and there's flyering to be done.
When he eventually agrees, however, the limits of reality and imagination begin to blur as the characters are driven towards tragedy.
Come along if you have the time - after all, it's only a show.
SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR returns to Cambridge after an acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013.
The Characters are coming back.
"an outstanding production... never has Edinburgh seemed more metatheatrical" ★★★★ PLAYS INTERNATIONAL
- October 2013
Think Charm. Think Polish. Think Renaissance Man.
The tactless and ambitious headmaster of Cutler's Grammar School has high hopes for his latest Oxbridge applicants. Supply teacher Irwin is to teach the boys some style in the hopes of climbing the league tables by gaining places for the eight History Boys.
Hector, their enigmatic "General Studies" teacher, seeks to prepare them for more than an entrance exam - life. Meanwhile he cannot refrain from getting too close to the boys he guides.
"Pass it on, boys. That's the game I wanted you to learn. Pass it on"
CUADC brings you Alan Bennett's multi-award winning masterpiece for the first time on the ADC stage. Hilarious and moving, The History Boys forces us to ask questions about education, truth, history and whether Oxbridge really is that important.
- September 2013
Get ready for CAST's mesmerizing Measure for Measure. Now in its 14th year, the Cambridge University American Stage Tour (CAST) will once again be taking a company of Cambridge's most talented actors, directors, producers and technicians to universities, high schools and professional theatres across the USA. Stylish, intoxicating, hilarious and tragic by turn, this production will hurl you head first into modern day Vienna with vigour and passion. With a timeless aesthetic inspired by cinematic icons ranging from Fellini to Tarantino, it will be a whirlwind of political corruption, gender subversion, sex and scandal, justice and mercy...
"Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall."
The law no longer has any hold over the citizens of Vienna. Duke Vincentio's lax leadership has left everyone, including the government officials themselves, to their own devices. The sex trade has taken over the shadier pockets of society. The brittle Angelo is left in charge, but the disguised Duke has in fact stayed in the city to keep an eye on his deputy. Angelo assumes power with relentless spite: oppression and fear reign. But, after meeting the enchantingly wilful Isabella - the sister of imprisoned Claudio - he can't adhere to his own rules. Deceit, hypocrisy and scandal spiral out of control until a final effort for resolution and order makes us question what order really is…
- October 2013
Doonreagan explores the doomed relationship between Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and Assia Wevill during their brief but intense spell in Connemara, Ireland. It reflects their efforts to establish a common ground free from the towering shadow of Ted's first wife, Sylvia Plath (American poet); their longing for peace and contentment; and their discovery that, close to nature, away from the judgments, pressures, demands and expectations of the world at large, they came closer not only to each other, but also to themselves.
This is the world premiere of a new play by Ann Henning Jocelyn, known for her translations of Jon Fosse's work. The play is directed by award-winning New York director Alex Dmitriev. The cast includes Flora Montgomery (Best Irish Actress Award, Basic Instinct 2) and Daniel Simpson (London Road, National Theatre).
- September 2013
- July 2013
- July 2013
This feelgood production of Shakespeare's popular comedy As You Like It will be set in the 1960s, with songs and colourful costumes from the period, and a distinctly 'hippy' Forest of Arden.
- June 2013
Mr and Mrs Twit are disgusting. Really disgusting. They play horrible pranks on each other, they bake birds into pies, they smell because they never wash and they hate children. But worst of all, they keep monkeys in their back garden. In cages. It's time for the monkeys to get their revenge on these two most revolting creatures... This extravagant adaptation will be brought to the ADC Stage, through the use of UV Blacklight technology, recreating Dahl’s chaotic story with vivid animation, mind-boggling illusion, and ear-feastingly good music by Jeff Carpenter. This will turn your world upside-down!
- June 2013
Lowell Belfield, Jason Forbes, George Potts, and Ryan O’Sullivan return with PICK ME UP, the five-star, sell-out sketch comedy directed by Ahir Shah. First performed at the ADC Theatre in January 2012, PICK ME UP has since been revamped, redrafted and redressed ahead of the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The result is a newer, tighter and even funnier collection of comic concoctions than these former Cambridge Footlights have ever produced.
“PICK ME UP is a carefully crafted, intelligently conceived and brilliantly executed piece of comedy.” - The Tab ★★★★★
“Ingenious.” - CTR ★★★★★
“If you miss it, you’re an idiot.” - Varsity ★★★★★
- June 2013
Offering an irresistible range of pop covers and folk favourites, The Coach House Company and Saxual Healing bring you a fun-filled hour of the best live music in Cambridge.
Saxual Healing are the saxiest new girl band in town, a YouTube phenomenon with fans all over the world. They bring a huge variety of material from Bach to Britney, as well as a healthy dose of Disney classics. The Coach House Company have filled Clare Cellars multiple times, their unique interpretations of folk songs captivating the Cambridge crowd.
Don’t miss out on this one-off evening of boundless joy and energy.
www.facebook.com/TheCoachHouseCompany and www.facebook.com/saxualhealingquartet
- June 2013
- May–June 2013
After delighting audiences with the toe-tapping spectaculars Hot Mikado and The Producers, Festival Players return to the ADC Theatre with the dark, haunting and searingly honest Parade.
This epic Tony Award-winning musical tells the true story Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jewish factory supervisor accused of murder. Set in the US State of Georgia in 1913, this tale of suspicion, retribution and flawed justice is played out against the backdrop of anti-Semitism, racial tension and the North vs. South rift which has yet to heal, 50 years after the end of the Civil War.
With brilliant music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, this unique musical combines pop-rock, folk, R&B and gospel styles. It is a riveting murder mystery, a gripping courtroom drama, a moving love story and certainly one of the most powerful new musical theatre works of our time. Not to be missed!
- May 2013
"The Wall will be standing in 50 and even in 100 years, if the reasons for it are not yet removed."
Father dead. Mother remarried. Uncle King. 'Unsuitable' affections. State in turmoil. Time in flux. Ghost.
What's a girl going to do?
'We know what we are, but know not what we may be'
As the clock ticks down towards the end of the Cold War, the USSR and the 1980s, one young woman finds the most dangerous revolutions start at home. The players are readying themselves. The backdrop is in place. You are welcome to Elsinore.
'O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count / myself a queen of infinite space were it not that I / have bad dreams'
- May 2013
Four stand up comedians from Cambridge. One stage. Several jokes. Almost as many laughs. Previous praise for performers: Jamie Fraser "provoked the loudest guffaws of the night" - The Tab, "cracking plots and punch-lines that had the audience howling" - TCS Ben Pope "inventive, intricate prose, contrasted with an earthy delivery" - The Tab, "Single, you say, Ben? Call me." - The Tab Ken Cheng "ridiculously likeable" - Varsity, "the stage is perhaps the only place where he isn’t awkward" - The Tab Ian Samson "winsome, self-deprecating charm won the audience over" - Varsity, "excellent, transforming innocuous lines into real belly-laughs" - The Tab
- May 2013
Seize the day! Seize the carpet! Wait, that’s not right – this is a standup show, not a fun on the floor free-for-all - Get up! Continue seizing the day!
Siân Docksey and Zoë Tomalin bring their genre-defying comedy show to the ADC for one night of unparalleled linoleum fun. Brilliant, bewildering and grit-resistant – an explosive (con)fusion of standup, poetry, music, special guests, lighting and jam. Described as 'hugely funny' (Varsity), 'genuinely hilarious' (The Tab) and 'funnier than they had any right to be' (The Cambridge Student), spruce up the shag piles and roll out the rugs for a fearless comedy romp.
Coming soon, to a carpet near you. Assuming you’re close to the front. If not, something’s gone very wrong. Err, that’s not your carpet. You should probably leave, swiftly.
All proceeds going to Flack, Cambridge
- May 2013
Four Cambridge comics bring you an hour of stand-up ranging from caustic wit to surreal digression, from current affairs to, well, porpoises.
Starring: Milo Edwards ‘Fantastic’ - TCS, ‘Had me sniggering appreciatively’ - The Tab Charlie Palmer ‘Stellar’ - TCS, ‘Fabulously ludicrous’ - The Tab Ryan Hocking ‘Surreal’ - Varsity, ‘Characterful’ - Varsity Henry Anderson-Elliott ‘Certainly offers a new option in the seam bowling department’ - CUCC
If you want to laugh, smile, titter approvingly and, most importantly, find out how it's possible to work porpoises into a stand-up show, come down to the ADC and find out. Not suitable for those allergic to jokes.
- May 2013
“Find another genius, I can’t be one or become one. I can’t even tell how I’ll begin.”
With less than a week before the cameras roll on his new film, Guido Contini searches wildly for inspiration. Without a script and with his personal life in tatters, Rome’s most celebrated film director finds himself faced with what appears to be the ruin of his career, his marriage, and his sanity.
Set against the exquisite backdrop of Rome’s chic sixties, “Nine” explores one man’s struggle to establish a sense of his own identity through his art. Winning the Drama Desk Award for Most Outstanding Musical and the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score, this sumptuous combination of naturalism, expressionism and film will seduce you into considering your own assumptions about art, identity, and romance.
- May 2013
As the Spanish Civil War looms, the Andalucian countryside creaks in anticipation. White paint peeling in its exposure to the scorching sun reveals a myriad of fading colours and deep cracks that penetrate into the plaster and, quietly continuing in its midst, a British couple find themselves torn in the approach of the uprising that turns the country and their world on its head. This new play explores the shadows in the still life of sweet oranges on the kitchen table, finding beauty and darkness in the simplicity of the home. As the militant radio chatters away the tea is running out and the milk turning sour. What, then, could be worse than an unexpected visit from a mother-in-law?
- May 2013
- May 2013
In Williamson’s Chicago real estate office, the Glengarry leads are in and the agents have everything to play for. Levene begs for the leads. Moss will steal for them. All the men bar top dog Ricky Roma are running on borrowed time as they slip down the leaderboard which looms over the office.
Mamet’s bleakly funny tale of bombast and desperation portrays the dark side of the American dream and proves that, in the pursuit of happiness, someone has to lose. This Pulitzer Prize-winning play will ‘grab you by the throat and punch you in the gut’ – but only after it has sucked you into its world.
- May 2013
Murray’s dream is to win the Golden Fleece, an award given to the farmer of the best sheep's fleece in the land. His father won the award for many years, and the pressure is mounting on Murray to do the same. There’s only one problem: Murray’s not very good at farming.
To make matters worse, since the death of his wife in an unusual farming accident, Murray’s obsession with winning the award has escalated, leading to a disintegration of both his social propriety and personal hygiene. However, when Murray’s enthusiastic nephew from Auckland comes to stay, Murray is given a new lease of life and suddenly winning the Golden Fleece seems not such an impossible task after all.
Shortlisted for the 2013 Footlights' Harry Porter Prize, 'The Golden Fleece' provides a quirky glimpse into life in the heartland of rural New Zealand, and explores ideas of family, farming and golden fleeces.
- April–May 2013
Blanche DuBois is not all she seems. Arriving to stay with her sister Stella in the steamy French Quarter of New Orleans, she cuts the figure of a delicate Southern belle. But what’s her secret? Stella's no-nonsense husband, Stanley Kowalski, makes it his business to find out.
A Streetcar Named Desire is Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece; an explosive tale of lost dreams and indiscretions, brutish actions and burning lust.
This bold new production transforms the ADC Theatre into the city of New Orleans, surging with live jazz and teeming with life. Come under its intoxicating spell to witness the raw, unpredictable feeling of Williams' heart-stopping tragedy.
- April 2013
Troubled Sleep balances universal human themes with an indefinably foreign quality. A confrontation between two sisters leads to an inevitable showdown in which dark and disturbing secrets are revealed. This first production in English will be an engaging site-specific experience.
José Sanchis Sinisterra is one of the most respected playwrights of the Spanish-speaking world. His prolific work, for which he has won innumerable prizes and awards, combines theatrical tradition with experimental innovation.
- April 2013
Something silly this way comes... Wyrd Sisters is an adaptation of one of the best and most theatrical in the Discworld series of comic fantasies by Sir Terry Pratchett. It is a surreal mash-up of pantomime, Monty Python, fairy tale and Shakespeare, with particular reference to a lunatic version of 'Macbeth', seen from the skewed perspective of the three witches or 'Wyrd Sisters'. It is a fast-moving production, suitable for all ages from 10, but expect mild and frankly theatrical peril including explosions, a demon and explicit Steam Punk.
- March 2013
The Killing of Sister George follows the professional and personal demise of the popular district nurse who selflessly ministers to the villagers in the fictional radio-soap Applehurst However, in real life and amongst her colleagues, she is the antithesis of the sweet character she plays. Against this back-drop, the play combines comedy and pathos as it follows June’s domestic relationship with the childlike and manipulative Alice McNaught. With the sudden insecurity of her character’s future, their insecure relationship becomes increasingly more self-centred than supportive.
Following highly-acclaimed runs of the original productions in the West End and on Broadway, most people may now best remember the play from the iconic 1968 film which featured Beryl Reid in the title role. Now it comes to the ADC Theatre to explore the blurred reality of fictional soaps and the even stranger real lives behind the scenes.
- March 2013
"Packed full of jokes with a fast-moving plot. It launches straight in and never lets go." — Stefan Golaszweski
The Cambridge Footlights present Cloying, a farcical murder mystery and the winner of this year’s Harry Porter Prize for a one-hour comic play.
When Jolene and Michael step aboard the cruise ship HMS Cloying, everything seems rather pleasant. There’s plenty of distractions; a lovely sea view. It’s just a bit of a shame about the murderer.
This is the tenth anniversary of the Harry Porter Prize. Cloying was selected by Stefan Golaszweski, member of the sketch group 'Cowards' and creator of BBC Three's 'Him & Her’.
Join us for a cruise worth killing for.
- March 2013
When Egyptian captain Radames captures the Nubian princess Aida, little does he know that he will be changing both of their destinies. Set against a backdrop of warfare, ambition and treachery, they are soon forced to choose between love for their nations, and love for each other.
Inspired by Verdi’s majestic opera, the timeless love story of Aida is retold by the creative team behind The Lion King. With music ranging from reggae and gospel to Elton John classics, including ‘Written in the Stars’, and with choreography inspired by everything from Latin to ballet, CUADC brings this Broadway hit to stage in a uniquely stylish and magical revival, taking the audience beyond the bounds of reality.
Winner of four Tony Awards, with a captivating story, electrifying score and beautiful design, this rarely performed musical is perfect for the whole family.
- March 2013
As they sort through their dead father's belongings, two siblings discuss their memory of the night they left the family home. As they remember, past and present blur and the boundary between the spoken and the sung collapses...
