2024 promises many great things. The Olympics. A General Election. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour coming to the UK. And best of all, another term of ram-packed theatre in Cambridge. Are we slowly winding down to accommodate some academic rigour? Perhaps some pre-emptive revision time ahead of Easter term exams? Of course we’re not. Lent 2024 will see Cambridge’s theatrical scene as busy as ever. From touring professional companies to student-directed classics and original student-written productions, Camdram is bursting at the seams. There’s plenty on, but this is what we think you should be sure not to miss.

The Tempest

16th-20th January at the ADC Theatre

After a tour around France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland, the European Theatre Group are bringing their production back to Cambridge for the first time since it previewed in Christ’s College in November. The play promises an almost professional production after their constant relocations throughout December. Varsity’s 5 star review of the ETG’s Hamlet in 2022 bodes well ahead of their 2024 return.

The Book of Margery Kempe

Late show on the 24th-27th January at the Corpus Playroom

This Medieval autobiography is coming to the Playroom. “Or is it an autobiography?” I hear the Englings ask. Fret no more. The answers await us. First years, if Kempe week was a dud and you didn’t quite get that supervision essay down, this is your chance to recover. And second years - god knows you don’t actually remember our old friend Margery. Get yourself to the Playroom in week 1 for this retelling.

The Normal Heart

30th January-3rd February at the ADC Theatre

Exploring the early years of the AIDS crisis, The Normal Heart will be set in New York, following young activist Ned Weeks through some of the most turbulent years in modern history. The show promises “heartbreak and societal apathy”, and is sure to be one of the biggest moments in Cambridge theatre this Lent.

Romeo and Juliet

31st January-3rd February at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

The Marlowe Society will be presenting Romeo and Juliet this year at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Directed by Josh Seymour, who assistant directed the 2009 Marlowe Shakespeare reproduction (also Romeo and Juliet), has since won Best Director at the Off-West End Awards in 2016, so we’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what he’ll be bringing back to the Marlowe Society in 2024.

The Time Machine: A Comedy

13th-17th February at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

Having finished a hugely successful run in Finsbury Park’s tiny Park Theatre, with a capacity of just 200, this adaptation will be making the move to Cambridge’s biggest theatre, seating over triple that, just in time for a Valentine’s Day date. H.G. Wells’ classic novel, The Time Machine, has been entirely reimagined by Orla O’Loughlin.

Blackboard (Keep ya’ head up)

Late show on the 21st-24th February at the Corpus Playroom

This play, tackling race and class in predominantly white institutions, has been co-written and assistant directed by Tia-Renee Mullings and Katiann Barros-Rocha. Tia-Renee Mullings was awarded the Mustapha Matura Award and Mentoring Programme with her recent play Little Angela Davis, whilst Katiann Barros-Rocha is one of the co-founders of the Halo Code, which fights against race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces across the UK.

2:22 A Ghost Story

5th-9th March at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

Having astounded the West End already, this ghostly phenomenon is on its way to Cambridge, along with a stunning cast including Jay McGuiness, Fiona Wade, and George Rainsford.

Cambridge Footlights

10th and 17th March at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

Back by popular demand, Cambridge’s Footlights are taking to the Arts Theatre’s stage with a selection of the best and brightest. If you can’t bear a smoker then maybe this will be the right way for you to tick ‘see the Footlights’ off your Cambridge bucket list!