From Chicago to South Pacific
MAY
THEATRE
May 1 to 5 – Bette and Joan, Hall for Cornwall
Should be a corker this – Greta Scacchi and Anita Dobson play catty rivals Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 1 to 5 – Swallows and Amazons, Theatre Royal Plymouth
The hit Bristol Old Vic musical, written by The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon, comes to Plymouth.
May 7 to 9 – Spymonkey's Oedipussy, Hall for Cornwall
Greek tragedy goes anarchic with this acclaimed company; added help from our own Kneehigh's Emma Rice and Carl Grose.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 8 to 20 – WildWorks presents Babel, London
Fresh from crucifying Michael Sheen in Port Talbot, Cornwall's astonishingly ambitious theatre company takes over a yet-to-be-revealed site in London for what will undoubtedly be the cultural highlight of the World Stages London / Olympics 2012 celebrations.
www.bac.org.uk
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 11 and 12 – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hall for Cornwall
Who thought anything so classy would come from Brum?
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 13 – Turn Back The Clock, Carnglaze Caverns, St Neot
Something a bit different - an evening of Joyce Grenfell.
www.carnglaze.com
May 14 to 19 – Monty Python's Spamalot, Hall for Cornwall
I'm 42, I don't get excited by much. I'm ecstatic if I go through the night without having to get up for a wee. I'm excited about this though. Todd Carty, last seen being a prat on ice, stars in this hit musical, alongside Bonnie Langford and Marcus Brigstocke.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 12 and 26 – Cscape's If The Shoe Fits, Trannack School / Warleggan Jubilee Hall
Our leading contemporary company introduces dance to children in its new show.
www.carntocove.co.uk
May 18 – Cube Theatre's Wooden Heart, Polruan Village Hall
Acclaimed Cornish company gives a modern twist to the Pinocchio legend.
www.carntocove.co.uk
May 19 – The Foundry Group presents Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks, The Acorn, Penzance
With an all-star cast of thousands including Dickie Davis, Paul McCartney, Chris Tarrant, Frank Sinatra, Princess Margaret, Eamon Andrews, Maggie Thatcher and Greg Dyke, this ambitious, hilarious two-hander conjures up a whole nation during its most colourful era. I can almost hear Kent Gavin ....
www.carntocove.co.uk
May 24 – Paul Merton, Hall for Cornwall
Merton was responsible for one of the greatest nights of stand-up I've ever witnessed. Lovers of surreal humour should get tickets asap.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 26 – Simon Amstell, Hall for Cornwall
Hideously honest and just a little bit vulnerable, Amstell's comedy is barbed and beautiful.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 28 to June 2 – Doctor In The House, Theatre Royal Plymouth
Evoking the glory years of Leslie Phillips and the mighty James Robertson Justice, Joe Pasquale and Jesus himself, Robert Powell, star in this update of the comedy classic.
www.theatreroyal.com
MUSIC
May 2 – Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Trembling Bells, The Acorn, Penzance
America's alt.country legend Will Oldham is joined by Scotland's nu-folk pioneers. This could well be the gig of the year.
www.crbo.co.uk / 01736 365520 / www.seetickets.com
May 5 – Curved Air, The Acorn, Penzance
Many a young prog rocker lusted over Sonja Kristina. If they're still able to raise their ardour they can lust again 40 years on when Sonja is joined by original member Florian Pilkington-Miksa in a new Curved Air.
www.crbo.co.uk / 01736 365520
May 19 – Wretch 32, The Stannary, Tremough, Penryn
One of the new urban stars from inner city London drives his Traktor to Cornwall.
www.holditdown.org
May 21 and 22 – Marvellous Music in Cornwall, Hall for Cornwall
This two-night extravaganza will feature performances by children's choirs and ensembles from around the county.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 23 and 24 – Fisherman's Friends, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
Port Isaac's shantymen continue their years-long overnight success as all the other fishermen's choirs in Cornwall look on green-eyed.
www.minack.com
May 25 – YolanDa Brown, Hall for Cornwall
MOBO award-winning saxophonist YolanDa has toured with everyone from The Temptations to Courtney Pine and Diana Krall. Appears with full band.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
May 25 and 26 – Suzanne Vega, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
There's a lot more to her than Luka and Tom's Diner, you know.
www.minack.com
May 26 – Peggy Seeger, The Acorn, Penzance
The grand dame of the American folk movement. Imagine having The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face written for you ....
www.crbo.co.uk
JUNE
THEATRE
June 11 to 16 – Save The Last Dance For Me, Hall for Cornwall
This rock'n'roll musical, in a similar vein to Dreamboats & Petticoats and Dirty Dancing, celebrates the songs of one of the more underrated songwriting duos, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, the latter we have to thank for translating all those great Jacques Brel songs.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
June 13 to 23 – South Pacific, Theatre Royal Plymouth
The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic returns with a new all-star cast. Altogether now, "There is nothing like a dame ...."
www.theatreroyal.com
June 21 – Dave Gorman, Hall for Cornwall
The homely yet perceptive comic comes back to the county where he started that cycling tour a couple of years ago.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
June 24 – The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Radio Show, Theatre Royal Plymouth
The legendary (even if your series was a load of old tosh, wait for 30 years and you'll be described as legendary too) radio and TV cast are reunited led by Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, bringing to life the characters written for them in highlights from the entire Hitchhiker's saga. They are joined on stage by a series of VIP guest voices and supporting actors from Hitchhikers in all its phases.
www.theatreroyal.com
MUSIC
June 27 – Endless Journey, Tolmen Centre, Constantine
Four musicians from two of Niger's leading groups, Mamane Barka and Etran Finatawa.
01326 341353
JULY
THEATRE
July 3 to 14 – Sister Act, Theatre Royal Plymouth
Another feel-good musical based on a movie. Surely, it's time for Reservoir Dogs The Musical? Or perhaps Man Bites Dog on Broadway?
www.theatreroyal.com
July 16 to 21 – Chicago, Hall for Cornwall
It really is a great year for fans of musicals and, it has to be said, a great year for the Hall for Cornwall, which seems to have upped its game in 2012. The HfC really is giving us the old razzle dazzle. Sorry.
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
July 16 to 21 – Grease, Theatre Royal Plymouth
Blimey, here's another one. Let's hope the recession's over by July otherwise there's going to be a lot of musical theatre lovers losing their houses, while sadly singing Memories from Cats as they carry their worldly possessions on their backs, but doing a little dance.
www.theatreroyal.com
July 26 and 27 – Frankie Boyle, Plymouth Pavilions
He bans journalists from reviewing his shows, so you can add my name to the list of those who hate this comedian.
www.plymouthpavilions.com
July 28 to August 31 – Kneehigh Theatre's The Asylum
2011's double header at Kneehigh's portable theatre at Blackwater was an absolute joy. Details of this year's programme will be announced in the near future.
MUSIC
July 6 – Plan B, Eden Sessions
The year in which he returns with the hip hop sequel to Strickland Banks and stars alongside Ray Winstone in The Sweeney movie, also sees Ben "Plan B" Drew headline the first (at the moment) Eden Session of 2012. He thinks he's dangerous but my mum is a massive fan. She's 73.
www.edenproject.com
July 7 – Castle Rock, Launceston
The one-day rock festival featuring the very best in South West music is back.
See the Facebook page for more details
July 19 to 22 – Port Eliot Festival, St Germans
The word "eclectic" was invented by some posh arts type for this festival. Where the worlds of literature, cookery, music, theatre and river swimming collide very politely.
www.porteliotfestival.com
July 28 and 29 – Leopallooza, near Bude
Many music fans' favourite Cornish festival returns bigger and better than ever. The hip and sexy band of organisers always manage to book bands before they get big, so expect a fascinating line-up.
www.leopallooza.com
AUGUST
THEATRE
August 7 to September 8 – Oliver!, Theatre Royal Plymouth
A fabulous new Cameron Mackintosh production of Lionel Bart's evergreen.
www.theatreroyal.com
MUSIC
August 3 to 5 – Cornwall Folk Festival, Wadebridge
Wadebridge Folk Festival now gets a grander title. Headline acts include Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos (Holland), Amadou Diagne (Senegal) and Robb Johnson (one of England's finest folk singer-songwriters).
www.cornwallfolkfestival.com
August 8 to 12 – Relentless Boardmasters Festival, Watergate Bay, Newquay
Cornwall's most successful music festival returns. I know who the headliners are – ner ner ner-ner ner. Acts will be announced in the near future.
www.relentlessboardmasters.com
SEPTEMBER
MUSIC
September 8 to 22 – St Ives September Festival
Among the acts already confirmed are Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby, The Beat, Counterfeit Stones, Albert Lee and Port Isaac's own Beatles and Fisherman's Friends.
www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk
September 21 to 23 – Making Waves festival, Looe
Last year's inaugural festival was a great success with the likes of From The Jam, The Selecter, Roy Wood and Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds. Expect more like that in 2012.
www.looemusic.co.uk
NOVEMBER
THEATRE
November 7 – Jason Byrne, Plymouth Pavilions
November 16 – Peter Andre, Plymouth Pavilions
November 24 – Jimmy Carr, Plymouth Pavilions
November 27 – Ross Noble, Plymouth Pavilions
www.plymouthpavilions.com
DECEMBER
THEATRE
December 8 to January 5 – Aladdin, Hall for Cornwall
December 14 to January 19 – Dick Whittington, Theatre Royal Plymouth
I know you don't want to think about it yet, but 2012, IT'S BEHIND YOU!
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
www.theatreroyal.com
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