Summer 2024 highlights include:
- family shows featuring theatre, movies and comedy
- meet the cast of TV’s Only Fools & Horses
- top female comedy big-hitters, Ria Lina and Anne Gildea on tour
- celebrating music icons Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Bowie and Elvis
The Exchange has launched its summer 2024 programme featuring a packed line-up of theatre, talks, comedy, film and family events, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as a creative hub for arts and culture in the region.
A host of weekend and holiday entertainment for families is on offer. Movie classics, Wonka (27 April) and The BFG (25 May) are showing at the Family Film Club. Baby Cinema, the monthly film club for parents and carers, will screen Anatomy of a Fall (25 April) and Little Miss Sunshine (23 May). Theatre productions include an adaptation of The Adventures of The Little Red Hen (12-14 April), the award-winning Extraordinary Time Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen (28 May) and The Great Belzoni (29-30 Jun) written by Loz Keal.
Family-friendly comedy will be on the cards at the Comedy Club 4 Kids and Bring Your Own Baby Comedy with laughs from some of the best UK stand-ups.
For the adult comedy fans, top female comedy big hitters will head-line. The ground-breaking Filipina comedienne, Ria Lina (25 April) debuts with her Riawakening tour and back by popular demand is Anne Gildea with How to Get The Menopause & Enjoy It (17-18 April). There will be more comedy in An Evening with Only Fools & Horses (14 June) and the opportunity to meet & greet some of the old cast from the original TV show. Plus, vintage radio-style comedy, The Gin Chronicles (13 July) and the resident comedy night, Manford’s Comedy Club, (6 July) returns.
In the theatre, Jude Kelly, founder of WOW Global, will be talking about Shakespeare’s Women (1 June). Jude is bringing her sold-out Globe theatre premiere to The Exchange audience for a discussion and exploration of the great women in the Bard’s works. More drama features in the gritty production of The Freshwater Five (11 May). Inspired by the Guardian’s Today in Focus podcast, it tells the true story of five Isle of Wight fishermen, who were convicted at Kingston Crown Court, and sentenced to 104 years for conspiracy to import £53m of cocaine.
The season features a range of artists from across classical, jazz fusion, world and pop music. Launching the programme is American violinist and Grammy nominated artist, Ariana Kim and classical guitarist Michael Poll (10 May). Legendary award-winning Italian acoustic guitar virtuoso, Antonio Forcione and fellow award-winning guitarist and composer, Giorgio Serci play on 25 May for a performance of Latin, African jazz and flamenco.
Exchange artist in residence, Janette Mason, is teaming up with David McAlmont for Wall-to-Wall Bowie (7-8 June), which has played to sold-out audiences for a decade. There will be more celebration of great icons of music with The George Harrison Project (16 May), Hejira – A Tribute to Joni Mitchell (13 June), Carnaby Army – 60’s British Invasion! (19 July) and A Vision of Elvis (15 August).
Becky Shaw, Programme & Partnerships Manager said: “Entertaining audiences is at the heart of what we do and we’re thrilled to be presenting a packed programme this summer. There’s a wide array of top music, inspirational theatre, comedy and family entertainment. We welcome back, by popular demand, Janette Mason with Wall-to-Wall Bowie and Anne Gildea’s hilarious How to Get the Menopause & Enjoy It. The comedy strand has gone from strength to strength with shows from top performers on the UK comedy circuit. Take advantage of our ‘new’ curry & comedy nights too. There’s a full programme of family shows to inspire and entertain up until the end the school term. And, as a community venue, there is a variety of classes, workshops and arts outreach projects to get involved with.”
