There’s an interesting variety of shows coming up at the Albany Theatre, with ballet, musicals and even psychology! Dance company Ballet Theatre UK visits on 13 March, with the world premiere of their production of Hans Christian Andersen’s popular story ‘The Little Mermaid’.  The ballet explores the nature of longing, the lasting consequences of making choices and how goodness can be rewarded in unexpected ways.  In the story, the mermaid of the title rescues a human prince during a storm and falls in love with him.  She strikes a bargain with an evil sea witch that allows her to follow him onto dry land but it carries a heavy price.  The Albany Theatre performance is the first show of an extensive spring tour of the UK and Ireland that takes in more than 60 venues.

Best selling author, psychologist and magician Richard Wiseman brings ‘An Evening of Psychobabble’ to the theatre on 18 March.  The show premiered at 2012’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival to sellout audiences and rave reviews, with one critic describing it as “hard to beat”.  Richard promises to rummage around in your mind with games, fun and entertainment exploring the psychology of luck, dreaming and how to change your life in less than a minute.  He holds Britain’s only Professorship in the Public Understanding of Psychology, at the University of Hertfordshire and has spoken at The Royal Society, The Royal Institution and has addressed organisations such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon.  Richard has also acted as a creative consultant to Derren Brown, the MythBusters, and Heston Blumenthal.

‘Another Opening, Another Show!’ on 22 March sees talented young performers from both the Jill Purser Theatre School and Earlsdon Ballet School display their talents in a showcase of song and dance, covering an array of styles including ballet, musicals, tap, freestyle and more. Moving into next month, The Guildhall returns to the theatre between 2 and 5 April with an ambitious production of musical favourite ‘Calamity Jane’, which includes a stage coach in its set.  The show’s story is based on the life of American frontierswoman Martha Jane Canary, who was best known for her association with Wild Bill Hickok and gained her nickname during the 1870s.  The stage musical is based on the 1953 film starring Howard Keel and Doris Day and includes all of the well known songs, including The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away!), The Black Hills of Dakota and the Academy Award winning My Secret Love.

Tickets for all shows can be bought in person from the box office, by phone (7699 8964) or via the theatre’s website.