What's on in January

Jack Lear

Wealthy trawlerman, Jack Lear, is preparing to retire and hand over his hard-earned fleet to his feisty trio of daughters. Morgana, Freda and Victoria, who gut fish and work on deck while wearing oilskin frocks and thigh high boots, have never seen eye to eye with each other, or their tight-fisted father.

As the sisters scheme and scrap over their inheritance, enter Edmund, the womanising solicitor. Family relationships become more and more strained as they each strive for freedom, fortune and love in this rivalry that is stormier than the dark North Sea!

Following the huge success of Richard III at Hull Truck Theatre as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, and fresh from directing Two Noble Kinsmen at Shakespeare’s Globe, Barrie Rutter OBE returns to direct and play the title role in this gritty reworking of Shakespeare’s King Lear, set on the River Humber with live music by award-winning English folk musician Eliza Carthy MBE.

Catch Jack Lear (pictured) at Hull Truck Theatre from Thursday 17 January to Saturday 2 February.

The Bodyguard

The international, award-winning smash-hit musical based on the blockbuster film, The Bodyguard is coming to Hull. Following her triumphant West End run and sell-out UK Tour, three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke returns to the role of Rachel Marron.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don't expect is to fall in love.

This brilliant show features a whole host of irresistible Whitney classics, including ‘So Emotional’, ‘Run to You’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, and one of the greatest hit songs of all time – ‘I Will Always Love You’.

The Bodyguard will be on at Hull New Theatre from Tuesday 8 January to Saturday 19 January.

Boyzone After six UK number 1 singles, five UK number 1 albums and 25 greatly successful years together, the iconic band Boyzone is embarking on its 25th anniversary and farewell tour, which will head to Bonus Arena at the end of the month.

The band members have establishing themselves as one of the most endearing groups to emerge from the “boy band” music sphere, with fans all over the world. They will perform at the Bonus Arena twice on Monday 21 and Monday 28 January.

Absolute Bowie

Absolute Bowie returns to The Welly this month to celebrate what is arguably Hull’s most important musical export, The Spiders From Mars.

The band is putting on two performances, each travelling through different eras of Bowie’s music. This is a night of ‘70s Bowie, from Hunky Dory to Ziggy, Aladdin Sane to Diamond Dogs, and The Thin White Duke albums through to the Berlin Trilogy of Low, Lodger and Heroes.

Saturday’s event showcases the ‘80s and beyond. A celebration of Bowie’s output from the New Romantic beginnings of that decade right through to his later years albums Heathen, Outside, Reality, Earthling and 2016’s Blackstar.

Absolute Bowie has been voted one of the best tribute bands in the UK with their energetic stage show. Don’t miss out on either of these incredible gigs, taking place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 January.