On Tuesday, September 10th, the wait is over….The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, is revealed.

The momentous literary event will be celebrated with an exclusive live cinema broadcast, as Fane Productions present an evening with the Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic and inventor.

The publication of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985 and the current, Emmy Award-winning television series have created a cultural phenomenon, as handmaids have become a symbol of women’s rights and a protest against misogyny and oppression. Live from the London stage, Atwood will be interviewed by broadcaster and author Samira Ahmed in a conversation spanning the length of Atwood’s remarkable career, her diverse range of works, and why she has returned to her seminal handmaid story, 34 years later.

‘Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in.’

With exclusive readings from the new book by special guests, this will be an unmissable and intimate event with Atwood, spotlighting her signature insight, humour and intellect.

The Testaments will be published worldwide on 10 September.

•  18 Sep from £15

Interactive storytelling in the magical story den.

Join in or unwind in the Café Bar with a latte and the Sunday papers, while your little ones get involved in telling stories from all over the world.

Age guidance 4 – 7 years.

WHY? A sociable, creative and entirely relaxed way to do Sundays for families with young children

The Story Den
£3.50 per person (45 mins)

•  29 Sep from £350
•  27 Oct from £350

An affectionate tribute to one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars.

Leading impressionist Julian Dutton brings to life the man behind the wry smile and urbane English repartee that charmed millions and turned John Le Mesurier into a household name as Sergeant Wilson in Dad’s Army. Packed with glorious reminiscences and stories from the Golden Age of Classic British Comedy.

WHY? A joyful and moving celebration of one of the most popular comic actors of our era

Studio
£15

•   4 Oct from £15

Tales from the funny world of TV, art and antiques!

David Harper - As seen on Bargain Hunt, Antiques Roadtrip, Celebrity Eggheads, Flog It, For What It's Worth, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, Celebrity Masterchef, Through The Keyhole…and lots more.

Featuring funny behind the scenes anecdotes from TV, live auctions, exciting antique finds, huge profits, even bigger losses, as well as stories from celebrity TV appearances and historical journeys through time. It’s all part of what makes this show like no other.

The show is very much audience led with involvement in the form of questions from the audience or questions and challenges from David throughout, as the talk develops.

WHY? Join the TV celebrity and national treasure David Harper as he shares the stories of his career

Courtyard Theatre
£15

•  20 Oct from £15

The surprises and delights of Abbey Road, the Beatles’ final album – 50 years on.

September 2019 is the golden anniversary of the Beatles’ multi-platinum album Abbey Road – the last work they recorded before their seismic breakup. It was both the end of the Sixties and the end of the greatest band of all time.

To hail this anniversary, world’s leading Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn is touring a theatre show of illumination, intrigue, surprises, delights, humour, excitement and entertainment – a fast-moving and smart illustrated history of our forever national-heroes the Beatles, their brilliant album Abbey Road, and other major events of that extraordinary year 1969.

Mark Lewisohn has the world’s greatest archive of Beatles stuff, harvested over 40+ years of unrivalled deep access to archives and public and private collections. He will be showing audiences a stunning array of strong and relevant content, with rare music, photos, films and choice memorabilia. Audiences (even superfans) will see and hear things they didn’t know existed.

Hornsey Road (that intriguing title will be explained …), tells all about how the album was made and the many momentous events that occurred during its recording, when the Beatles were joyously together inside the recording studio but falling apart outside. This was the year of their breakup, and the album was made at a time of turmoil in their personal and business lives.

Abbey Road wasn’t just one of so many glorious and triumphant chapters in the Beatles’ unparalleled time together, it was their best-selling and last piece of work. Audiences at Hornsey Road will be constantly grabbed by the sights and sounds that show how it all came together.

Courtyard Theatre
£20

•   8 Nov from £20

Lexicographer - Best Selling Author – Queen of Dictionary Corner

Take a journey into the curious, unexpected, and downright surreal origins of the words we use every day. Susie will retell the adventures that lie hidden within such words as lasagne (involving a chamber pot) and bugbear (a terrorising monster), and explain such oddities as the silent h in ghost and the mysterious disappearance of kempt, gormful, and ruly (and yes, you really can be gruntled). She will look to the lexicon of the past to fill some of today’s linguistic gaps – such as the frenzied fit of tidying we all do just as guests are about to descend (that’s a scurryfunge).

Alongside such forgotten stories you will hear Susie’s selection of the funniest moments from her 25 years on Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, as well as some startling results from eavesdropping on a group of waiters.

Each evening will include some of Susie’s favourite words from the towns and regions she visits, and she’ll be asking the audience for theirs. In fact, she’ll be welcoming any questions about word origins, usage irritations, the dreaded impact of Americanization, and the very future of our language in her very own ‘word surgery’.

WHY? 'Funny, fact-filled and delightful' Jonathan Ross

'Wonderfully clever and funny... a national treasury from a national treasure Richard Osman

'Susie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words' Pam Ayres

Courtyard Theatre
£20

•  13 Nov from £20

Brand new comedy from the stand-up who cooks on stage.

In this show he’s on the road! It’s time for Planes, Trains and Automob-meals.

George demonstrates how to cook with an engine, procure items from the train buffet trolley and turn unexpected road-works into a picnic. Three plates of gourmet food cooked live in the most unconventional ways and with the opportunity to taste the results at the end, provided you can stop laughing.

WHY? 'Brilliantly funny' The Guardian

'Trust us, you won’t believe how good the food tastes' The Scotsman

Suitable for age 14+ years.

Courtyard Theatre
£14 (£12 conc )

•  23 Nov from £12

Multi award winning floral designer Mig Kimpton returns with a brand new unique show this winter.

Mig combines his theatrical past with his extensive experience of working with flowers, to provide an evening of flowers, fun and wintery excitement!

Join him as he takes you on a journey through a magical wood and meets some well-known characters. But will he get eaten by the wolf? Help the three little pigs to build a new home? Or let you win one of his exquisite designs to take home... you will just have to come and find out!

WHY? Watch him create from scratch, stunning floral designs fit for any and every home

Courtyard Theatre
£16 (£14 conc)

•  29 Nov from £14