What’s on at the theatre in Milton Keynes this October

Posted 9th October 2024

Enjoy a foxy night out with The Vixen Dozens of dogs, a vixen, funny folks and an Awful Auntie – just some of this month’s highlights in theatre-land. Pulse’s Sammy Jones has more…

It’s something of a nightmare for pooches; Cruella de Vil has a plan to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town because she desires a new fur coat…which means there is trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of tail-wagging young pups.

But if Cruella thinks this will be an easy task, she is barking mad!
Pop star turned TV star Kym Marsh is in the role as the evil fashionista when 101 Dalmatians The Musical airs at MK Theatre (Oct 1-5).

The sexy, sassy stage hit Chicago returns (Oct 12-19) with murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery all playing their part in this legendary show.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, this is the famous story of Roxie Hart, the housewife and nightclub dancer who puts paid to her on-the-side lover when he threatens to walk out on her.

Can she avoid conviction by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer?
An Officer and a Gentleman (Oct 21-26) is promising to sweep you off your feet when the show, based on the huge 80s film which starred Richard Gere, visits.

Step into a world where dreams and destinies intertwine, and as the romantic masterpiece rolls out, so too does a brilliant soundtrack (including smashes from Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Blondie).

Just sneaking in at the end of the month, David Walliams’ Awful Auntie (Oct 31- Nov 2).

When Stella sets off to visit London with her parents, she has no idea her life is in danger, but when she wakes up three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell her what has happened. And not everything Alberta tells her turns out to be true. Stella quickly discovers she’s in for the fight of her life against her very own awful Auntie!

Visit Stantonbury Campus and you’ll be invited to enrol at the world’s most reckless and ridiculous school with The Noise Next Door, who present The Adventure Academy…For Adventurers! (Oct 5, 2pm).

The promise is a ‘side-splitting, globe-trotting hour of entertainment that is fun for all ages,’ and one that might take you to dangerous deserts or volatile volcanoes!

The Noise Next Door are back in the evening with Freewheeling, which will see them race through a priceless parade of off-the-cuff gags, scenes and songs – and you make the suggestions.

Jenny Ryan, aka trivia queen The Vixen on ITVs The Chase is stopping by the venue as part of her Out of the Box tour, bringing song, storytelling and showbiz secrets (Oct 18).

It’s a chance to see the lady behind the mask: “The Vixen is very much a character that lets me behave with a bit more confidence and sass than I do in my everyday life,” she said, “People often meet me and say ‘You’re actually really nice!’”

Nigel Planer ‘is a comedy legend’, says the blurb for his appearance at Wavendon venue The Stables (Oct 22) and you won’t hear us questioning that; from playing hapless hippie Neil in The Young Ones, to the rocker Den Dennis in spoof band Bad News he excelled, and did you know he won a Brit Award for his cover of Hole in My Shoe, back in the mid-80s?

Then there is his extensive work in film and on the stage. He’s worth his weight in gold.

Nigel won’t be going it alone when he visits, mind you, he’ll be joining BBC Radio 4’s ‘poet in reticence’ Henry Normal.
Poetry, stories, jokes, Q&A, fun, knitwear and a few surprises are all on the menu of plenty.

When ‘the fuzz’ are mentioned, you might want to step away, quietly, but when it comes to The Fezzes, you’ll want to run towards the fun – and they’ll bring lots of that (Stage 2, Oct 22).

Apparently, they will greet you, ‘stylishly turned out with a set loaded with the classic cool of 50’s American rock ‘n’ roll, filtered through the lens of Tarantino Soundtracks.’

The Fezzes include musicians from Madness, The Van Morrison Band and Jools’ Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
‘Hat’s’ the way to do it!