Curve 2020 Season Launch


CURVE 2020 SEASON LAUNCH

It is always exciting to attend Curve’s season launch because as well as all the shows we already know from the catalogue there are always surprises from Nikolai Foster and Chris Stafford, the artistic powerhouses behind Curve. It is also an opportunity to  learn about the more fringe activities that happen in this flagship building. More and more Curve is forging co-producing relationships with other regional theatres which results in some incredibly interesting projects finding their way onto Leicester’s premier theatre’s stages.
I have already written in The Western Park Gazette about some of the upcoming productions but tonight we saw a whole lot more juicy titbits coming up.
For the third time a new production of Hairspray is returning to Curve this year. The big news of the night was that a European premiere of Roman Holiday is kicking off at Curve this summer. Also big news is that the new version of Sister Act starring Brenda Edwards drops in in April before heading off back to the West End. 
Of course Curve has a reputation for hosting all sorts of festivals. Leicester Comedy Festival is the big one for February with the always popular Spark Festival, new productions especially aimed at toddlers running in the same month. DMU Pride, now firmly established at Curve, takes us into March with LGB themed productions. Curve continues its avowed intent to nurture new talent with a season of productions by the Curve Young Theatre group from March to May. Of especial interest is a production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof directed by Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall Director Award winner Anthony Almeida this summer.
Not only is the schedule bustling with home grown productions but Leicester gets to see all sorts of mainstream touring shows like Once, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Phantom of the Opera.
Details of all of these productions plus loads more can be found on the website



Winter 2020 theatre


THEATRICAL HAPPENINGS IN 2020-01-07
Winter in Leicester’s theatre-land is always about the Leicester Comedy Festival which runs throughout February (5th – 23rd roughly). However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t loads of other events for those looking for some relief from the awful weather.
CURVE
As out biggest theatre Curve has a wide range of productions to keep us entertained. Highlights include 20-25 January The Woman in Black. This atmospheric ghost story is making a welcome return. The really big news is that the first ever national tour of the iconic musical Phantom of The Opera is kicking of at Curve and runs from 22nd Feb to 21st March. Back for a 3rd year is DMU Pride, a schedule of gay themed productions including The MP, Aunty Mandy and Me by the award winning playwright and actor Rob Ward following on from last year’s successful tour of Gypsy Queen. Another production I am really looking forward to is CYC’s Cry Baby, the musical version oof the iconic film starring Johnny Depp. Just edging into April we welcome another touring version of an Alan Bennett, this time The Habit of Art (6-11 April). Full details at www.curveonline.co.uk
DEMONTFORT HALL
Leicester’s prestigious concert hall venue has its usual mix of  one nighters throughout January before bounding headlong into February for Leicester Comedy Festival with the launch night on 10th January and then a host of top line comics from 5th to 22nd February. February ends with a feast of shows from 27th to 29th from the Russian State Ballet of Siberia. March heralds the arrival of the touring version of David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy from 4th to 8th March. The month continues with the usual blend of singers, comedians and tribute acts. Full details at www.demontforthall.co.uk
THE Y THEATRE
Along with their usual eclectic mix of singers and personal appearances The Y makes its own important contribution to the success of Leicester Comedy Festival with a full schedule of comedy gigs from 5th to 23rd February with yet more top line comedians. Full details at www.leicesterymca.co.uk