The Rose Theatre is reopening on the 28th October with its 'Return to the Rose Season'.

This news comes exactly six months on from its enforced closure.

All performances will adhere to robust risk mitigation processes and will comply with the government's current COVID-19 secure guidelines.

The theatre is coming back with a number of exciting productions which are detailed below.

Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director at the Rose said:

"To begin to see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel is a welcome relief.

"While the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the Rose and on our community in Kingston upon Thames, I'm delighted that we have been able to secure a series of entertaining and provocative work.

"I am also looking forward to my first full season of original productions, which will come next year. During these six months, our relentlessly adaptable staff have embodied the resilience of the Rose.

"Our reopening is a testament to them and the support we continue to receive from our audiences."

EDUCATING RITA | 28th October – 14th November

Written by Willy Russell and starring Stephen Tompkinson as Frank and introducing Jessica Johnson as Rita, this production is directed by Max Roberts of Live Theatre.

When married hairdresser Rita enrols on a university course to expand her horizons, little does she realise where the journey will take her. Her tutor Frank is a frustrated poet, brilliant academic and dedicated drunk who's less than enthusiastic about taking Rita on but when these two people come together they soon realise how much they have to teach each other.

This hilarious and heart-warming comedy won the Olivier Award when it was produced in London's West End by the RSC and was adapted into the multi award-winning film which starred Julie Walters and Michael Caine.

LIVE AT THE ROSE WITH RUSSELL KANE | 1st November

Commended as 'one of the quickest, most stimulating stand-ups in the land' (The Times), comedy superstar Russell Kane headlines. The line-up also features Malaysian stand-up and content creator, Nigel Ng and the evening will be hosted by star of Live at the Apollo and Radio 4's The News Quiz, Angela Barnes.

An Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, Russell Kane was the host of BBC Three's Live at the Electric and is now best known for his smash-hit BBC Sounds podcast Evil Genius. His recent The Fast and the Curious tour played to sell-out audiences around the country.

Your host for the evening is the fantastic Angela Barnes, star of Live at the Apollo and Radio 4's The News Quiz.

WOKE | 16th – 18th November

Written by Apphia Campbell and Meredith Yarbrough, this award-winning production is a new story about the 20th Century African American experience.

The play follows two women's fight for civil rights. One is notorious Black Panther Assata Shakur; the other, a present-day university student enrolling as the Ferguson riots begin.

Set against a powerful soundtrack of original music and traditional gospel and blues sung live, the two women challenge the American justice system, become criminalised through political activism, and ultimately are faced with the same choice: stay and fight, or flee?

STICK MAN | 10th December – 3rd January 2021

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much-loved Stick Man is back on stage at the Rose this Christmas!

What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree in time for Christmas?

This delightful adaptation from Freckle Productions, the team behind Zog, Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, and Tabby McTat features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.