Rural touring theatre returns this Autumn

• Thursday 28 September - 7.30pm Kingsway Creative Campus, University of Chester
• Saturday 30 September - 7.30pm The Electric Picture House, Congleton

Sing, dance and shed a tear at this season’s first performance, a bittersweet gig theatre show called ‘Hero and Leander’ by Jack Dean and Company. Six multi-instrumentalists will tell an epic seaside tale through a variety of songs encompassing folk, indie, sea shanties and choral music. A story of bad rulers, worse weather, and how we keep going when everything is flipping terrible. “It is huge fun, accessible, varied, energetic and touching, telling an oft-told, ancient story with passion and honesty” (Fine Times Recorder).

• Saturday 7 October - 8pm Plumley Village Hall
• Sunday 8 October 7.30pm Neston Town Hall

If you fancy a bit of award-winning, fast-paced physical theatre performance (winners of Best Immersive Show at Edinburgh Fringe), come to a tale of love, excitement, danger, and very sharp claws. ‘Tiger Lady’ by Dead Rabbits Theatre unveils the true story of a fearless and forgotten woman, Mabel Stark, the queen of the circus and the first ever female tiger tamer.

• Saturday 21 October - 7.30pm Audlem Scout and Guide Hall

Defending his authorship in Nic Collet’s ‘Your Bard’, Will Shakespeare, kicks down the pub door to confront Professor Nother, an academic who doesn’t believe Shakespeare wrote his own works. In this tell all, Shakespeare speaks his soul sharing tales of his life, family, and glory days at the Globe. You might well meet Christopher Marlow, Ned Alleyn and Queen Elizabeth I too.

• Tuesday 24 October - 2pm Theatre Porto, Ellesmere Port

Children and families will enjoy ‘Make Some Noise’ by Dommy B, a 2020 Saboteur award winning spoken word artist. Dommy shares a surprising story about imaginary friends, school bands and growing up. With rhymes, jokes, and lots of opportunity to make some noise, this show celebrates the power of sound and friendship.

• Friday 10 November - 2pm The Fallibroome Academy
• Saturday 11 November - 6pm Tarvin Community Centre

Life and Limb Puppets also bring a dark, mystical story from a land of mountains and dragons. ‘Dragon’ is a visually stunning, fantasy-genre non-verbal puppet show for children aged 7+ and their families.

• Friday 13 October - 7.30pm Kettleshulme Village Hall
• Saturday 14 October - 7.30pm Tarvin Community Centre
• Sunday 15 October - 7pm 1st Weaverham Sea Scout Hall

For lovers of live music, this Autumn, Daniel Smith, identified as “a serious challenger to Jools Holland as the UK’s no.1 boogie pianist” (Blues In Britain). Daniel and accompanist Andy Jones, bring an authentic old-time feel-good mix of blues, boogie woogie and soul-jazz to your locale.

• Thursday 9 November - 7.30pm Great Budworth Parish Hall
• Sunday 12 November - 7.30pm Gawsworth Village Hall
• Wednesday 15 November - 7.30pm The Five Villages Hall, Mollington

Sarah McQuaid’s lush, chocolatey voice, engaging personality, “subtle mastery onstage” (Huffington Post) and “brilliant musicianship” (fRoots) on acoustic and electric guitars, piano and (occasionally) drum will have you in awe. Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holding dual Irish and American citizenship, and now settled in rural England, Sarah brings the eclecticism of her background to her “captivating, unorthodox songwriting” (PopMatters) and choice of material, spanning genres and defying categorisation.

• Friday 8 December - 7.30pm Little Budworth, Jubilee Hall
• Saturday 9 December - 7.30pm Upton Community Centre
• Sunday 10 December - 7.00pm Vicars Cross Community Centre
• Friday 15 December - 7.30pm Goostrey Village Hall
• Saturday 16 December - 8pm Farndon Community Club

Opera Dudes ‘Swing Song Merrily On High’ will get you in the festive mood - think Il Divo meets Morecambe and Wise in this jolly fun-packed frolic. This show is full of seasonal cheer with something for everyone – wonderful singing, audience participation and ridiculous sketches. Yule be laughing till your sides hurt, enchanted by the wonderful music and not a turkey in sight.