Midlands am dram round-up - Dec 3

Our am dram guru Alison Norton casts her expert eye over the shows that you should be looking out for this week including 8 Pantos in 80 Minutes by Screaming Youth Voice Theatre, and evening of 'Muvicals' by Pink Productions and Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor by The Nonentities.

The festive period puts nearly everyone in a party mood and there is no better way to spend a family evening out than at the theatre.

Obviously pantomimes are rife at this time of year, but if you fancy something other than Puss in Boots or Cinderella, Pink Productions, who perform at the Mill Theatre, Sedgley, have just the thing for you.

They are presenting their latest variety show on December 13-14, entitled Muvicals and as the title would suggest the music is a mixture of musicals and movie themes.

Look out for numbers from Burlesque, Sister Act, Dirty Dancing and Shrek from a group of very talented singers and dancers of all ages.

Principal of Pink Productions, Jodie Richards, is very proud of one ex-pupil in particular, Liam Payne of One Direction fame, who is destined to set the charts on fire this Christmas.

What a great example of an amateur performer who was determined to make it.

For tickets, priced at just £8.50 and £7.50 for concessions, contact Jodie at Jodie@jodierichards.co.uk or call The Mill Theatre on 01384 816388.

Over in Kinver, Robin Hood and his babes can be seen in the woods around Edgecliffe High School, as Kinver Light Operatic Society prepare to present their panto – Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (a new one on me!) from December 4 -10. I can only think that this panto is a combination of the two tales, which I am sure, makes for great entertainment.

The 40-strong cast is headed by Adam Hubbard as The Sherriff of Nottingham, Ricky Dowell as Robin Hood and Adam Bowles as dame Nurse Nora. It promises to be a fantastic night out for all the family.

For tickets, contact Jean Mills on 01384 836963 or 07828650377 and for more information on the group, visit www.klos.co.uk

The Nonentities, who perform at The Rose Theatre in Kidderminster, are presenting Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Described as a "roistering, knock-about, middle-class play" this is the tale of Sir John Falstaff, a fat and lecherous rogue and one of The Bard's most famous characters, who tries to be a little too friendly with two respectable ladies.

But of course their husbands are outraged and plan their revenge. Good fun and frolics for adults. For tickets call the box office on 01562 743745 or email admin@rosetheatre.co.uk

For pantomime with a difference, why not try 8 Pantos in 80 Minutes at The Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton from December 15-18, presented by Screaming Youth Voice Theatre.

Billed as "the most untraditional show you will see this Christmas", this is a fantastically funny presentation of eight traditional pantos in a very untraditional way! It is also the shortest show you will experience this Christmas, as the title would suggest.

Let Zanelli Franelli, played by Pool Hayes student Gemma Allport, and his company take you on a trip through eight pantos in 80 minutes, in his very own crazy, zany, madcap way!

Believe me you will never look at panto in the same way again! Nothing goes smoothly for this cast of buffoons, but it makes for very entertaining comedy for audiences.

Screaming Voice Youth Theatre is largely made up of pupils from Pool Hayes Arts & Community School, with a smattering of other students from the Willenhall area and has enjoyed considerable success with their previous productions at the Arena.

Well worth a look, oh, and it is suggested that adults must definitely be accompanied by a child!

For tickets, priced at just £9 - £7, call the box office on 01902 321321 and get booking.

The incredibly talented Impulse Productions, produced and directed by Luke Renwick and Becci Steen, are presenting The Magic of Christmas at St Georges Church, Telford on December 10.

This is an evening of holiday favourites, mince pies and mulled wine. Sit back and enjoy an evening of family entertainment to put you in the festive mood. For tickets call 07791152672.

Finally this week, Brownhills Musical Theatre Company is presenting a special 40th anniversary concert, entitled Brownhills Best Bits at Brownhills Technology College on December 17. There is a matinee at 2.30pm and a night performance at 7.30pm.

A number of past members are coming back to celebrate 40 years of this company and performing with the current group.

Expect a varied programme to suit all tastes. For tickets priced at £10 each, please contact 07532189689.

Well, that's all for this week. Call me on 01902 319662 or email me at a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk with all your news and photographs.

Break a leg!