Here’s what to keep an eye out for on the stage this winter and beyond…
There’s lots to enjoy at Derby Theatre over the next few months, including several shows featuring Black talent, stories and music, from the jazz-infused Swinging at the Cotton Club to the story of Bob Marley in The King of Reggae. I’m a Celeb star Babatunde Aléshé will even be putting in an appearance. Read on and make room in your calendar for a season of great shows.
Swinging at the Cotton Club
Friday 13th January
Deriving its name from the nightclub that once hosted the likes of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, this show promises to recreate the atmosphere of 1920s and ‘30s Harlem for one night only. Featuring the Lindy Hop Dance Company, the Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, American vocalist Marlene Hill and compere Megs Etherington, this is a blast from the past that no fan of jazz or swing should miss.
King for a Day: The Nat King Cole Story
Saturday 28th January
Derby Theatre’s celebration of Black music history continues with this multimedia tribute to the legendary vocalist Nat King Cole, which will tell his story through a seamless combination of music, narration and archive footage. Headlined by critically-acclaimed jazz singer Atila Huseyin, the concert was a huge success when it played at the sold-out Hippodrome Casino in London in 2016.
Babatunde Aléshé: Babahood
Thursday 23rd February
Right on the back of his adventures in the Australian jungle in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, rising comedy star Babatunde Aléshé will be taking his new comedy show to various venues across the country. Baba will be bringing his one-of-a-kind wit to topics such as family and fatherhood when makes a stop at Derby Theatre this February.
Charlie and Stan
Tuesday 28th February – Saturday 4th March
Before they were world-famous comedians, Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel were merely two aspiring comics sharing a cabin on a boat to New York. Charlie and Stan tells the amusing and heartwarming story of these two comedy icons’ chance encounter before they parted ways on the path to stardom, with two cracking lead performances that evoke the energy of their timeless characters.
The King of Reggae: The Man, The Music
Saturday 15th April
The JA Reggae Band and Rush Theatre Company are giving us something special to look forward to in spring as they bring the story and songs of Bob Marley to Derby Theatre. Featuring over twenty songs including One Love, No Woman No Cry and Is This Love, this brand new musical will chronicle how Marley became the most celebrated reggae artist of all time.
Find out more at derbytheatre.co.uk
By Jamie Morris
About The Author
