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Macready Theatre brings you some of the best new talent before it transfers to the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Santi & Naz
Thursday 27 July 2:30pm & 7:30pm

Santi and Naz are bestest-best friends living in a village in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim; they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. 

Age guidance:
12+
Content Warning:
Violence, religious and political unrest, religious and political violence, Empire & colonisation, forced marriage, murder and sexual assault.
Running Time: 
70 minutes. No interval. 

” Heart-warming, powerful and impactful, Santi & Naz sets the bar high” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ British Theatre.com

“beautifully captures how ordinary people are affected by monumental historic changes which become woven into their everyday experiences” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews Hub 

Tickets available online or on the door £10/£8

Sophie Santos… is Codependent
Sunday 30 July 5pm

After going through a breakup, award-winning comedian Sophie Santos butts heads and belts it out with their personified OCD. ‘Honest and hilariously awkward’ (Shondaland). ‘Comedic dynamo‘ (Time Out New York).

Age Restriction:
14+ Guideline. Strong language  
Running Time:
60 mins

Tickets available online or on the door £12/10

Tim Murray is Witches
Sunday 30 July 7pm

From The Craft to Wicked to the Sanderson Sisters, Murray will have you howling at the moon in a tribute to queer people and how we discover our powers once we find our coven. 

Age Restriction: 
14+ guideline. Strong language
Running Time: 
60 mins no interval

‘Throughout the night it becomes apparent that Tim is a master when it comes to interacting with the audience and it really is one of his strongest elements of the whole show’ Phoenix Remix 

Tickets available online or on the door £12/£10

2nd Portrait of Dorian Gray
Tuesday 01 August 7:30pm

Rugby School Performing Arts and Theatre Studies Students present this piece of new writing before it transfers to Edinburgh Fringe. Nine teenagers and one baritone saxophone invite you to a surreal cabaret of a play.

FREE tickets available online and on the door.

OFFERS:

Book 2x shows, get 50% off!

A Thunder Road Theatre Production 

Performer Alex Moran reveals what makes Shock Horror a “must-see” ghost story this Halloween.

Shock Horror is a theatrical thrill ride that takes audiences on a heart pounding journey into the depths of human psyche. Described as Stranger Things meets The Woman In Black, this haunting, cutting-edge ghost story combines multimedia screen action with live stage performance. And it’s not long before it visits Macready Theatre to terrify the locals brave enough to book. But who is the man behind it all? Alex Moran runs Thunder Road Theatre Company with writer / director Ryan Simons from their base in Yorkshire. To date, they have produced six critically acclaimed, sell-out shows, all exploring the spectacle of horror and the things that keep us from turning the light off at night. We caught up with Alex, who stars in the show, to find out more… 

Alex, hello! Can you start by telling us about your character in Shock Horror?
Herbert has grown up in a cinema that only screens horror. No contact with the outside world whatsoever. No friends, no school. His journey flips between haunting events of his childhood and present day. Any more info and I really would be spoiling it!

What makes Shock Horror unique and should must audiences come to see it? 
It’s the first ever horror show with it’s own self-produced horror film on screen. Set in a haunted cinema auditorium – multimedia not only compliments the show visually; it’s woven into the plot, an unpredictable character in the story.

What are some of your favourite things about performing a horror theatre piece?
I grew up watching The Woman In Black. 14 visits to see the show and it never gets old for me. Performing horror takes me right back to the first time I saw it. Like Herbert I’m a kid again. I can only hope the audiences seeing this share the same sense of excitement and chills I felt back then. 
The atmosphere in horror is totally different to any other theatre experience I’ve ever had. It’s not about the laughs, it’s all about the screams. 

What was your earliest memory of horror? Do you have any spooky childhood memories of your own to share?
Earliest memory was filming a ghost story at Halloween with my family. My grandpa wrote the script and filmed it. Everyone else acted in it. I played an American William Wallace. I still can’t understand why I chose American as an accent for the most famous Scottish hero of all time, but there you go!
Spooky memory? A recurring childhood nightmare of a knock at the door and a jangling of keys. The door flew open. An entity stood in the darkness. I was frozen. I can still see that image now. I’ll leave that story there before I hide behind the sofa.

Theatres are well-known for their ghosts. Have you encountered any spooky goings-on whilst touring? 
Harrogate Theatre is famous for having a theatre ghost called Alice that haunts the stalls. I’ve heard one or two strange sounds in that building, but thankfully nothing more.
I also went method with Herbert and spent the night in a theatre on my own. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Has anything changed from the 2022 tour of Shock Horror?
Massively. The show has a much bigger team on board after last year’s success. Specialists in lighting, sound, illusion and marketing; and a fantastic set designed by the West End’s Justin Williams. The show has evolved deliciously… more jumps, more scares, more stand out moments. I can’t wait to get started again.

We’re creeped out just thinking about it! Thanks Alex. Shock Horror is running at Macready Theatre between 06 October 2023 and 08 October 2023. Book your tickets now, if you dare!

The team here at Macready Theatre feel like kids at Christmas, as we delight in the return of Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company for our Christmas show this year.

Here’s everything you need to know…

This is the story of an extraordinary explorer and pioneering problem-solver. Planning his latest mission to the Antarctic he is learning to speak Penguin and hopes that you will too!

Through puppetry and song, this playful show celebrates wild creativity and the joy of individuality.

Waddle on down and join the expedition!

For all the family, ages 3+
Running time 60 mins.

The show will run from Sunday 10 December to Sunday 7 January (with a Festive break in the middle). For all show dates and times, please visit www.macreadytheatre.co.uk

We will be hosting an EXTRA SPECIAL pyjama performance on Friday 22nd December. Pop on your Christmassy PJs, bring along your penguin teddies and let’s enjoy the show in comfort. Full disclaimer: if you come along to any other showing in Christmassy PJs you will not be turned away!!

Subsidised tickets are also available for SCHOOL GROUPS. Please contact Amie alb@rugbyschool.net for more information and to book.

Public tickets are NOW AVAILABLE: www.ticketsource.co.uk/rugby-arts

“A very master class in how to do a one-man play…a joyous tribute to the acting profession… Stratford’s warm, engaging personality shone through each of the many characters he portrayed” (The Cambridge Critique)

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Macready’s death. This production pays a timely tribute to a theatrical pioneer who did so much to influence our theatre of today.

This compelling new solo show, written and performed by Mark Stratford, tells the story of William Charles Macready, one of the greatest actor-managers of the 19th Century. The story of Macready – the man to whom Charles Dickens dedicated “Nicholas Nickleby” – is one of the most remarkable ever to come out of the Theatre.

With passion, humour, emotion, and an array of characters, Stratford takes us on a journey through the fascinating world of Victorian theatre and the extraordinary, yet conflicted life of Macready; from his first tentative steps on stage in a tatty country theatre to his final ever performance at the mighty Drury Lane!

Read all about it in the latest review from The Cambridge Critique.

Grab your tickets today

Macready Theatre, Rugby have been nominated for Muddy Stiletto’s prestigious Best Theatre/Arts Venue in Warwickshire/West Midlands.

Firstly, the team at Macready Theatre wish to say a massive THANK YOU to the very kind soul/s who have nominated us for this incredible award. We are over the moon with the gesture, show of support and are so proud to be in the running for the Warwickshire and West Mids title.

As a small theatre in the heart of Rugby, this nomination is honouring the work we do for our community. Whether it be bringing in professional theatre for our town’s folk to enjoy, providing free seats for local school children to see shows during term-time or coordinating one of Rugby’s biggest annual festivals, The Festival on The Close.

If you would like to support us through to the next round and nominate us as your BEST Theatre/Arts Venue in Warwickshire/West Mids, please click here and vote by 8th May.

Thank you to everyone who has shown Macready Theatre some love. We are a small team but we LOVE what we do!

Macready Theatre travelled back in time to the Cretaceous period when the iconic T-Rex was King. Tyrannosaurs “Jam”, “Old Jam”, “Hairy Jam” and Velociraptor “Pongo” all enjoyed their time in the spotlight, meeting the excited Rugby public during three sell-out shows on Saturday.

Teaching children about the life and anatomy of the dinosaurs, whilst providing up-close experiences with the most fascinating creatures to have ever roamed our planet, the TeachRex team did a fantastic job of creating some ROARsome memories for everyone who came along. Volunteers were whisked onto stage, chased (and eaten) by the dinos and we even had a dance party!

TeachRex provide incredible interactive experiences with their dinosaurs through offering educational workshops to schools up and down the country, and events in venues nationwide. Macready Theatre hope to be welcoming TeachRex back over the Summer, so watch this space…

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