What’s on at the Theatre in Milton Keynes

A feel-good month of upbeat musicals and comedy awaits on our local stages – just what the doctor ordered to banish any dull moods. Pulse’s Sammy Jones talks you through what’s on, where…

Shrek the Musical is the perfect pick-me-up for this dreary time of year, and it’s a show the whole family will be wowed by.
Join Shrek – the most famous green star of stage and screen since Kermit – and his trusty sidekick Donkey as they set out on a quest to defeat the fearsome dragon and rescue Princess Fiona, in the hugely popular tale.

Antony Lawrence has previously brought the goods to leading roles in The Lion King, We Will Rock You and Matilda the Musical, and now he’s Shrek, while Strictly star Joanne Clifton (now a seasoned stage star herself) is Princess Fiona.

We asked Donkey why people should take in a performance and he said that if you miss out you’ll be a bit of an ass. Allegedly!
Get set for an ogre-sized spectacular as performances continue at Milton Keynes Theatre until March 3.

I Should Be So Lucky (March 5-9) is the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical, and of course it is crammed with chart-bothering moments from their exceptional career. In fact, there are 10 number one singles and more than 30 era-defining tracks from the Hit Factory.

Pop-pickers will revel in floor fillers from Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, Bananarama and a certain Miss Minogue.

Aside from being an unbeatable 80s pop jukebox musical, there is a story to get stuck into; the rib-tickling tale of Nathan and Ella – a star-crossed couple with wedding jitters and tropical dreams.

Debbie Isitt, the lady behind the Nativity! franchise, has penned this, and Jason Gilkison, creative director with Strictly Come Dancing is in charge of choreography. Quality assured.

If you are a fragile little flower, be warned – there will be bad language throughout the performance!
Drop the Dead Donkey, the Reawakening (March 12-16) reunites the Globelink News team 30 years on from the launch of the trailblazing, small-screen hit.

Comedy fans will be in giggle-heaven with this show, which once again brings together the sterling line-up of original cast members; Susannah Doyle, Robert Duncan, Ingrid Lacey, Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, Stephen Tompkinson and Victoria Wicks.

It has been put together by the same award-winning writing team of Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, and ‘explores the underside of the broadcasting industry in all its riotous glory.’

Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice (March 17) will be joined by a cast of professional dancers and West End performers for his 2024 show, Let Me Entertain You, and then Pretty Woman The Musical (March 19-30) takes over – more about that across the page.

Over at Stantonbury Theatre, The People’s Theatre Company present There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (March 2).
Take a seat and enjoy this classic tale from Pam Adams’ best selling book which is celebrating half a century of enchanting youngsters, and includes singalong moments like If You’re Happy and You know It, and Incy Wincy Spider.

It’s been a while (in fact it has been six years), but funny fella Lee Hurst is back on the stage again with the show, Sweet, Sorted, Lovely which comes to The Stables on March 10.

What will he be doing? Over to the show blurb: ‘Mostly he will be taking a positive spin and arguing for people to always take the mickey to make the world a more fun place to be in.’

More comedy comes courtesy of the Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club (March 20) with your compere Andrew Bird introducing Mark Maier and Joey Page, and then Britain’s Got Talent title taker Jon Courtenay (March 22) stops off in Wavendon.

You’ll get lots in exchange for your pennies too; all new comedy material and an updated version of his one-man musical which was acclaimed at the Fringe in 2022. Jon has accurately named this road run, Bigger. The laughs most definitely will be.