ADC Theatre
Tue 11 - Sat 15 June
Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn

Content warning [May contain spoilers]

A cartoonish, eclectic group of six overachieving mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime.

While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words. Each hope to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake, and the overstated feeling of failure that resonates with overachievers everywhere. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.

Complete with an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its "perspicacious", "jocular" and "effervescent" spellers.

Times

Tue 11 June at 7:45pm
Wed 12 June at 7:45pm
Thu 13 June at 7:45pm
Fri 14 June at 7:45pm
Sat 15 June at 7:45pm

Venue

ADC Theatre

Tickets

TUE £10-£13, WED-THU £11.50–£15, FRI–SAT £13.50–£17

mild discrimination/homophobia

The ADC Theatre is Britain's oldest University playhouse, today administered and maintained by the University of Cambridge. Plays have been presented on the site since 1855, when the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club (CUADC) was founded, and the society met and performed in the back room of the Hoop Inn, which stood almost exactly where the ADC Theatre stands today.  Today, the ADC Theatre is the centre of University drama in Cambridge, run almost entirely by students with no Faculty involvement. 

Access

When you arrive at the ADC Theatre, there are power assisted doors to the Box Office. In the foyer there is a lift which leads up to the bar and auditorium. The accessible toilet is located on the ground floor across the foyer. Further information can be found here.

If you are booking a wheelchair seat in the ADC auditorium for the first time, please call the Box Office on 01223 300085 or email access@adctheatre.com. We will then alter the permissions of your ADC account so that you can access the wheelchair seats on our website when you book in the future. 

Complimentary tickets are available for full-time carers.

The ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom is fitted with an infra-red audio system designed to help deaf and hard of hearing patrons. If you are using the system for the first time, please arrive early and seek advice from our Front of House team.

Assistance dogs are welcome in both of our venues. Please call the Box Office or email the above address when booking to ensure you are seated appropriately.

The Park Street car park, which is typically used by customers of the ADC Theatre, is closed until August 2024. We recommend that you park in the Grand Arcade car park (10 minute walk) or the Castle Hill car park (15 minute walk). Parking in City Council car parks is free after 6pm. You can find out more information here.

Address

ADC Theatre
Park Street
Cambridge
CB5 8AS
Get directions

Tickets

11 June 7:45pm 7:45pm Book now
12 June 7:45pm 7:45pm Book now
13 June 7:45pm 7:45pm Book now
14 June 7:45pm 7:45pm Book now
15 June 7:45pm 7:45pm Book now