Artistic Director of Watford Palace Theatre, Brigid Larmour, today announces the Autumn Season with the centrepiece being the theatre’s first produced Shakespeare in 10 years – Much Ado About Nothing with an all-female cast. Directed by Larmour, the production opens on 9 October with previews from 4 October and running until 27 October.
In a co-production with Oldham Coliseum Theatre and Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre present the world première of Gurpreet Kaur Batti’s Dishoom!. Featuring songs from the smash hit Bollywood film Sholay, this comedy drama, directed by Pravesh Kumar, opens on 13 September before heading out on a UK tour.
The second production in the season directed by Larmour is Alan Ayckbourn’s classic Absurd Person Singular. Starring Jill McAusland and Terence Frisch the production opens on 12 March with previews from 7 March.
February sees the return of Arinzé Kene’s good dog which made its premiere at Watford Palace Theatre in February 2017. Directed by Natalie Ibu, it runs from 31 January to 2 February.
For families this year, Watford Palace Theatres’ Christmas show Jack and The Beanstalk returns to the theatre directed by James Williams. In addition, Roald Dahl’s classic The Witches is presented by the Hertfordshire County Council youth theatre from 2 – 4 November.
Brigid Larmour, Artistic Director and Chief Executive ‘As part of Watford Palace Theatre’s 110th celebrations, I’m delighted to be directing this all-female production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. We’re setting it in 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, inspired by the new roles women found themselves playing in the Services during the War. I have a personal connection here, as my mother Nancy worked with the codebreakers at Bletchley Park. Expect lots of vintage fun as we welcome you to a 40s atmosphere front of house, including Dogberry recruiting for Home Guard volunteers. There’s a Watford link too: Jimmy Perry, one of my predecessors as Artistic Director here at the Palace, based the character of Pike in Dad’s Army on his own youthful experiences in the Watford Home Guard. ‘
