Opera North: The Flying Dutchman

Opera North: The Flying Dutchman

At sea, the captain of a ship is cursed along with his crew to wander the ocean until Judgement Day.

On land, a woman dreams of escape from a world where vision and compassion are reduced to shabby deals. She is obsessed with the legend of the Flying Dutchman, whose soul only love can redeem from the purgatory of his ceaseless voyaging. Will Senta and the Dutchman bring each other salvation or catastrophe?

Although not his first opera, Wagner regarded The Flying Dutchman as the true beginning of his artistic voyage, and it is in many ways the ideal introduction to his musical universe. From the bracing horn calls that set the propulsive drama in motion to the resplendent final moments of transfiguration, you’ll be swept away by this thrilling, tempestuous music drama in a new production directed by Annabel Arden and designed by Joanna Parker (Andrea Chénier, Turandot, Aida).

Supported by The Flying Dutchman Circle and the Friends of Opera North.

Sung in German with English subtitles.

Into The Woods

Embark on a fantastical journey with this rendition of ‘Into The Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim. Set against the enchanting backdrop of a magical forest, this show weaves together classic fairy tale characters, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel, as they pursue their deepest desires. But be prepared for unexpected twists and consequences as their individual tales intertwine, creating a gripping narrative that explores the complexities of wishes and the unforeseen challenges of happily ever after. Join us for a captivating exploration of the human experience in this thrilling production of ‘Into The Woods’.

Chicago

CHICAGO, the “sexiest musical ever” (Metro) is is back in Hull in 2025.

“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery…all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts” So begins the international multi-award-winning musical, CHICAGO.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score with one show-stopping song after another includes “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”. With 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations, CHICAGO truly is “SUPERB” (Daily Telegraph).

Don’t miss out, book now! It would be criminal to miss it…

Piano Day 2024

Piano Day is to be celebrated in Hull for the first time.

On Thursday March 28th 2024, the newly-formed Humber St Piano Sessions will host a day of free events and performances celebrating the piano and the people who play it.

Members of the public are invited to come and play a tune as part of a mini piano trail with the opportunity to learn from professional pianists at the event on Humber Street.

In the afternoon, piano students from across the region will share their love of the instrument in series of short, informal performances.

Event organiser Mark Slater says: “Piano Day has been going since 2015 and has developed into an incredible worldwide phenomenon that celebrates all things piano. It takes place on the 88th day of the year to match the number of keys on the instrument. And this is the first time that it’ll happen here in Hull. There are opportunities across the whole day for people to come and play us a tune – so if you play the piano, or know someone who does, come down to Humber St and make some music and listen to others play. It’s amazing to have funding support from Hull City Council to get this off the ground.”

The day will culminate in the world première of a new piece by the exceptional Zoe Rahman, commissioned in partnership with Hull Jazz Festival especially for Hull and for this Piano Day celebration.

Other featured artists include classical piano duo from Hull and Hedon Graziana Pressice and Amy Butler, fearless improvising pianist Matthew Bourne, neo-classical and skewed-pop pianist and vocalist t l k, along with ambient and lofi-obsessed collaborators Mark Slater and Stewart Baxter.

10am – 10pm: Find a mini piano trail down Humber Street for anyone to have a go at playing a tune. Whether you’ve been playing for 8 minutes or 80 years, we wanna hear what you’ve got!

1pm – 4pm: Come along to SPACE for a student showcase, and hear tunes from students who are currently learning the piano.

5pm – 10pm: Join us for incredible performances from world-class talent in a range of genres and styles, including a world premiere from Zoe Rahman, of a piece commissioned specially for this event.

It’s all taking place on Thursday 28th March, and we cannot wait to see you there!

Fairytale of New York

After three sell out tours, the ultimate Irish-inspired Christmas concert is back with an even bigger production for 2024.

From the producers of Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Irish culture as our talented singers, musicians and dancers perform a world class concert featuring all the festive favourites including ‘Driving Home for Christmas’, ‘Step Into Christmas’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and, of course, ‘The Fairytale of New York’.

……and just when you think the party couldn’t get any better, this world class concert performs the greatest Irish sing-a-long songs of all time including ‘The Galway Girl’, ‘The Irish Rover’, ‘Dirty Old Town’ and ‘The Black Velvet Band.’

Bring your friends and family to share in the joy of the season with an unforgettable night of singing, dancing and laughing. Imagine a St Patrick’s Day party, on Christmas Day!

The Book of Mormon

The New York Times calls it ‘The best musical of this century.’ The Washington Post says, ‘It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.’ And Entertainment Weekly raves, ‘Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.’ It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award and four-time Olivier winning Best Musical.

This outrageous musical comedy from creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get.

Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock Eternal Love – The Musical

Steve Steinman celebrates 22 years of his epic Vampires Rock chronicles. A new beginning and chapter with this brand-new original rock musical Eternal Love!

Featuring over 20 original songs from two No.1 Albums including six No.1 singles and the No.1 hit by legendary song writer John Parr, “Everything They Said Was True”.

With a full cast of amazing singers, dancers and musicians this truly is a night for musical theatre and rock fans alike.

The story began over two hundred years ago, where the villagers chased the Baron (played by the charismatic Steve Steinman) and his motley crew of vampires out of their beloved home and castle, Club Live and Let Die.

They fled across land and sea to make their home in an old, abandoned ghost train ride where they took refuge, causing havoc and mayhem amongst the locals.

Many years pass, the Baron decides to return to his homeland, reclaim his castle and search for his long-lost love Pandora, who was left for dead in the great fire.

Always at the Baron’s side is Bosley; his butler and confidante who serves him with hilarious consequences at times.

“Steve Steinman had the audience eating out of his hand”
Manchester Evening News

“Definitely my new guilty pleasure”
Glasgow Daily Record

Anything For Love – The Meatloaf Story

The critically acclaimed Steve Steinman, now in his 30th year of continuous touring, will be joined onstage by Lorraine Crosby, who nearly three decades ago sang those immortal words with Meat Loaf “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” to perform this epic song live as part of his brand new production Anything For Love – The Meat Loaf Story.

With over 2,000 performances and over a million tickets sold worldwide, Steve Steinman has come a long way since his appearance as Meat Loaf on ITV’s hit TV show Stars In Their Eyes back in 1993. His journey can only be described as remarkable as for the past 27 years Steve has constantly toured globally in the hit show ‘The Meat Loaf Story’. He has performed in some of the most iconic venues in the world such as Sun City, South Africa and the London Palladium, which Steve rates as one of his all-time achievements.

With incredible stage set, live band and production, combined with Steve’s well-known sense of humour and stage presence, along with the amazing Lorraine Crosby the show can only be described as ‘awesome’. The show will feature Meat Loaf’s greatest hits of all time including – Anything for Love – Bat Out Of Hell – Paradise By The Dashboard Light – Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth – Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad – Dead Ringer For Love and many, many more.

The End of the World Party

“LIKE BEING ON DERREN BROWN’S ‘TRICK OR TREAT!'”

Hull Urban Opera presents another fascinating immersive event, this time an ‘End of the World’ themed party. A series of audience tasks and party games determine who will enter the VIP Room, but who is really pulling the strings, and why?

With a libretto by Artistic Director Russell Plows and music by Lente Verelst, whose CROCODILE was recently shown on SKY ARTS, this promises to be an evening to remember. Will you be a Gambler, an Artist or a Saint? Find out on the night!

Please note that this production is promenade and immersive and you will be required to move around the space. Seats will be provided for those that need them. Not suitable for younger children.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds is back with a monumental UK tour, arriving just in time to celebrate 130 years since the publication of HG WELLS’ dark Victorian tale.

One of the most trailblazing arena tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds (TWOTW) returns with a musical spectacular like none other, with the production remaining a favourite to millions around the world, exciting audiences of all ages.

Conducted by Jeff Wayne and featuring Liam Neeson in 3D holography as The Journalist, who recounts his story of survival from the Martian invasion of 1898.

Oliver

Hull’s own State of the Arts Academy presents OLIVER! by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh.

Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart’s musical based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, where the streets of Victorian England are brought to life in this multi award-winning show!

This amateur production is licensed by Music Theatre International.

Calamity Jane

Get ready for a wild and rowdy ride as NAPA returns to Hull Truck Theatre with their production of the iconic Doris Day musical “Calamity Jane”!

Our gunslinging, headstrong, heroine, “Calam”, can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. She is hard, boastful, and desperate to impress, but the local men in town can’t take her seriously. Unbeknownst to any of them, she harbours a secret passion for army officer, Danny Gilmartin.

In a bid to help Henry Miller save his saloon, Calam travels to Chicago on the Deadwood Stage to recruit a star turn, but following a comic case of mistaken identity things don’t quite go to plan. Everyone in town begins to take a shine to the new girl and Calam struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing rival, Wild Bill Hickok, to make her see sense.

So, saddle up and join us as we transport you to the heart of the Wild West with this show’s Oscar nominated score that includes, The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning, Secret Love.

Brought to you by Hulls very own Northern Academy of Performing Arts, the company behind recent Hull Truck successes ‘Footloose’ (2022) & ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (2021), this show is certain to be a great night out for the whole family.

Kinky Boots

Charlie Price is in need of a miracle. Lola might just be the Angel he’s been waiting for.

After inheriting his father’s failing Northampton shoe factory, these two unlikely friends set out on a joyous and uplifting journey to save the family business.

Pull up your most fabulous boots for a drag-filled night of fun in this hit musical inspired by a true story. Book by Harvey Fierstein and music by pop icon Cyndi Lauper.

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Oh What A Lovely War

Roll up, Roll up! And take your seat for the ever-popular ‘War Game’!

A cornerstone of modern musical theatre and one of the very greatest stage satires, Oh What A Lovely War is an extraordinary theatrical journey bringing to life the folly, farce and tragedy of the First World War.

Wildly satirical, visually stunning and deeply moving, it’s the musical that revolutionised modern theatre; an exhilarating, no-holds-barred assault on the military incompetence and inconceivable disregard for human life the First World War has come to represent.

King For A Day: The Nat King Cole Story

Featuring world-class live music, alongside narration and projected archive images, this is the unique concert celebrating one the greatest vocalists and entertainers of the Twentieth Century: Nat King Cole.

Featuring all of Nat King Cole’s most celebrated songs, alongside stylish reworkings of his lesser-known gems, and rare archive images and footage, join us for this unique concert honouring the life and music of this extraordinary icon.

Guts! The Musical

The year is 1984.

15 women in a fish packing factory in Hull are about to make history…

In the decade that brought us the Walkman, MTV, chicken nuggets and shoulder pads, something else was brewing: A revolution about equal pay.

Following Union Rep Peter Allen on his fight for factory workers, this is a whirlwind re-telling of the groundbreaking case which changed the equalities act in the UK forever. Demanding equal pay for equal work, should be easy, right? Wrong!

This story is an important part of our city’s rich maritime history, which goes way beyond the Headscarf Revolutionaries.

An upbeat and uplifting tale about justice, the power of female friendship and… fish… with a whole load of hilarity and musical joy thrown in for good measure.

Join us as the whole community come together to present this highly entertaining farcical drama which is based on a true story.

Made in Dagenham meets Barbie (The Movie).