Event type: Theatre

Dare you enter a world infected by fear?  Eight million miles from Earth, a mysterious distress call crackles through the ether and draws Flint, a haunted space ranger, towards the Odyssey – an ageing research vessel in the grip of a nightmare. Boarding the craft, he finds a failing ship, a missing crew, and a deadly force running out of control…  The Void is a chilling sci-fi horror created for the stage – a decaying future of desperate humans, all-seeing AI, and memories of a distant, dangerous past. Combining powerful illusions, atmospheric projections and a creeping sense of dread, this story asks… what are you afraid of? 

Get ready for a riotous, fast-paced comedy following the lives of three loud, no-nonsense Liverpool women and one nervous newcomer, all navigating life, love, loyalty, and lipstick on a tightly knit street.  

Susan, Vanessa and Lily dominate the street with their big personalities, big voices, and even bigger secrets. But everything is turned upside down with the arrival of Trisha, a single mum from Manchester, thrown into the lion’s den of long-established friendships and fierce loyalty.  

Starring TV comedy legend Crissy Rock (Benidorm, I’m A Celebrity) and the shows writer and director Lynne Fitzgerald. Desperate Scousewives is packed with unforgettable one-liners, high heels, heartbreak and hilarity. Not for the faint-hearted!  

 

Blackeyed Theatre in association with Theatre Royal Winchester and South Hill Park presents

Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty

Adapted by Nick Lane from the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Composer – Tristan Parkes

“When you have one of the first brains of Europe up against you, and all the powers of darkness at his back, there are infinite possibilities”

London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a series of mysterious events reveals a crack in the high corridors of power. A crack that threatens to destabilise monarchy, government and Empire. And at its centre, controlling the flow of information and influence, a shadowy figure plans a final deadly move.

Drawn into the game and unsure who to trust, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves confronting figures from their past in a desperate race against time, aware that the most powerful person in the world could be in the pocket of one of the most corrupt. But just how much is Holmes willing to sacrifice as he faces ‘checkmate’?

A thrilling adventure based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is a world premiere combining powerful performances, a haunting soundscape and innovative design for an exhilarating theatrical experience.

“One of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary English theatre” – The Stage

Suitable for age 11+

“I’m going out wi’ the tide, old wench,
I came in on the flood;
an’ the sea is streaked wi’ silver,
an’ the sun is red wi’ blood.”

The East Norfolk coast. 1770.

Man Billy, a solitary young fisherman, lives with his domineering mother, Widow Pruttock. Two things govern their life: the herring harvest and their devotion to God.

Into this cold and isolated life comes Sheldis, a singer with supernatural gifts. As Billy’s obsession with her grows, his mother –   believing her son bewitched – will do anything to break the spell.

Filled with sea shanties, dances, hymns and folk songs, SALT is a fierce tale of faith, jealousy and demonic passion.

This performance is set in the round and seating will be allocated on arrival.

Great Yarmouth’s Contemporary Ritual Theatre makes vital and arresting plays, creating a visceral new form of theatre which places ritual – ancient and modern – at the heart of their practice. Blending folklore, movement and mask work, and using only a rope on the ground for a stage, CRT unites audiences and performers in a single, unforgettable ritual.

Age 12+ – a scene of sexual assault.

Reviews

“Extraordinary… If Shakespeare, Ken Loach and Nick Cave went on a day trip to Great Yarmouth, SALT could be the result.” ★★★★ – The Reviews Hub

“An excellent debut…thoroughly enjoyable…The actors strived to create a jarring sense of dread and pulled it off wonderfully.” ★★★★ -Eastern Daily Press
“This enthralling tale is magically brought to life…Beau Hopkins’s writing and the wonderful performance from the cast will leave you breathless. Devilishly good!” – Harbour Radio

The Grunwick Factory Strike (1976–78) and the remarkable Jayaben Desai

In 1976, six workers walked out of the Grunwick Film Processing Laboratory & Factory in Willesden, North-West London, launching a strike against poor working conditions and demanding the right to join a union.

What began as a small act of resistance quickly grew into a landmark movement. Led by the formidable Jayaben Desai, the strike eventually drew 20,000 supporters in a historic fight for justice, dignity, and workers’ rights. Most of the strikers were Asian women, defying stereotypes, challenging the establishment, uniting communities, and transforming the face of British trade unionism.

Jayaben Desai became a symbol of resilience and eloquence. Even in the most difficult moments, she cut through hostility with her sharp wit and fearless words. To one of her managers, she declared:

“What you are running here is not a factory, it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off. We are the lions, Mr. Manager!”

Now, 50 years on, Townsend Theatre Productions honours this extraordinary legacy. We Are The Lions, Mr Manager! brings the powerful story of the Grunwick Strike to a new generation, celebrating the courage and determination of those who stood up and roared.

Age 11+.

This performance will be creatively captioned. Creative captions offer an opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing audiences to more fully immerse themselves as captions are designed to complement the set and the performance.

Reviews

‘[Townsend Productions is] a company making a name for delivering vivid, politically committed theatre’ – The Observer

Townsend Productions previous tours:

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – ‘Tremendous’ ★★★★ – The Times

We Will Be Free! – ‘Show to see!’ – The Stage

United We Stand – ‘Excellent’ ★★★★ – The Observer

Dare Devil Rides To Jarama – ‘Outstanding’ ★★★★★ – London Theatre1