Popular TV stars, drama, comedy and classic literature adaptations all combine to create an exciting new line-up of shows now on sale at the recently refurbished 1435.
In December, there will be a brand new production of the pantomime Beauty and the Beast pantomime starring Jake Canuso, from ITV’s Benidorm and now audiences can look forward to a programme packed with music, comedy, drama and entertainment throughout 2027.
Following record-breaking West End seasons, Reginald Rose's gripping courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men will be presented in January 2027. Produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd this tense and thought-provoking production explores justice, prejudice and the weight of responsibility as twelve jurors deliberate the fate of a young defendant. Twelve Angry Men has been hailed ‘the classiest, most intelligent drama playing in the West End’. It brings the 1957 three-time Academy Award nominated film, considered one of the great ‘must-sees’ of all time, to the stage. Do not miss it.
Other highlights include Tommy Blaize: The Golden Age of Swing, the unmistakable voice of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Tommy brings his signature style and charisma to an evening celebrating the timeless hits of the Great American Songbook, paying tribute to legendary artists including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
To coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Chesterfield Canal opening, television presenter, canal enthusiast and social media favourite Robbie Cumming will visit Chesterfield with Canal Boat Stories, sharing hilarious, heartwarming and fascinating tales from life on Britain's waterways.
Comedy fans can look forward to Scott Bennett: Stuff, the latest stand-up show from one of the UK's most acclaimed comedians. Known for his relatable storytelling, razor-sharp observations and regular appearances on BBC Radio Four, Bennett is guaranteed to have audiences in stitches.
The new programme also celebrates some of literature's most enduring stories. Audiences can experience the romance and resilience of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë's classic tale brought which will be vividly to life on stage.
Acclaimed playwright John Godber returns with This Is the Life, a brand-new production from the John Godber Company that combines the writer's trademark humour, warmth and unmistakable insight into everyday British life.
Completing the literary line-up is The Picture of Dorian Gray, presented by MJM Music. Oscar Wilde's iconic story of vanity, temptation and corruption receives a fresh theatrical treatment that is sure to captivate audiences.
Popular mask theatre company Vamos bring their award-winning show Finding Joy to the 1435 in March, based on the true experiences of one family and told entirely without words, it’s been performed across the globe from Shanghai to Switzerland and now heads to Chesterfield.
The Ukrainian National Opera will present one of opera's greatest thrillers comes to life in a spectacular production from the Dnipro Opera, Ukraine. Puccini's Tosca is a gripping story of love, jealousy, corruption and sacrifice, performed in Italian with English subtitles and accompanied by a live orchestra.
Meanwhile, families can already look forward to this year’s spectacular pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. Packed with dazzling sets, laugh-out-loud comedy, incredible costumes and plenty of panto fun, the production promises to be a highlight of the festive season and a Christmas treat for all the family.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We’ve put together a fantastic programme for 2027, and I look forward to welcoming our audiences back to this beloved venue. Our refurbishment will ensure future generations can experience heritage and culture in an incredible setting, but we’ve worked hard to ensure that there will still be lots of features that our regular visitors know and love. We’ll be announcing an opening date soon along with details about our upcoming museum exhibitions.”
1435, features a 625-seat theatre, an expanded museum with improved facilities for hosting prestigious touring works, two bars and flexible spaces which can be used for meetings and events. The striking new design preserves the building’s heritage while modernising facilities to enhance the visitor experience.
Works to the building have been extensive - transforming the space to create a modern visitor attraction whilst also preserving the building and safeguarding it for future generations.
To mark the start of the building’s new future – while celebrating its long history – the building will open as 1435 which celebrates one of George Stephenson’s greatest innovations: the standard gauge rail track.
Set 1435mm apart, this became the global benchmark for rail travel, carrying people, ideas and opportunities across continents. That same spirit of connection sits at the heart of the new 1435, which will bring visitors together through arts, culture and heritage while creating fresh links across the community.
Railways reshaped the world – and they reshaped Chesterfield too. Now, this transformed venue plays a central role in the council’s wider regeneration of the town centre, designed to welcome new audiences and create vibrant spaces that serve local people for years to come.
For full dates, information and tickets call the 1435 Box Office on 01246 345 222 or visit the Chesterfield Theatres and Museum website.
