New season at Harrogate Theatre kicks off with powerful production by acclaimed Leeds playwright Philip Stokes
Harrogate Theatre’s new Autumn Drama Season got off to a bang, literally, with an enthralling production set in the Thatcher era.
A two-hander from the pen of acclaimed Leeds playwright Philip Stokes, Brighton ’84 saw fantastic performances from Jack Stokes and Lee Bainbridge as an unlikely couple of characters brought together by fate in the Grand Hotel on the night of the Brighton bombing.
Boasting superb characterisation and dialogue, only the ultimate failure of the script to connect the narrative thrust to the dramatic backdrop of the IRA’s attempt to assassinate Mrs Thatcher stops Brighton ’84 from reaching its own destiny.
The skilfully-curated Autumn Drama Season continues at Harrogate Theatre with the classic Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knott, then The Highwayman by John Godber, to be concluded with Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo.
Tuesday, September 8-Saturday, September 12: Dial M for Murder
The theatrical smash version which preceded the iconic Hitchcock film is brought thrillingly back to the stage for 2026 by Phil & Ben Productions in association with Eastbourne Productions.
Wednesday, September 16-Saturday, September 19: The Highwayman
John Godber’s new romantic adventure is a fast-paced, character-driven comedy drama set in Yorkshire in the 18rth century.
Thursday, September 24-Saturday, September 26: Private Peaceful
Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful, featuring rising star Benjamin Cain, brings the season to a powerful close with a poignant one-man show following a young soldier in the First World War reflecting on love, loyalty and loss, creating a moving season’s finale.
Tickets available at: https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/festivals/ht-drama/