Eastbourne Theatres
Listings May / June 2023
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
CONGRESS THEATRE | Thursday 4 May, 7.30pm | £25, £27.50, £29.50
After a fantastic sell out debut tour across the UK, What’s Love Got To Do With It? is back for 2023 celebrating the music of the incredible rock and soul legend Tina Turner. Enjoy Private Dancer, Proud Mary, Simply The Best and many more.
THAT’LL BE THE DAY
CONGRESS THEATRE | Saturday 6 May, 7.30pm | £25, £27, £29
Back with another incredible show celebrating the golden age of Rock ’n’ Roll and Pop from the 50s to the 80s. Hilarious comedy sketches combine with brilliant vocals and superb musicianship to bring you the ultimate feel-good experience that will leave you singing and dancing.
WALK RIGHT BACK: THE EVERLY BROTHERS STORY
CONGRESS THEATRE | Wednesday 10 May, 7.30pm | £27.50
From their rise to fame, decade-long feud and emotional reunion, follow the sad yet glorious story of The Everly Brothers. Featuring all the hits including Bye Bye Love, All I Have To Do Is Dream and Cathy’s Clown, plus many more classics immortalized by those trademark “harmonies from heaven”.
THE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST WORLD TOUR
CONGRESS THEATRE | Thursday 11 May, 7.30pm | £27.50, £36.50, £57.50
Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK. Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK). Don’t miss three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.
MIKE & THE MECHANICS: REFUELED!
CONGRESS THEATRE | Friday 12 May, 7.30pm | £44.50, £52
All the hits and a drop of Genesis. Mike and the Mechanics are Genesis founding member Mike Rutherford, Andrew Roachford and Canadian-born singer, Tim Howar. The tour includes tracks from their most recent top-10 selling album Out of the Blue, all the hits, plus some Genesis.
DANIEL O’DONNELL
CONGRESS THEATRE | Tuesday 16 May, 7.30pm | 44.50, £52
Daniel O’Donnell’s career spans more than 30 years, racking up over 15 million album sales worldwide. The Donegal based singer is the only artist in the world to score a hit in the UK album charts every year since 1988, an unprecedented and unbroken 34-year span. Now see him live on stage!
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?
DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE | Wednesday 24 May, 7.45pm | £32
An experiential ghost story, unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Welcome to a haunting night at the theatre. Are you feeling brave? If you are, join us, and we will tell you all the secrets of what goes on when the theatre goes dark and tell the tales that every theatre has to tell.
Age guidance 12+
BUFFY: REVAMPED
DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE | Thursday 25 May, 7.45pm | £25, £27
Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike. This fast-paced new production brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike. Funny, satirical and bursting with 90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike.
EWG, DLWP & The Very Nice present
CRAIG CHARLES’ FUNK & SOUL CLUB
WINTER GARDEN | Friday 26 May, 7.30pm | £26, On Door £30
Craig’s pioneering BBC 6 Music Funk and Soul Show was born in 2002 and has since broadcast live every Saturday night with an assortment of emerging talents and classic gems, earning him global support and recognition as one of the UK’s foremost funk and soul tastemakers, DJs and promoters of new music.
CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW
CONGRESS THEATRE | Saturday 3 June, 2.30pm & 7.30pm | £30, £37, Conc £2 off, Family Ticket (4 tickets) £108
Musical theatre meets circus spectacular as showstoppers from everyone’s favourite West End hits combine with breath-taking, amazing aerialists, incredible contortionists, and thrilling feats of agility and flair. A monochrome life bursts into kaleidoscopic colour in this smash-hit circus musical that’s fun for all the family. West End stars combine with incredible circus performers.
ABIGAIL’S PARTY
DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE | Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 June | £20 – £27.50 (Under 16s & Students £10, Under 25s £15, Concessions, Friends, Ovation and Group rates also available)
It was 1977, the year of skin-tight polyester, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Saturday Night Fever. The Sex Pistols were storming up the charts, skateboarding was the latest craze and Angela Rippon danced with Morecambe & Wise. And at Hampstead Theatre in London, Mike Leigh and his cast were putting the finishing touches to Abigail’s Party, ferocious black comedy and landmark of twentieth century theatre.
In her suburban living room, Beverly prepares for the arrival of her guests. She and husband Laurence will play host to neighbours Angela, Tony and Sue. As the alcohol flows and the ‘nibbles’ are handed around, Mike Leigh’s ruthless, achingly funny examination of 1970s British life begins…
Age guidance 14+
THE ILLEGAL EAGLES
CONGRESS THEATRE | Thursday 8 June, 7.30pm | £34.50
Celebrating over 50 years since the formation of the legendary West Coast Country Rock band The Eagles in 1971, The Illegal Eagles make a welcome return for another outstanding show with the very best from the Eagles back catalogue of classics including Hotel California, Desperado, Life In The Fast Lane and many more.
THE McCARTNEY SONGBOOK
CONGRESS THEATRE | Saturday 10 June, 7.30pm | £24.50, £26.50, £28.50
Celebrating the music of Sir Paul McCartney, The Beatles and Wings
Starring Peter John Jackson (Let It Be, That’ll Be The Day), this amazing showcase of Sir Paul’s career features over 40 of the greatest songs ever written, including Band On The Run, Can’t Buy Me Love, Yesterday, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude and many more!
ROCKY HORROR SHOW
CONGRESS THEATRE | Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 June | £18- £44.50 (Under 16s £10 off, Concessions, Friends, Ovation and Group rates also available)
Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical celebrates 50 years of non-stop partying with this special anniversary production. The longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world, The Rocky Horror Show has been seen by 30 million people and continues to delight audiences on its sell-out international tour and is returning to Eastbourne.
The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Rocky Horror Show is ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, and features timeless classics including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic thrusting show stopping Time Warp.
ABSENT FRIENDS
DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE | Thursday 15 – Saturday 24 June | £20 – £27.50 (Under 16s & Students £10, Under 25s £15, Concessions, Friends, Ovation and Group rates also available)
When Colin, a friend who has been absent, comes back to his circle of friends, they are worried how to approach him over the death of his fiancée, Carol. Diana organises a tea party for Colin but inter-relationship tensions soon become apparent and are near erupting as Colin arrives.
As the party progresses, the middle-aged friends reveal the misery and failures of their own relationships. As it turns out, the mourning guest Colin becomes the one responsible for comforting everyone else!
The play, set firmly in the 1970s, beautifully depicts nostalgia, lovelessness and social awkwardness and weaves them all together with some of Ayckbourn’s sharpest dialogue to hilarious effect.
Bede’s Legat Dance Academy present
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
CONGRESS THEATRE | Friday 23 June, 7.30pm | £15
(This is an amateur performance)
A spectacular, diverse dance show which takes you on a journey through song and dance, showcasing over 70 children in Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, tap and Musical Theatre. The Legat Dance Academy is a centre for artistic and academic excellence based at Bede’s Senior School in Upper Dicker.