Circus, comedy, opera, The Beatles and more
If all goes to plan the longawaited replacement for Ferneham Hall, Fareham Live is due to open in the first half of 2024.
The old theatre closed in January 2020 and subsequently demolished, but building work on its replacement was delayed by Covid. While it’s too early for announcements of any shows coming to the new Fareham venue, there are already plenty of other gems coming our way.
At The Kings Theatre in Southsea The Circus of Horrors make their first appearance since the death of original ringmaster Dr Haze, with Portsmouth’s own cabaret and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Joe Black stepping into the role of MC, on January 23.
Also at The Kings, on February 1, football broadcaster Jeff Stelling – fresh from being made an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List – hosts An Intimate Evening with…, along with special guest Paul Merson
And Romesh Ranganathan proves his popularity with three nights of his new standup show, Hustle, on February 9-10 and March 16 which have only a handful of tickets remaining between them.
Over at New Theatre Royal, panto season isn’t quite over as we’re invited to swipe right for the adultsonly Tinderella on January 20.
On January 30 and February 1, the Downtown Pompey crew bring Sticky Floors & Palm Trees, their love letter to ’80s and ’90s clubbing, to the stage.
Reverend Richard Coles is the only British vicar to have had a number-one hit single and to have appeared as a contestant on Strictly
Come Dancing, and he brings his show Borderline National Trinket to NTR on February 3.
Ukrainian National Opera will be performing a pair of classics, with Madama Butterfly on February 9 and La Bohème the following night.
There’s more adult panto with Rapunzel at The Lens Studio in Portsmouth Guildhall on February 3.
Next door in the main hall, music journalist Colin Hall and radio veteran Bob Harris discuss The Songs The Beatles Gave Away on February 4.