Paignton’s Palace Theatre is gearing up for a busy autumn, with an eclectic programme promising something for theatre lovers, music fans, comedy audiences and families alike.
The community theatre, in the heart of Paignton, has put together a season ranging from classic drama and family shows to tribute concerts, comedy and intimate evenings with some very familiar faces.
There’s plenty for theatre fans to look forward to, including Agatha Christie’s Verdict as part of the Agatha Christie Festival, alongside the interactive Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote. Later in the season comes The Three Musketeers, a deliberately silly family farce packed with audience participation.
One of the more thought-provoking productions will be Tits Up, which follows three very different women whose lives collide after breast cancer brings them together. Described as both funny and moving, the play explores friendship, resilience and finding laughter in difficult circumstances.
Local theatre company Bijou Theatre will present the chilling Trap for a Lonely Man, while TOPS Musical Productions bring the South West premiere of Disney’s Frozen The Musical. Younger theatre-goers can also enjoy Dear Zoo Live!, based on the much-loved children’s classic.
Music from across the decades
Music fans are particularly well served this autumn, with tribute shows celebrating some of the biggest names and sounds of the past 70 years.
The programme includes Viva La Vida – The Greatest Hits of Coldplay, The 80s Mixtape, The All Seasons celebrating Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The Ultimate Commitments and Blues Brothers Experience, Swing from Paris, The Manfreds, Genesis Connected, Sound & Vision – A Tribute to David Bowie and The Sounds of the 70s with The Zoots.
There’s also classic rock with Rock for Heroes, bringing the music of artists including Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Dire Straits and Fleetwood Mac to the Palace stage.
For those who prefer their music with a touch of country, Wallen and Combs – Two Modern Country Icons arrives in September, while Swing from Paris offers a very different musical experience, drawing on the sounds of Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the jazz cafés and cabarets of Paris.
Famous faces and plenty of laughs
The Palace is also continuing its popular programme of intimate evenings with well-known personalities.
Go West frontman Peter Cox will look back on his career and the hits including We Close Our Eyes and King of Wishful Thinking while motorcycle and television personality Henry Cole will be interviewed by his friend Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish.
Later in November, legendary music producer Trevor Horn will take audiences behind the scenes of his extraordinary career, which has seen him work with some of the biggest names in popular music.
Comedy also gets a strong showing, with the Paignton Comedy Club welcoming Angela Barnes, while Stage Left Vibes continues with South West comedian Dave Scott and his show You End Up Where You’re Meant To Be.
And if psychic readings are your thing, Psychic Sally returns to the Palace in September.
Something for families too
With Frozen The Musical, Dear Zoo Live! and a wide variety of performances across the autumn, there are plenty of opportunities for families to enjoy live entertainment together.
The season will eventually lead into the festive period, with Paignton Pantomime Productions returning with Mother Goose, before Ballet Theatre UK brings the magic of The Snow Queen to the stage as winter approaches.
With the Palace Theatre hosting dozens of events across the autumn, there really is something to suit almost every taste. The theatre itself describes its programme as offering everything from drama and comedy to live music and family favourites, with a 380-seat auditorium, café-bar and Stage Left arts and event space.
For full details, dates and tickets, visit Palace Theatre Paignton’s What’s On page
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