The Corn Exchange, Newbury |
Box office
01635 522733
The Corn Exchange, Newbury. Some performances may be at The Base, Communications Road, Greenham Business Park,
Greenham, RG19 6HN. Unless a specific location is given for a performance, it's
at the Corn Exchange.
Next
Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 22nd July to 15th August
See Theatre at the Cinema.
ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show, 10th September
Using Shakespeare's language, your audience suggestions, and our overactive imaginations, ShakeItUp create a brand-new Shakespeare play live on stage.
Pick your authentic Shakespearean genre: Epic History, Romantic Comedy, or Gruesome Tragedy! Pen your wittiest Shakespearean line for our brave actors to pull from their suitably-Shakespearean breeches when they need a helping hand – the twist? They’ll have no idea what the line will be before they say it!
Then sit back and watch the hilarity unfold in a totally bonkers play that Willy Shakes himself would be proud of. Expect big laughs, high drama, and plenty of Bard-based Bedlam!
Comb, 12th September, 19:00
At times chilling, hilarious and moving, Comb is an ode to the stories of the people we have lost.
Through a tangled ride into Celtic, Slavic and Siberian folklore, Comb is a wake-up call for understanding just how interwoven we all are. When Charlotte was 8, her Grandad told her the beginning of a story: 'I saw a banshee once, just outside of Galway… ' Years later a chance encounter led her to find the rest of his story buried deep within family archives.
This unbelievable link to her past made her realise that she might actually be cursed.
The Essence of Audrey, 18th September, 19:30
Have you ever wondered what is behind the idyllic and seemingly perfect life of Audrey Hepburn?
All she really wanted was to be loved and to find love. She was, and continues to be, an inspiration… A stunningly beautiful, modest actress, and selfless humanitarian Ambassador of UNICEF, she proved to be one of those rare people who truly deserved 'fashion icon’ status… but what made her into the legend we think we know? What was her life really like?
Glimpse behind the idol in this biopic play written and performed by Helen Anker.
In the Land of Eagles, 2nd October
A heartfelt and award-nominated tale of love, loss and redemption.
Her and Grandpa are different and definitely not the same.
In her final year of school, Grandpa faces a devastating diagnosis. He makes one request: to go home. Inspired by true events, the multi-award nominated
In the Land of Eagles sees the unlikely pair embark on an epic journey through Albania, a country that has long been misunderstood.
A gut-wrenching story about the lengths we go to, to make amends for the mistakes of our past.
Murder She Didn't Write, 21st October
Edinburgh Fringe favourites, Degrees of Error create a classic murder mystery on-the-spot in this ingenious improvised comedy. You, the audience, become the author as the cast act out your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece live on stage. At each show this extraordinarily talented company use audience suggestions to create a unique, original and extremely comical murder mystery just for you. All you have to do... is solve it!
Down to Chance, 22nd October
Anchorage, Alaska. 1964. A part-time radio reporter, her teenage intern, a general on leave, and a local hobbyist find themselves at the centre of a remarkable relief effort. Live on air, Genie Chance must take unimaginable risks to save her community and family from chaos. But as temperatures plummet and news of an even greater threat reaches the relief effort, Genie must decide how much she really owes her listening audience?
Based on the incredible true story of the Great Alaskan Earthquake, Down to Chance is a heartwarming portrait of a community in crisis with the whole world listening in.
Sleeping Beauty, 27th November to 2nd January
Welcome to the Berkshire School for the Best Behaved, where perfect pupils are expected to mind their manners... but with this lot, that's easier said than done! Headmistress Madam Marvellous does her best to keep everyone in line, but when a wicked fairy casts a terrible spell over Sleeping Beauty, the classroom is thrown into complete chaos.
It’s now up to the whole panto gang to break the curse before Sleeping Beauty sleeps through the rest of the century! Will good triumph over evil? Will true love save the day? And will anyone ever manage to stay out of detention! Oh yes, they will!
Expect all the ingredients of a classic Corn Exchange Newbury Panto, side-splitting comedy, dazzling costumes, spectacular scenery, fabulous live music, sensational choreography and plenty of magical moments along the way.
Reviews of Robin Hood and Maid Marian
28th November 2025 to 3rd January 2026
Review from the Newbury Weekly News and the British Theatre Guide.
It’s hiss and boo time - panto is back in the hood
It’s panto time at the Corn Exchange and the theatre was sparkling with a mini-forest of trees in the foyer as the excited audience eagerly waited for the Panto to start. They were certainly in for a true Christmas treat. The award-winning creative team of Plested, Brown and Wilsher, who also deftly directs, returns for their seventh year at the panto helm with a refreshing new take on the Robin Hood and Maid Marian story.
Making his professional debut, Harry Sweetman is impressive as Robin, with rippling muscles and a somewhat egotistic attitude as he adventures abroad leaving the people of Newburyshire in dire debt to the wicked Sherriff, a commanding performance from Alex Crandon and the audience enthusiastically booed every time he appeared. Samara Rawlins plays the spirited Maid Marian with a secure confidence and has a powerful singing voice. She becomes the real leader of the merry band, fighting for what’s right. Returning as the Dame, Graham Mackay-Bruce is outstanding as Nursemaid Nellie wearing outlandish costumes from a country thatched cottage to a Lady Gaga outfit – Hilarious! Grace Kelly Miller was delightful as the wholehearted Willamina Scarlet whose father sent her for work experience with the gang and she builds up a true rapport with the audience. As Fairy Fere-A-Dale Jenny Perry was enchanting, only visible to those that believed in fairies and indeed themselves. The extremely talented hard working ensemble, Finley Davies, Abby Fell and Sophie Mckinnon were exceptional adding much to the production.
Robin returns to find that Marian has been captured by the Sheriff. Will he be able to rescue her?
Miranda Wilford’s stunning dynamic choreography was breath-taking, energetically performed by the cast.
All the traditional elements of panto were there in abundance including local references, groan making puns, loads of audience participation, together with many digs at Donald Trump and tariffs being imposed on Newburyshire as well as many surprises.
Musical director Alex Maynard, assisted by Luke Hinchcliffe, splendidly provided a clever compilation of songs. With spectacular scenery and exquisite costumes this production hits the ‘bulls-eye’ and is an absolute winner. Don’t miss it!
ROBIN STRAPP