THE Theatre Royal Winchester is preparing for a new show season including events and performances by the community and for special causes.

The new year begins with An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh on Wednesday, January 17 when the gardener, writer, novelist and broadcaster will talk about his life as part of a charity event in support of  homelessness charity, Trinity Winchester.

Hampshire Chronicle: Alan TitchmarshAlan Titchmarsh (Image: Theatre Royal)

There is an evening of spoken word, poetry and song from local artists and musicians at Playmakers Local Talent Night (Tuesday, January 23). A couple months later, the Playmakers youth theatre groups present their own original pieces of theatre based around the theme, Look Back, Look Forward, Look Up, in Playmakers Youth Theatre Showcase on Thursday, March 28 – a Pick Your Price event where theatre-goers can choose the ticket cost that works best for them.

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February starts with six Hampshire choirs coming together to remember the life and work of late folk artists, Sarah Morgan and Paul Sartin, in River and Roads on Sunday, February 4.

Musical theatre fans are in for a treat with Encore Youth Theatre’s production of the romantic comedy, Guys and Dolls from February 15 to 17. Meanwhile The Gregg School presents its musical adaptation of the 1992 hit movie, Sister Act from March 20 to 21.

Following its hugely successful Calendar Girls, WMOS (Winchester Musicals and Opera Society) is back with Priscilla Queen of the Desert from May 22 to 25.

Hurn Court Opera, which supports emerging young opera stars and brought La Boheme to the theatre early last year, returns with Mozart’s Don Giovanni on Thursday, April 11.

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New Sussex Opera, a nationally acclaimed, community-based company, performs The Dragon of Wantley on Sunday, April 28 – a parody of Handel’s operas, about a terrorising dragon and Churcher’s College presents Amadeus on Monday, March 25 – an account of the lives of composers, Mozart and Salieri.

Lastly, Blue Apple – a theatrical company supporting learning-disabled performers – will be back with a unique adaptation of the family favourite, Wind in the Willows from June 26 to 27. Audiences will be able to watch the show from the comfort of their home too, by livestreaming the Thursday performance at 1pm.

Hampshire Chronicle: Wind in the WillowsWind in the Willows (Image: Theatre Royal)

Full list of upcoming community shows at the Theatre Royal Winchester:

An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh will be at Theatre Royal Winchester on Wednesday, January 17 at 7.30pm.

Playmakers Local Talent Night, Tuesday, January 23, 7pm

Rivers & Roads, Sunday, February 4, 2pm

Guys and Dolls, Thursday 15 to Saturday, February 17, various times

Sister Act, Wednesday 20 to Thursday, March 21, various times

Amadeus, Monday, March 25, 7.30pm

Playmakers Youth Theatre Showcase, Thursday, March 28, 7.30pm

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Thursday, April 11, 7pm

The Dragon of Wantley, Sunday, April 28, 4pm

Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Wednesday 22 to Saturday, May 25, various times

Blue Apple’s Wind in the Willows, Wednesday 26 to Thursday, June 27, various times (including a livestream on Thursday 27 June at 1pm).

For more information or to book tickets go to theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or call 01962 840 440.