Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if you are still struggling to find the best gift to surprise your mum, we have got you. From comedies to dramas to the big musicals, we have something to surprise even the trickiest to buy for.
For the Funny Mum
Alison Spittle | Sun 15 Mar | Stage Two
Alison Spittle’s show is the ultimate “un-shrinking” anthem—a hilarious, cathartic night out for the mum who’s tired of polite nods and ready to laugh at the absurdity of the world. After a man on a train told her to sit down, Alison decided to do the opposite, creating a stand-up show that ponders whether it’s easier to change yourself or the world around you. It is a big show about the pressure to make yourself smaller and the joy of refusing to do so.
For the Mum who Loves a Crime Drama
Midsommer Murders | Tue 17 Mar – Sat 21 Mar | Royal
If your mum’s search history is 90% crime dramas and best detectives, she belongs at the Royal. When well-loved spinster Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift, her friend Lucy Bellringer refuses to accept it was an accident. DCI Tom Barnaby and Sergeant Gavin Troy are called in to investigate, uncovering a world of hidden passions, long-buried secrets, and deadly rivalries that will keep any armchair detective on the edge of their seat.
For the Mum who Loves a Crime Drama
Midsommer Murders | Tue 17 Mar – Sat 21 Mar | Royal
If your mum’s search history is 90% crime dramas and best detectives, she belongs at the Royal. When well-loved spinster Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift, her friend Lucy Bellringer refuses to accept it was an accident. DCI Tom Barnaby and Sergeant Gavin Troy are called in to investigate, uncovering a world of hidden passions, long-buried secrets, and deadly rivalries that will keep any armchair detective on the edge of their seat.
For the Glam Mum
Top Hat | Tue 24 Mar – Sat 28 Mar | Royal
If your mum loves to dress up and leave the chaos behind, treat her to the golden age of glamour in this pure escapist treat. When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London, he is instantly smitten with model Dale Tremont, despite their “meet-cute” involving a midnight tap-dancing session in the hotel suite above hers. Featuring iconic costumes and dazzling choreography, this show follows the bumpy but beautiful path of true love across London and Venice.
For the Mum who likes Options
Kate Butch: Choose Your Own Cabaret | Thu 2 Apr | Playhouse
With this show, your mum will be in the driver’s seat as the audience takes full control of the performance. Join the star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK for a cabaret like no other, where Kate Butch hands over the reins, allowing you to select each song, each joke, and maybe even what she wears. Accompanied by maestro Jordan Paul Clarke, Kate creates a unique evening of stories and games with over 8,000 possible outcomes.
For the Dancing Mum
The Red Shoes | Tue 7 Apr – Sat 11 Apr | Royal
For the mum who still remembers her first pair of ballet shoes or simply loves the raw emotion of movement, this powerful story of passion is the perfect gift. Based on the timeless fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie, The Red Shoes follows Victoria Page, a girl who lives to dance but finds her ambitions caught in a fierce struggle between two men. It is a hauntingly beautiful tale of obsession and the dream to be the greatest dancer in the world.
For the Mum who Loves a Nostalgic Tune
Here & Now | Tue 14 Apr – Sun 19 Apr | Royal
This is the ultimate Mums’ Night Out, celebrating friendship, resilience, and the legendary music of Steps! On a Friday night where the vibe is right, Caz and her fabulous friends dream of a perfect summer of love, but they soon discover that “happy ever after” can be a lie. It’s a high-energy jukebox musical that asks if love will ever get a hold of their hearts or if they should just take a chance on a happy ending of their own.
For the Mum who still cares about Opera (yes Timothee, we are talking to you)
English Touring Opera present: The Gondoliers | Sat 25 Apr | Royal
Two handsome and charming gondoliers discover that one is the long-lost heir to the throne of Barataria – but which one? In the pursuit of the truth, a bewildering series of events threatens both their marriages and their claim to the throne. The Gondoliers, Gilbert and Sullivan’s last great success, is a fizzing comedy of mistaken identity that marries joy and chaos with a sharp satire of monarchy and class. This new production is helmed by Liam Steel, who directed ETO’s Olivier Award-winning production of Paul Bunyan.
The Musical Mum
Miss Saigon | Tue 12 May – Sat 23 May | Royal
For the lover of musicals, it doesn’t get any better than Miss Saigon. This spectacular new production brings Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical to life with a soaring score and a deeply romantic, tragic story. Featuring hit songs including “The Heat is On in Saigon,” “The Movie in My Mind,” and “The American Dream,” it is a powerful theatrical experience that remains one of the greatest musicals of all time.
The Book Club Mum
Elizabeth Day – One Of Us | Tue 16 Jun | Playhouse
Is your mum at home with a book? This is a brilliant opportunity to get ahead of the reading list and hear directly from one of the most influential voices in literature today. Elizabeth Day, Sunday Times bestselling author and one of today’s most influential podcasters, will discuss her suspenseful and compulsive new novel, One of Us.
For more information, please call the Box Office on 01603 630 000 or visit norwichtheatre.org.
