RACIAL injustice in the Deep South, murder on the streets of Edinburgh, an epic wartime love story on a Greek island and a creepy mansion with a rock and roll party in full swing are all part of Newcastle Theatre Royal's 2019 programme.

The season opens with Rebus: Long Shadows (Feb 25 – Mar 2) – Ian Rankin’s famous literary creation brought to life on stage for the first time with an all-star cast led by Charles Lawson (Coronation Street), Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa) and John Stahl (Game of Thrones). Rankin’s legendary Rebus novels have dominated bestseller tables and primetime TV screens but now with the assistance of award-winning playwright Rona Munro (The James Plays), Newcastle theatre goers can now be taken in by Edinburgh’s most famous detective inspector in a live stage experience.

Back by popular demand is the critically acclaimed production of one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, To Kill a Mockingbird which visits from March 25-30. A sell out success on the Theatre Royal stage when it visited in 2015 this moving show retells Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of racial tensions in a small-town community of the Deep South in the 1930s. Produced by London's award-winning Regent’s Park Theatre it has been critically acclaimed for capturing the warmth, poignancy and magic of the best-loved classic.

Hailed as the theatrical event of its generation and winning more awards than any other production in history, the National Theatre’s landmark production An Inspector Calls returns in the autumn (October 22–26). Stephen Daldry’s adaptation of JB Priestley’s classic thriller has enthralled more than four million people worldwide. It centres on the arrival of mysterious Inspector Goole at a dinner party held by the prosperous Birling family.

And in May, the picturesque Greek island of Cephalonia comes to town for a love story set against the backdrop of World War II in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (May 21–25). Based on Louis de Bernières’ best-selling novel that inspired the hit film, this world premiere production, marking the book’s 25th anniversary, tells the compelling story of beautiful Islander Pelagia and how her and her father’s peaceful life on the idyllic island is turned upside down by the arrival of war and foreign occupation.

A summer spook-tacular signals it’s time to ‘Do the Time Warp Again’ in The Rocky Horror Show - Richard O’Brien’s legendary monster-mash rock ‘n’ roll musical making its Theatre Royal debut between August 5 and 10. With an all-star cast headed by Duncan James (Blue, Hollyoaks) as Dr Frank’n’Furte and packed with timeless floor-filling classics like Sweet Transvestite, it is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet, who’s car breaks down outside a creepy mansion where a rock and roll party is in full swing…

Tickets for all new shows in the spring / summer 2019 season are now on sale online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).