Shropshire Theatres: Something for everyone
An eclectic programme of entertainment is in store at the region's two principal theatres in coming months.
Theatre Severn, in Shrewsbury, and Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, in Telford, are booking ahead with plenty in store for people of all ages.
The Theatre Severn programme will start on September 4 with a concert by veteran pop stars The Manfreds, featuring original frontman Paul Jones.
Jones will be performing many of the tracks from the band's highly-acclaimed album The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann, which is being re-released as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, along with a mix of their biggest hits and the jazz and blues songs for which they are famous.
Their concert will be followed by a performance on September 6 by Pink Floyd tribute band Darkside while Madness musical Our House will follow on September 7.
Our House will be produced by the Young Performers Theatre Group and audiences can look forward to a jukebox musical with all the greatest hits from Madness including Our House, House Of Fun, My Girl, It Must Be Love, Baggy Trousers and many more.
The Cantorion Male Voice Choir will headline on September 8 and a production of children's favourite Aliens Love Underpants will play out on September 10 and 11.
Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular will visit the venue on September 12 while Sherlock Holmes – The Life And Death will feature on September 12 and 13.
Musical duo Chas 'n' Dave will continue their successful national tour with a headline show on September 13 while Stafford-born comic Stewart Lee will bring his Much A-Stew About Nothing show to the venue on September 16.
A production of That'll Be The Day will feature at the venue on September 18, an Evening of Burlesque will follow the next night and folk star Kate Rusby will return to the venue for a one-off show on September 20.
The music of Abba and The Bee Gees will feature in a production of Gimme Gimme Gimme Night Fever on September 21 and Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra will star on September 22.
Evenings
The venue will welcome a series of productions during autumn including a 60s Big Night Out, productions of Jack The Ripper and Phantom and The Musicals, Save The Last Dance For Me, Fame The Musical and 51 Shades of Maggie.
There will also be evenings with Joe Brown, Stephen K Amos, Tony Stockwell, Ralph McTell, Charlie Landsborough, Max Boyce , Tony Law, Talon, Ed Byrne, Milton Jones, Glenn Tilbrook, Gerry Guthrie and Circus of Horrors.
The Place @ Oakengates Theatre will also welcome an action-packed programme during coming months with a number of highlights in store.
Ever-popular entertainer Joe Pasquale will star on August 9 in his new show. Oakengates Theatre spokeswoman Sally Whitmore said: "His unique voice has been described as a 'cartoon waterfowl' and a 'demented helium balloon' but audiences still flock to see him. He was crowned King of the Jungle in the 2004 series of the ITV gameshow, I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here."
The Gruffalo's Child will play out on August 27 and 28, Tom Stade will bring his Totally Rocks show to the venue on September 4, a schools edition of Miss Saigon will feature on September 13 and Steve Hughes will bring his metal-meets-comedy performance to the venue on September 26.
There will also be headline performances from Mary Duff, Lee Nelson, All Star American Wrestling, Ed Byrne, the Vienna Festival Ballet and Ardal O'Hanlon. Other highlights will include Milton Jones, Sally Morgan, Lee Hurst and Jason Manford.
Full details for all shows are available from the respective venues.
