The autumn and winter season at Bolton's Octagon Theatre boasts a classic northern comedy-drama, an award-winning dark comedy, immersive comedy from a critically acclaimed South Asian theatre company, a musical adaptation of a beloved family adventure and Mina Anwar, reprising an acclaimed role,
The season opens with a new production of perennial northern favourite Brassed Off (September 5-28), based on the hit film about a Yorkshire mining town and the dispirited brass band-playing miners, hit by the closure of their pit and the illness of their leader. It's a co-production between the Octagon, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick and Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre, and will be directed by TBTL’s artistic director Liz Stevenson, with live music from local brass bands.
Visitng company Rifco Theatre present comedy Pali & Jay's Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow (October 16-19). Uncle and nephew Pali and Jay are in the competitive world of the wedding DJ, but with competition for gigs heating up, cases of sabotage among their rivals, plus Jay being keen to branch off into a career as a stand-up comic, can they save the company and their friendship?
Stones In His Pocket (October 22-November 2), by Marie Jones, will be directed by her son, Matthew McElhinney.
A small rural Northern Ireland village is turned upside down when a Hollywood studio arrives to film the latest historical blockbuster. But Tinseltown’s romanticised dream of Ireland is far from reality.
The Christmas show is a family musical version of The Jungle Book (November 22-January 4), adapted from the classic story by Andrew Pollard and Ziad Jabero.
The first show of 2025 sees Mina Anwar reprise her highly-praised 2020 Octagon performance as Shirley Valentine (February 7-March 8). Octagon artistic director Lotte Wakeham will direct Willy Russell's famous northern comedy, which sees bored housewife Shirley leave her home town, husband and life behind as she rediscovers herself on a solo holiday to Greece.
The autumn/winter season concludes with a new production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men (March 26-April 12), a classic tale of friendship and hope about drifters Lennie and George during the Great Depression.
As well as the main drama productions, the season features comedy, music, film, cabaret, children's shows and more.
Lotte Wakeham said: “Our autumn/winter season is a real mix of top-quality entertainment, with something on offer for everyone to enjoy.“
More info and tickets here