Lichfield theatre launches ‘biggest season’
The Lichfield Garrick Theatre is launching its biggest season for 2024, featuring a programme of shows with something for all ages and audiences.
The award-winning arts venue and charity continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, bringing everything from West End drama, side-splitting comedy, world-renowned tribute artistes and more.
The season kicks off with the in-house production of Michael Morpurgo’s Farm Boy, the sequel to War Horse.
Adapted and directed by the Garrick’s own Artistic Director, Daniel Buckroyd, the show has already received incredible audience feedback from its opening night performance, with one patron feeding back that it was a ‘charming production for all ages to enjoy.’
From there, the programme moves into a jam-packed season of drama and comedy, including Original Theatre’s hilarious retelling of H G Wells’ The Time Machine, followed on shortly by Bill Kenwright’s smash-hit adaption of gritty courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Men.
For music lovers, there are returning favourites such as The Drifters, The Upbeat Beatles, and Walk Right Back, as well as brand new offerings that you’ve been asking for, such as Musicals: The Ultimate Live Band Sing-A-Long, the perfect night out for musical theatre lovers, and Rat Pack Live, one of the country’s finest tribute bands to Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin.
It’s a season full of famous faces – The Chase’s Jenny Ryan is appearing as part of her Out of the Box tour, and the hilarious Omid Djalili takes to the stage for two evenings on his stand-up tour, Namaste.
The Queen of the West End, Kerry Ellis, will be singing all your show favourites in October, and Claire Martin OBE & Ray Martin will be putting on A Swinging Affair in June.
Fan-favourite and Lichfield Legend, Sam Rabone, returns with his second variety show in the autumn, and everyone’s favourite comedy group, New Old Friends, bring their new show, Houdini’s Greatest Escape, to our main house in the spring.
There’s plenty for the little ones to enjoy this year too, with children’s classics such as The Gruffalo, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, and Dinosaur World Live. For bigger kids, we’ve got Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote and P*ssed Up Panto: Jack & the Beanstalk, as well as the rib-tickling retelling of The Importance of Being... Earnest?.
The theatre is welcoming back a variety of local theatre companies, with upcoming productions from Brownhills Musical Theatre Company (Oklahoma!), Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company (Kinky Boots), Lichfield Operatic Society (Calendar Girls), Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre (Chicago), Walsall Operatic Society (Sister Act), Lichfield Players (A Bunch of Amateurs, The Opposite Sex, Albert Nobbs), and Different Animal Theatre Company (The Pillowman).
Daniel Buckroyd, the theatre’s artistic director and chief executive, said: “I want everyone to feel welcome at the Garrick, and a big part of that is making sure we’ve got something that appeals to everyone within our programme.
"That’s why I’m thrilled that we’ve just put our biggest ever season of shows on sale, so whether you like music, drama, comedy, magic, family shows or variety we should have something happening at the Garrick this year for you.
"And as well as bringing the very best entertainment to the Garrick, we’re also making shows here in Lichfield ourselves, with our production of Farm Boy currently playing in our Studio before heading out on a regional tour, and preparations underway for this year’s fun-for-all-the-family panto, Jack & the Beanstalk. We look forward to welcoming you to your local theatre soon.”
Pick up a copy of the new Lichfield Garrick season brochure now or view it online.
Tickets are on sale now over the phone on 01543 412121 or in person at Box Office (our current opening times are Tue – Sat, 10am – 2pm) or online via the website.
