Your Midlands and Shropshire am dram round up

One panto which is arely performed is Little Red Riding Hood. I have no idea why because it is a popular story, can easily be adapted to bring it up to date and has lots of smaller roles. Harlequin Pantomimes who perform at Perton Civic Centre however, has taken on Little Red and will present it from January 16-20.

This well-established group has been delighting audiences for around 12 years now and each time, do their very best to retain the pantomime traditions to create a family friendly show.

Little Red Riding Hood is played by Szara Hamilton-Clay, who’s taking her first leading role for the company, while Kelly Ashman, Kate Pingree-Webber and Ben Perry will be appearing as the three little pigs and Dom Napier will be scaring the children as the big, bad wolf!

The pantomime was penned by a well-known script writer, Phillip Meeks and has been adapted especially for the company. Look out for all your favourite nursery rhyme characters, including Jack and Jill, in this case played by Gary Robinson and the group’s choreographer, Lisa Farmer. They say there is nothing like a dame and no panto would be complete without one. See my Am Dram Star of the Week article for details on Dame Dora Dumpling. She’s a corker!

l For tickets for Little Red Riding Hood, call 01902 678242 or book online at www.seaty.co.uk/harlred

There’s more panto excitement at Aldridge Youth Theatre as they present a popular, new, family show, Humpty Dumpty from January 12-13, 18-20 and 25-27.

Who or what is Humpty Dumpty? What happened when he fell off the wall?

Well, Neville Ellis who’s written the show will be able to answer those questions I am sure.

To find out what happens to a teenager from Walsall who finds himself trapped inside an egg in Minislavia, the tiniest country in Europe, you need to go along and see for yourselves.

Josh Friend, aged 16, plays the title role and is joined by 14-year-old Alicia Slack as Wolfspin and 15-year-old Katie Worrall who takes the role of Zygiella.

l For tickets priced at £9 for adults and £8 for concessions, call 01922 458615.

Over at the Oldbury Rep from January 12-20, you can catch a production of the ever-popular panto, Aladdin, presented by the resident company there.

We all know the story – he rubs his lamp and out pops a genie granting him three wishes of course. This version is about as traditional as it gets with plenty of audience participation, slapstick, a panto dame and principal boy as well as fun and games for all the family.

l For tickets, visit wwww.oldburyrep.org or call 0121 552 2761.

News of a ticket offer for young people to take advantage of now.

From January 23-27, the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre will play host to Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, the tale of the recently married, but already bored daughter of the late General Gabler, who died leaving her penniless. The restrictions of her middle-class environment result in Hedda playing out her own fantasies and psychological games with those nearest to her, to a rather unpleasant and ultimately costly end.

This is serious stuff, but drama at its very best and with this in mind, the first 200 youngsters aged between 16-25 can book a ticket for the play for just £5 each and will also receive a free Sixteen25 membership for the theatre. Quote IBSEN5 when booking.

l For information go to www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Meanwhile, back in pantoland, Startime Variety, who perform at the Cornbow Hall in Halesowen, will be presenting Beauty and the Beast from January 17-20, with evening performances at 7.15pm and a 2.15pm Saturday matinee.

This version has been written and will be produced by Holly Mills. Gemma Mills will play Belle, while Lee Ralph will be taking his first principal role as The Beast.

Look out for some new characters too, including Boone, Bobbin and Hickory Dickory and an original song which Gemma and Holly have written together.

l For tickets priced at £10 for adults, £9 for concessions, or family tickets for £35, which includes two adults and two children under 16, call 0121 550 3899 or visit www.startimevariety.co.uk

Fancy a change from pantomime?

If so, the Wolverhampto-based drama group, Studio 6, is holding read throughs for their forthcoming production of Medea which they will perform from June 14-16 at Victory Hall, Lower Penn. If you would like to attend, the read throughs will take place on Sunday at 2pm at Victory Hall and on January 10-11 at 10 park Dale Court in Wolverhampton.

l For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page or www.studio61.org.uk or call 0751049298.

Local choir master, Steve Cooper, is seeking a pianist to accompany an established four-part mixed choir in Wolverhampton.

Rehearsals are Monday nights at 7.45pm.

l If anyone is interested please call Steve on 07467 192281 for more information.

And finally this week, from January 26-28, the Wolverhampton Literature festival will take place across the city centre, with a variety of events to suit all ages and tastes.

From children’s story telling at Bantock House, to performances from the students of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, to educational workshops at the art gallery, this will be a special weekend for the city. For details go to www.wolvesliteraturefestival.co.uk