Your Midlands and Shropshire Am Dram round-up
It’s a dramatic time of the week, with a host of productions taking place across the region, so here goes.
The Grange Players from Walsall are one of the most well-established drama groups in our area. They tackle play after play, delivering successful, professional performances. I don’t know how they learn all their lines. They are also Walsall’s oldest amateur theatre group which something to be very proud of.
The group’s latest offering is a beautifully written and poignant piece called Heroes,
Originally set on a Parisian boulevard and now adapted for the stage by one of Britain’s best-known writers, Tom Stoppard, the play features the lives of three gentlemen who live in a care home and their somewhat amusing plans to escape. They have all seen active service during the Second World War and are determined not to be controlled by the situation they now find themselves in.
Three long serving members of The Grange Players, Rob Onions, Richard Shepherd and Paul Viles, take the leading roles and are directed by Dexter Whitehead and Rosemary Manjunath.
l Catch their production of Heroes at The Grange Playhouse from May 18-27. For tickets, priced at just £10 each, call 07909036835 or visit www.grangeplayers.co.uk
In contrast, new groups contact me all the time with details of their productions and the latest one is Black Country Theatre, who perform at The Court House in Dudley.
This group, based in Tipton, specialise in Black Country subject matter with writers dedicated to keeping the Black Country dialect and humour alive.
Following their hugely successful production of The Trouble with Uncle Jacob, from May 19-20, the group will present an original composition called We Can Work It Out, described as a black comedy written by Black Country playwright, Joanne Webster.
Joanne wrote this play specifically for Black Country Theatre and is also a published author with her series, Paradise Street.
In a nutshell, Eddie has done it again; had yet another affair, but this time with his wife Grace’s best friend. Will counselling from the Jeremy Vile show help their marriage or is it over for good?
The play is obviously a tongue-in-cheek look at relationships, but I’m told it will get you laughing and sitting on the edge of your seat.
The cast is made up of experienced amateur actors from the West Midlands. Spokesperson for the group, Linda Harper, takes the role of Grace and has previously directed for the group too.
The role of Eddie is taken by Wayne Colwell, who is a new member to the group, but experienced, having also performed with The Old Rep.
l For tickets priced at £5 each, visit www.kateshillpress.com/shop or call Greg on 07756 635782 or 01384 254719.
Pattingham Drama Group is presenting Peter Shaffer’s comedy satire, Lettice and Lovage, at Pattingham Village Hall from May 10-13, so there is just about time to grab a ticket.
It’s a very English tale of a flamboyant tour guide who has a habit of embellishing the history behind the country house where she works, that is until she comes across Lotte Schoen, the straight-laced bureaucrat from the Preservation Trust who fires her. The play was originally written for Dame Maggie Smith who originated the role of Lettice Douffet.
Lettice and Lovage is also popular in the West End at present, starring Felicity Kendall and Maureen Lipman at the Menier Chocolate Factory from May 17 to July 8, but if you fancy seeing it closer to home, this is the perfect solution.
l For tickets visit www.pattinghamdramagroup.co.uk
Over in Shropshire, from May 18-20, members of The Little Theatre Donnington are presenting Cheshire Cats, a play in which a team of women speed walk their way to success in the London Moonwalk, while fundraising for Walk the Walk.
Bedecked in their decorated bras and brand spanking new trainers, the girls experience what can only be described as a cross between a girls’ night out and a real mission to support a cause close to their hearts. Expect tears of laughter and sadness along the way.
l For tickets visit www.littletheatredonnington.co.uk
Musical Theatre lovers are in for a treat over the next couple of weeks too, as Albrighton Musical Theatre Company presents Radio Times from May 18-20 at the Country Primary School in the village.
In the heart of London’s Blitz-torn West End, the cast of BBC’s light-entertainment radio show, Variety Bandwagon are doing their bit for the war effort. But with the bombs falling outside, can star of the show, Sammy Shaw, hang on to his leading lady and broadcast live to America for the very first time?
This is a funny musical with catchy tunes and a saucy script, which is guaranteed to raise a smile.
l For tickets visit the group’s Facebook page or email thealbrightonfootes@yahoo.co.uk
The group is also looking for a pianist for their July production, so if you are interested, please get in touch. Oh, and you must be a good sight reader.
Another group presenting an evening of music from the shows is Old Fallings Players, who from May 19-20 will perform their concert, Musical Interruption Take Two (presumably there was a Take One!) at Low Hill Community Centre in Wolverhampton.
Audiences an except excerpts from My Fair Lady, Carousel, South Pacific, Matilda, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You to name but a few.
There are two nightly performances on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm and also a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
l For tickets visit the group’s Facebook Page or call 07957935722.
And finally this week a request from a company who is performing Spamalot, the Monty Python musical, later this year.
They are looking for a mandolin. It does not need to be in working order as it will only used as a prop, but if anyone has one they are prepared to lend, could they contact Peter on 07966686932.
l Well that’s all for this week. Send me all your news and good quality photographs to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton
