It’s time to let it shine - your Midlands and Shropshire am dram round up
Such a lot of effort goes into amateur shows, whether it be a concert or a play, the hours of hard work seem endless and yet when that curtain goes up, it’s worth it.
One group who have certainly been putting in the hours recently is West Bromwich Operatic Society’s Youth Theatre, who are all set to perform their concert, A Time to Shine, at the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley from May 5-6.
The show will feature song and dance from all genres; notably numbers by the Beach Boys to Take That, Barnum to School of Rock. There really is something for everyone.
This group is also looking for nine to 19-year-olds to join them for their autumn show, the ever-popular Hairspray, which they will perform at the same venue from November 7-10.
l Interested? Then contact Emma@wbos.co.uk immediately!
In Telford at the Oakengates Theatre, you can catch Telford and District Light Operatic Players’ production of Made in Dagenham on April 28-29 at The Place within Oakengates Theatre. Only a short run, but worth it.
Made in Dagenham follows Rita O’Grady and her fellow machinists at the Ford Dagenham factory as they find out their job skill level has been downgraded. At first, they just fight to have their work recognised as skilled, but soon realise that they could instigate a major change in equality between men and women
Spokesperson for the group, Lyndsey Bird, says: “This is a big year of celebration as it is our 50th anniversary, but it is also 50 years since the strike that started the movement to equal pay and women’s rights, as well as one hundred years since women’s suffrage. It seemed only right in this momentous year to perform Made in Dagenham,” she continues.
The score of the show includes This What We Want, Storm Clouds, This is America and the title song.
l For tickets visit www.theplacetelford.com or the group’s Facebook page.
At the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham the resident group will be performing Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras, translated by Tom Stoppard, in the Studio from May 11-19.
This moving, yet strangely amusing play sees three World War One veterans passing the time of day on the terrace of a French military hospital run by nuns. As they while away their time engaging in verbal duels, malicious gossip and wishful thinking, they eventually concoct a plan to escape.
l Tickets are priced at £12-£7. Call 0121 643 5858 or visit www.crescent-theatre.co.uk to book.
At Sutton Arts Theatre from May 3-12, you can catch a production of John Chapman and Ray Cooney’s comedy, Not Now Darling.
This award-winning farce is set in a London fur salon where one of the owners, Arnold Crouch, has difficulty keeping everything afloat, while his business partner, Gilbert Bodley is off philandering. Gilbert plans to sell his mistress’s husband a fur coat for her at a knock-down price in order to keep her happy, but Arthur is not happy! Then, when the husband decides to give the fur coat to his own mistress, all hell breaks loose!
Directed by Barrie Atchinson, Not Now Darling is a must for fans of all things farcical.
l For tickets, visit www.suttonartstheatre.co.uk or call 0121 355 5355.
You may recall that Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society will be performing White Christmas later this year, well they are on the lookout for a very special young lady to appear in the show.
She will play the role of Susan Waverly, the General’s granddaughter and needs to have a playing age of nine or 10 years old. She must be a strong singer and be able to dance. If you have a wonderfully talented little girl who would like to audition, please contact chaos@chaosoperatics.co.uk or call 07801 381298 for more information. It’s a lovely opportunity for a youngster!
From May 5-12 at the Oldbury Rep, there is a production of April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures, a play which highlights the importance of the development of the first actresses to appear on stage.
Five of these women – Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Farley, Rebecca Marshall, Doll Common and Mary Betterton – play out their precarious lives during the 1669, providing us with an amusing yet moving glimpse of the past.
l For tickets, visit www.oldburyrep.org or call 0121 552 2761.
There’s nothing like a rags to riches story to create an excellent musical theatre show. Think Me and My Girl, Charlie Girl and Solihull Theatre Company’s choice for 2018, Half a Sixpence.
The group will perform the show at The Core Theatre in Solihull from May 15019. Based on the story of Kipps by H.G. Wells, this show is the tale of a shop boy who inherits a fortune and almost loses his lady love as a result. It seems money can’t buy happiness!
The role of Kipps demands a very strong male lead, with dance ability as well as comedic skills and vocals.
l For tickets, priced at £17-£16, visit www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk or call 0121 704 6962.
Finally this week, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale Hound of the Baskervilles has been adapted and dramatized by Tim Kelly and will be presented by Stafford Players on May 15-19 at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Sir Henry is the heir to the fortune of the Baskervilles, but the legacy comes with a family curse of death at the fangs of a monster that roams the moors.
Described as a spine-tingler, this is the author’s most terrifying tale.
Can super sleuth Sherlock Holmes ad his side kick Dr Watson stop the beast? To find out, call 01785 619080 or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk for tickets.
l That’s all for this week. Please keep your emails and good quality colour photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton
