The latest guide to Midlands and Shropshire am dram

That’s certainly true in the case of Greg Yates and Tim Jones, two gentlemen who first met at St Thomas Moore School in Willenhall, some 40 years ago and have trod the boards ever since in a variety of roles, in everything from George Bernard Shaw, to Shakespeare, Rodgers and Hammerstein to Rice and Lloyd-Webber.

From August 23-September 2, Greg and Tim will be appearing in the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s production of Brassed Off, the play written by Paul Allen, adapted from Mark Herman’s screenplay, under the direction of Gareth Tudor Price.

This is the first time in 40 years that the Wolverhampton Grand has presented a full-scale inhouse production, involving local actors and brass band members working alongside well-respected professional actors.

This is a very exciting time for the Grand Theatre and one which they are delighted to be sharing with the community.

Set in 1994, Brassed Off is a comedy drama which tells the tale of the closure of Grimley Colliery, resulting in job losses, a dying town and more importantly, the loss of its brass band. But under the leadership of Danny, coughing with coal-dusted lungs, the band is somehow transformed into British champions with local Flugelhorn player Gloria whipping up the money needed to get them to the Albert Hall.

Greg and Tim auditioned as part of the community element in the play and successfully won the roles of Jim and Harry respectively.

Greg says: “The main draw for me was that I would like to turn professional again.” Greg has professional experience from the past, but life has a way of taking along a different path sometimes and so he spent a long time in amateur productions to quench his thirst for theatre. Brassed Off has presented the ideal opportunity to add to his resume though and he grabbed the chance with both hands.

“I consider it a massive privilege to be working with esteemed professionals, especially Jeffrey Holland and Director, Gareth Tudor Price,” says Greg, “and I would like to thank the Grand for putting their trust in the community members taking part.”

Meanwhile, Tim is just delighted to be back performing at the Grand.

He says: “This show is very exciting because you have the band and a large community ensemble and it’s great to do it back in my home theatre.”

Have fun with the professionals guys, but we also look forward to seeing you performing in am dram very soon!

l For tickets for Brassed Off, call 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk

The resident group at the Belfrey Theatre in Wellington is performing two plays next weekend.

The first on September 1 is The Real Inspector Hound, Tom Stoppard’s classic comedy, which ingeniously reinvents the country house whodunnit.

Two theatre critics find themselves more involved than they realise in a murder mystery on stage. This play breaks down the fourth wall between audience and actors with a fatal piece of audience participation. Sounds interesting to say the least.

Then on September 2, the group will present a play by Brian Hughes entitled Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons. Yes, that’s right five lemons.

I have not heard of this one before, but apparently it is an award-winning composition in which we are asked to imagine that we are forced to say less in terms of how we express ourselves, personally and politically, seen through the lens of one couple’s relationship. It is about what we say and how we say it.

l For tickets for either of these productions, visit www.belfreythetre.com or call 01952 222277.

Pantomime is still only just around the corner (Oh yes, it is!) and groups are already beginning to rehearse.

With this in mind, Oswestry Musical Theatre Company is seeking a new Musical Director to join them for their forthcoming panto, Beauty and the Beast, which they will be performing at the Marches School on December 15-17.

l Rehearsals will be on Monday and Thursday evenings, starting on September 7, so if you would like to Be Their Guest, email info@omtc.info or call 07872872617.

Have you ever seen over 500 singers performing all at the same time? Probably not, but I can assure you it is a treat.

Got 2 Sing Choirs are joining together at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on September 3 to present their concert, One Voice, an evening of roof-raising harmonies and flag- waving proms.

l All in aid of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven, a well worthy cause, it’s an evening you will never forget.

For tickets, visit www.thsh.co.uk or call 0121 780 3333.

Finally this week, you can catch some local amateur performers from Phoenix Musical Theatre Company at the Battle of Britain Day at Brewood Cricket Club on September 15, who will be performing songs from World War II amid the wailing of sirens, speeches by Winston Churchill and sounds of the air raids.

Local vintage trio, The Bluebird Belles will kick off the evening with a host of wartime hits, and then look out for the Phoenix guys in the second half of the evening when they will be performing songs from the shows and joining in with flag waving to Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and of course, Rule Britannia.

For an evening of nostalgia and fun, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for Brewood Cricket Club, or call into Lazy Days, The Swan or Coopers in Brewood for tickets priced at £12, £10 and £8.

l Well that’s all for this week. Keep those emails with all your news and good quality photographs comping to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton