Royal and Derngate Theatre

Howl with the Hounds of Love and dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights! She’s not there – but you are. Whether you’ve been a fan for decades or recently joined the shoal via the ‘Stranger Things’ phenomenon, there has never been a better time to release your inner Bush and celebrate at this joyful, unique and mind-blowing show. Following its sold-out, critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe runs, two Soho Theatre seasons and 2020-2022 UK tours this smash-hit, award-winning show is back! Sarah-Louise Young and co-creator Russell Lucas pay glorious homage to the music, fans, and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music. BOOK NOW!

By John Godber Why not join twenty somethings Sally, Nat and Kyle in this hilarious comedy as they develop a love for, and the people involved with, Northern Soul. What started as a college project has grown into a passion, but the dance steps are exhausting. Far beyond their home city of Hull our trio find excitement, purpose and the tribe they’ve been looking for. Now they can’t get enough; from Brid Spa to Stoke, from Northampton to the Tower Ballroom our young soulies are determined to keep the faith! This is Northern Soul for a new generation, but with rising costs, unemployment, and small town blues, has anything really changed? Is this England 1973 or 2023? The pubs are closing, hospitality has gone, and strikes are everywhere; but when you’re out on the floor … So spread the talc and grab your loafers, our trio are heading for a weekender! From the writer of the legendary BOUNCERS… It’ll never be over for us!

Steve Backshall’s Ocean is a love letter to the most exciting environment on our planet – and a great way to learn more about what we need to do to save our seas. Stunts, experiments, props, cutting edge science and big screen footage from his two decades in TV, will all help Steve to bring the icons of the Big Blue to life. From Great whites to Great whales, seals to sardine shoals, Orca to the oddities of the deep: this is a fantastic opportunity for fans of all ages to dive deep into the wonderful world beneath the waves. A must-see for all the family!

Suzi Ruffell likes things snappy: her stand up, her decisions and her suits. Suzi’s brand new show is all about settling down (but not settling), becoming a mother (without becoming mumsy) and still worrying about everything – of course she is – have you seen the news? Multi-award nominated comedian Suzi Ruffell’s last tour, ‘Dance Like Everyone Is Watching’ received critical acclaim and was recorded as an Amazon special. Suzi has also appeared on numerous shows such as Live At The Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, QI, The Last Leg, and Womanhood to name but a few. Suzi is also best known for her hugely popular podcasts ‘Like Minded Friends’ and ‘Out’.

The critically acclaimed Northants Sings Out (NSO) are returning with their annual, much anticipated, sell out show. Join NSO for a night of spine tingling, show stopping live music that must be experienced to be believed! 200 voices from the Counties finest, musically energetic and vocally unstoppable combined choirs, dazzle you with their charismatic, unforgettable performance. Featuring uplifting, popular songs from soul to pop, reggae to gospel, prepare to dance all night! With musical accompaniment by a full live band, The Collective (who have worked with the some of the world’s best selling pop artists/bands) and led by nationally esteemed Choir Director, Gareth Fuller (whose credits include leading voices for Liam Gallagher’s recent sell out Knebworth Park shows and performing for HM The Queen), enjoy an energetic performance that will make you smile and move for the entire evening! You won’t want to miss a night with NSO’s vibrant, inspirational sounds that will touch the hearts of people from all walks of life. You will be lifted and inspired!

After his TV appearance on The Russell Howard Hour Andrew supported Russell Howard on his massive national tour including six straight shows at The London Palladium. Andrew grew up in Towcester, Northants the first comedy night he ever went to, two days before turning 18 was Screaming Blue Murder right here at Royal & Derngate. He has since regularly appeared at the night himself and supported Rhod Gilbert and Rob Brydon in the main theatre. Everything is taken so seriously now. If it’s going to be up to Andrew to point out how ridiculous it all is then he’s willing to take that job on. From race and religion to deodorant adverts, being diagnosed with sleep apnoea, and people that have a flag on their house. Having previously supporting Russell at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Football stadium he’s also supported Rhod Gilbert, Rob Brydon, America’s Brian Regan and Michelle Wolfe on their only London shows and Michael McIntyre on an entire arena tour including Wembley and the O2. He’s written on the TV shows Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Worrier and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Musical master of ceremonies Jools Holland and his much loved Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are back and joined by special guests Pauline Black and Arthur ’Gaps’ Hendrickson of The Selecter. Fans will be thrilled to hear that the show will once again feature the outstanding vocals of Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, as well as the highly talented Sumudu Jayatilaka, who joined Jools for the first time in 2022. Together with the inimitable musicianship of the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which features drums from original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis, Jools Holland will be performing tracks spanning his entire solo career. With a catalogue that reaches through decades, prepare to enjoy the greatest boogie-woogie party in town! The support act will be Mark Flanagan. Maximum four tickets per household. Tickets will be posted up to a week before the event.

Do you believe in ghosts? Are UFOs real? Is the impossible possible? Join Danny Robins, creator of the smash hit BBC Radio 4 paranormal podcasts Uncanny, The Battersea Poltergeist and The Witch Farm and award-winning West End play 2:22 – A Ghost Story, for the biggest investigation into the paranormal – ever. In UNCANNY: I KNOW WHAT I SAW, you’ll be immersed in the sights, sounds and scares of brand new, real-life stories of the supernatural, from ghosts and poltergeists to UFO sightings and other strange encounters. Watch as these creepy, thrilling tales are brought to life on stage by Danny and his ever-present team of experts. Is what happened genuinely supernatural or can it be explained? Are you #TeamBeliever or #TeamSceptic? You’ll even have a chance to share your own stories, if you dare. Warning: This show will make you jump, laugh, think and question the very nature of reality!

Richard Herring is taking his critically acclaimed podcast, RHLSTP, on a UK & Ireland tour in 2023 and 2024! His interview podcast is usually recorded in London’s glittering West End at the Leicester Square Theatre, but now it’s going on the road. Richard Herring has enjoyed phenomenal success as a writer and performer and is an innovator in the world of podcasts. Join the “Podfather” (Guardian), “King of the Internet” (Time Out) and “The UK’s online comedy pioneer” (The Times) as he chats with hilarious star guests at venues all over the country. RHLSTP sees him interview top comedians in front of a live audience for his podcast but includes all the chat that is too controversial for broadcast! Previous guests include Stephen Fry, Michael Palin, Katherine Ryan, Dawn French, Stephen Merchant, Kathy Burke, Grayson Perry, Nish Kumar and James Acaster. The show regularly receives 1 million downloads a month, won three Chortle Internet Comedy Awards and is the only non-BBC show to ever win a Sony Best Comedy Award.

The UK’s top sporting podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby is back on tour for a World Cup After Party, with hosts England Rugby heroes James Haskell and Mike Tindall, and former Sky Sports rugby presenter Alex Payne sharing their own World Cup stories and recapping the action from the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup in France this Autumn… In their very own, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby style. This will be the second tour from the hugely successful podcast team, who have gained more than 50million views online since launching in 2020, and follows a series of sold out shows in 2022. The trio will take to the stage to recreate their trademark on-air banter, as The Good (Alex), The Bad (James) and The Rugby (Mike), share tales from on and off the pitch for what promises to be a night filled with surprises and laughter with audience interaction, fun and games.