8 shows you can’t miss in Nottingham and Leicester this spring

There is lots to get up to in Nottingham and Leicester this spring, especially on the stage. Here are our picks of the shows you can’t miss this season…

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Theatre Royal, Nottingham – Tuesday 4 – Saturday 15 April

Winner of 7 Olivier Awards and 5 Tony Awards, Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel is brought to life on stage for an unmissable show. The plot follows the story of fifteen years old Christopher, who has an extraordinary brain. But when he falls under the suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog, it takes him on a journey that changes his world.

My Country
Curve Theatre, Leicester – Tuesday 25 — Saturday 29 April

In the days following the Brexit vote, a team from the National Theatre spoke to people nationwide, to hear their views on the country we call home. My Country puts their words centre stage and are interwoven with speeches from party leaders of the time in this new play by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. The play will raise the question; can there ever be a United Kingdom?

The Grapes of Wrath
Nottingham Playhouse – Tuesday 28 March – Saturday 8 April

John Steinbeck’s prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath is brought to life on stage in this play. It follows the story of a desperate family during the Great Depression. Along with thousands of others, they leave Oklahoma and travel west to California in search of work and a new life. But will California be their forever home?

A Clockwork Orange
Curve Theatre, Leicester – Thursday 18 — Saturday 20 May

A Clockwork Orange, which is being performed by students from De Montfort University, Alex commits one act of violence too far and his fate is in the hands of his prisoners. The price of freedom is to be brainwashed but can a person really be reformed without choice? The show is a re-telling of a cult contemporary classic, combining Beethoven with violence.

The Perfect Murder
Lace Market Theatre, Nottingham – Monday 22 – Saturday 27 May

A funny thriller from international crime novelist Peter James is coming to the stage in May. The plot follows a husband and wife, who are secretly try to kill one another. With twist after twist, this adaptation will keep you guessing right to the end.

Dirty Dancing
De Montford Hall, Leicester – Monday 10 – Saturday 15 April

See the classic story on stage this spring. The story follows Baby and Johnny, two independent young spirits from completely different worlds, who come together in what will be the best summer of their lives. The show features a whole range of hit songs, including Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, Do You Love Me? And (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

RENT
Nottingham Playhouse – Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May 2017

This landmark musical tells the thrilling story of a group of young artists struggling to survive in New York City’s East Village in the days of Bohemian excess. Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera La bohème, RENT features unforgettable music including the much-loved songs Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me and La Vie Bohème.

The Graduate
Curve Theatre, Leicester – Tuesday May 30 — Saturday June 10

Iconic characters from the classic film are brought to life in this coming-of-age story. Benjamin returns from college to high expectations, but the future makes him sick to his stomach. But when he meets his parents’ best friend Mrs Robinson, their relationship takes them on a destructive course that threatens everyone’s future happiness.