The Dukes Theatre announce winter plans for 50th Anniversary celebrations

Photo credit: Jess Turton

The Dukes in Lancaster have announced their plans to celebrate the theatre’s 50th Anniversary over the Winter season.

Beginning a year of celebration until Summer 2022, the 50-year-old theatre will debut two new productions: a new retelling of the infamous Buck Ruxton case, Belle & Mary from 18-20 November, and this year’s annual in-the-round Christmas production, Beauty & the Beast, running from 3-31 December).

­The Dukes, in association with Adam Z. Robinson, will bring the infamous Lancaster true-crime tale of Buck Ruxton to the stage in Belle & Mary. Directed by Martha Simon, The Dukes-commissioned piece by Adam Z. Robinson, which will be performed as if a radio play, will turn the tables on the narrative with the production focusing on the perspectives of Ruxton’s victims Isabella “Belle” Ruxton and Mary Jane Rogerson.

Beauty & the Beast will welcome back the creative team of Daniel Bye (writer & co-director) and Sarah Punshon (co-director), who previously collaborated on The Dukes’ highly acclaimed productions of Cinderella: A Fairytale and Sleeping Beauty. This brand-new production will provide a thoroughly festive adventure for all audiences; promising to be filled with magic, dancing and songs that everyone will love to sing along to.

The Dukes’ Chief Executive Karen O’Neill said: “It is so wonderful to be celebrating the Dukes 50th Birthday! This is a milestone year for the Dukes and we are so pleased to be sharing it with our team, volunteers, audiences, artists and community. The Dukes has been at the heart of Lancaster since 1971 as both a theatre and independent cinema and has achieved so much since then. We are so proud of the Dukes’ legacy and thank everyone who has been part of the journey so far. We are so excited for the future and we look forward to creating more memories, creative projects and continuing to be part of what makes Lancaster a great place to visit or call home. Thank you to our core funders Arts Council England and Lancaster City Council and to all our supporters, partners, funders, audiences and creative professionals. Here’s to the next 50 years!”

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.