Dino delight with Teach Rex

School’s out, and so too are the many shows that usually jostle for position on our stages. There are still a few possibilities for August though, and they are monstrous and marvellous. Pulse’s Sammy Jones leads the way…

It’s a theatre-land classic and it is back on the stage here in Milton Keynes from Monday, August 7.

Annie is the childhood favourite brimming with hits like Tomorrow, Easy Street and It’s the Hard-Knock Life, and its MK return comes with added fab-u-lous-ness; with Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood stepping out as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Just look at the pins on him!

Annie is set in New York during The Great Depression of the 1930s, and our young lady the show is named after is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.
When she is chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire Oliver Warbucks, things begin to look up, but spiteful Miss Hannigan isn’t about to let that happen easily and comes up with a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…
The Times has declared this new production ‘a glorious revival,’ which is a decent endorsement.

Annie will be in the new city for just six days, so snooze and you’ll lose!
The curtain then comes down on the venue for a couple of weeks respite (and the chance to catch up on some maintenance) before 42nd Street tippety-taps in on August 28 with some familiar names leading the casting.

EastEnders’ Samantha Womack is back with us as Dorothy Brock, Michael Praed (The star of Robin Hood or Prince Michael of Moldavia in Dynasty depending on your TV persuasion) is in the role of Julian Marsh and Steps star Faye Tozer is Maggie Jones.

The enduring song-and-dance spectacular is a timeless and inspiring fairytale with tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy.

Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights. She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show… and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

If you feel down in the doldrums this is the show to put the fizz back!

Over at The Stables, funny fella Gary Delaney is back with more Punderland for you on August 25.

If you are hunting for snark, Gary’s got it covered, but only if you already have a ticket as this is a long time sold-out. Give the box office a call and try for returns. It’s worth a go.
A roar-some time is guaranteed for kiddies (and their grown-ups) with Teach Rex Live who make their Wavendon venue debut on August 27.

This is for ages three years and up, and puts them in front of some very life-like dinosaurs. It’s a unique show, and one that teaches youngsters about the anatomy and life of these most mesmerizing creatures that used to roam the earth.

Baby dino’s will greet ticket-holders and children will be given a Dino Booklet containing a variety of educational activities, and coloured crayons to get busy with!

This Jurassic event will delve into the jaws of arguably the most famous dinosaur of all – T-Rex. Primary school teachers will take the audience on an interactive, prehistoric journey and you’ll learn how he actually would have looked.

Various T-Rex’s and a Velociraptor will be meeting and greeting the assembled, and after the hour long show, everyone will have the chance to get a selfie with the marvellous monsters.

There are two performances – at 10am and 12.30pm.

An opportunity for one last treat before little people go back to school, perhaps?