Steve Pratt sets the scene for Darlington Civic Theatre’s summer season which sees the return of a comedy classic

RISING Damp’s Rigsby lives again on stage in Darlington this summer.

He’ll be joined by Jenny Seagrove, Captain Von Trapp, three Phantoms and those award-winning painting miners in a packed summer season at the Civic Theatre.

After the theatrical debut of Cadfael last month, another TV favourite is revived on the Civic stage as one of he original stars, Don Warrington, directs a theatre version of Rising Damp (May 21-25). Leonard Rossiter and Frances de la Tour memorably starred in the TV series by Eric Chappell, now brought to the stage by the producers of theatre versions of Dinnerladies and Birds Of A Feather.

Darlington Operatic Society climb every mountain and hopefully hit the top notes in a revival of The Sound Of Music (April 24-May 4). And you needn’t feel shy about knowing all the songs because there’s a special singa- long performance on May 3.

If Queen (the band not the monarch) are more to your musical taste than Rodgers and Hammerstein’s singing nun, then Bohemian Rhapsody (May 14-18) might appeal more with its rock concert presentation of Queen’s biggest hits.

West End Leading lady Jenny Seagrove stars in a “rediscovered” – ie not done very often – psychological thriller from Patrick Hamilton, author of Gaslight and Rope. The plot of The Governess (June 3-8) is summed up thus: “”A family home is thrown into turmoil when an infant vanishes, following the arrival of a new, manipulative governess.”

From a play not seen very often to one that’s been playing in London’s West End for 60 years. You’ve guessed it – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (June 10-15) which is still playing in the capital but another production is on a year-long UK tour. The cast includes a goodly number of familiar soap faces. From Coronation Street, it’s Bruno Langley. From The Archers, it’s Graham Seed. From EastEnders it’s Elizabeth Power, Steven France, Jemma Walker and Clare Wilkie. Brush Strokes star Karl Howman and Bob Saul, reprising his West End role as Sergeant Trotter, complete the cast.

Whodunit? Well, that would be telling. But it can be revealed that not one, not two but Three Phantoms (June 20-22) are booked in the summer season. Earl Carpenter, Matthew Cammelle and Stephen John Davis have all played the mysterious masked man in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. They’ll be joined by Rebecca Caine, who played in the original cast.

A word of warning – Three Phantoms is in no way connected with and/or approved/endorsed by Really Useful Group or Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Richard Hurford is the writer behind the cheekily titled Some Like It Hotter (June 26-29) which uses theatrical magic to reunite Marilyn Monroe with her co-stars from the original film, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in “a fastmoving, fantasy comedy, in a oncein- an-(after) lifetime’s opportunity to rub shoulders with the stars”.

THE highly-acclaimed National Theatre, Broadway and West End sellout production The Pitmen Painters, by Newcastle’s Lee Hall, is back at the Civic (July 8-13) with the story of a group of Ashington miners thrust into the spotlight of the art world when they sign up to take an art appreciation class, and end up friends with the most avant-garde artists of the day.

Can that sweet transsexual from Transylvania really be 40 years old?

Apparently so, as Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show (July 22-27) is on its 40th anniversary tour. The invitation is there to don stockings and suspenders (and that’s just the men).

If sex, drugs and rock’n’roll aren’t your bag audiences can get “in the mood” with the big band sound of Bugle Boy – The Life Story of Glenn Miller (July 30-Aug 3). Little Brown Jug to String of Pearls, Moonlight Serenade to Pennsylvania 6-5000 and Chattanooga Choo Choo to Kalamazoo are among the numbers on parade.

The Royal Geographic Society with (IBG) presents The Everest Story by Stephen Venables with a story of intrepid adventure in the year of the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent by Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing.

Younger audiences aren’t forgotten.

From the makers of Peppa Pig comes Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom (May 29-30) with the award-winning animated television series live onstage for the first time.

Then it’s over to the Dolphin Centre for the spellbinding tale of Rumplstiltskin (May 11) using puppetry, live music and mischievous story-telling.

And if you dare go into the woods you might meet The Gruffalo’s Child (July 18-21) on her search for the Big Bad Mouse, the sequel to the awardwinning Gruffalo story by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler.

  • For further information about the spring season programme, pick up a brochure or contact the box office on 01325-486555 or visit darlingtonarts.co.uk