Entertainment round-up - Autumn 2007

The West Country is fortunate in that it has a marvellous selection of theatres which put on top quality entertainment, many shows coming straight from London’s West End. Whether you like comedy, variety, opera or drama, there will be something for you, so check out the West Country’s theatres for a great night out.

SOUTH DEVON

Princess Theatre

Sitting on Torquay’s harbourside, the Princess not only has an enviable position with some of the best views in town, but it also has some of the best shows in the South West. The Ellen Kent Opera company stages around four operas a year, and forthcoming productions are the ever-popular Carmen on Saturday October 27 and Nabucco the following night, which was Verdi’s first great success and is not performed so often as his later works.

If swing is your thing, don’t miss the Rat Pack party, the Kings of Swing on October 24. You may prefer the classic rock sounds of Queen. Magic – A Kind Of Queen, is widely regarded as the finest tribute to Queen and features all their greatest hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, A Kind of Magic, Under Pressure, We Are the Champions and many more. See the show on August 22 or September 5.

How about the commercial pop sound of ABBA which will have you stomping in your seat? ABBAMANIA plays on August 11 and 18. The Princess even stages is own Last Night of the Proms on September 16 with the West Of England Philharmonic Orchestra.

There are many more musical spectaculars, together with Agatha Christie, wrestling, Colin Fry’s clairvoyance and the tenth anniversary of the Spirit of the Dance tour on October 29. Breezes Bar & Bistro in the theatre will serve you a pre-theatre meal up until 7.15pm, or just drinks or coffee. Log onto www.livenation.co.uk/torquay for information on all shows and how to book, or call 08702 414120.

Babbacombe Theatre, Babbacombe Downs

Perched right on the top of Babbacombe Downs, the Babbacombe Theatre is popular with the locals because of the quality of its shows and the reasonable price of tickets. A favourite venue for music and dance with a mixture of local, national and international performers, the Babbacombe is a must for anyone visiting Torbay or Teignbridge. Mums, Dads and grandparents can remember the heady days of the 60s with the Cavern Beatles on August 18, or the 50s sounds of the Drifters on August 26. Heavy rock by Pink Floyd Tribute band, The New Machine, on October 13 will bring back the pre-glam rock days of the late 60s and early 70s. Lenny Henry will have you rolling around in your seats on November 24. For further information log onto www.babbacombe-theatre.com or call 01803 328385.

Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre in Paignton is Torbay’s community theatre and puts on many local productions by its resident Bijou Theatre Company and Torbay Acting Factory as well as other productions such as Gerry Cottle’s circus. Tel 01803 665800, http://www.torbay.gov.uk/palacetheatre.

Cinemas

Torbay has the Apollo Cinema on Paignton seafront (phone 0871 220 6000, website www.apollocinemas.co.uk) and Central Cinema in Abbey Road, near Torquay Harbour, tel 01803 380001.

PLYMOUTH AND TAVISTOCK

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

The Theatre Royal in Plymouth is the largest theatre in the whole of the South West and has such a prestigious reputation that people come from far and wide to see its acclaimed shows. Here you will find some of the top names in show business, and the theatre is a regular venue on the UK tour circuit, after shows have left the West End, but local companies also appear on theprogramme, especially at the Drum Theatre, which also stages local am dram, as does the Athenaeum nearby.

From August 21 to 25 there is gritty drama in the Drum Theatre in the form of the Gut Girls, a group of Victorian women in Deptford, London, who make their living by gutting oxen.

Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, about an unruly bunch of bright sixth form boys from the North of England trying to win a place at Oxbridge, directed by Nicholas Hytner, runs from September 6 to 15; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat runs from October 1 to 6 and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance from October 9 to 13.

Café Cuisine in the theatre is open for lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5.30pm and offers a wide choice of dishes, from soup and salads to locally-sourced meat and vegetarian dishes. Children’s portions are available for under 12s. Meal deals are available for certain shows, which comprise a main course and coffee.

For full details of all listings and to book for the theatre or café, phone 01752 267222 or log onto www.theatreroyal.com.

Plymouth Pavilions

International bands, pop stars, children’s shows and dance from all over the world come to Plymouth Pavilions, which also has an ice rink and fun swimming pool. Van Morrison will be playing on August 25, with Daniel O’Donnell on September 22 and 23, and Natasha Bedingfield on September 29. A special for half-term is Hamlet by Shakespeare 4 Kidz on October 31. For more information log onto www.plymouthpavilions.com or phone 0845 146 1460.

Barbican

In the historic Barbican, the Barbican Theatre has an open mic jazz night three Tuesdays a month and holds varied performances throughout the year from plays, puppet shows to dance. More information on www.barbicantheatre.co.uk or phone 01752 267131. For live jazz, visit the the Barbican Jazz Cafe on The Parade.

Cinemas

Cinemas in Plymouth are the Reel Cinema at Derry’s Cross, tel 01752 225553, www.metro-cinema.co.uk, Vue Cinemas on the Barbican Approach, tel 0871 224 0240, www.myvue.com, with Tavistock Wharf in Canal Road, Tavistock, tel 01822 611 166, www.tavistockwharf.com.

TRURO

The Hall for Cornwall houses the Truro Theatre, which puts on a mixture of dance, drama and music. This month you can relive the War songs with the Glen Miller Orchestra on August 16 or rock with laughter at Jim Davidson the following night, or perhaps think back to your punk youth with Complete Madness on August 23. The coffee shop is open for lunch and includes a salad selection or freshly made baguette, homemade cakes and flapjacks. For a full lunch, visit Stars, the theatre restaurant, which is also open for pre-theatre evening meals. Enjoy a drink before the show or order your interval drink from the Trelawney Bar. Tel 01872 262466 for information about other shows or log onto www.hallforcornwall.co.uk.

Truro’s cinema is The Plaza@Truro in Lemon Street, tel 01872 272894, www.wtwcinemas.co.uk.

NORTH CORNWALL

Bude has the Rebel Cinema at Treskinnick Cross, Poundstock, Tel 01288 361442, www.rebelcinema.co.uk. Newquay has the Lane Theatre in East Street, tel 01637 876945, with the nearest cinemas being The Cinedrome in Padstow, Tel 01841 532344, and the Regal Cinemas in Redruth (Tel 01209 216278) and Wadebridge (Tel 01208 812791).