Midlands and Shropshire theatre round-up

The theatre's 2016 spectacular family pantomime will star Rebecca Keatley (Cbeebies), the brilliant Sam Rabone as Nurse Nelly, children's entertainer Ben Thornton and children's author Ian Billings.

The Cbeebies star of Let's Play and Time For School, Rebecca Keatley, will be playing Fairy Moonbeam. She can't wait. Rebecca said: "I'm delighted to be spending the festive season in Lichfield. I'm looking forward to spreading some fairy magic at the Lichfield Garrick and taking part in this spellbinding Christmas pantomime."

Sutton Coldfield based actor, Sam Rabone, will be the new Dame at the Lichfield Garrick, after appearing in Sleeping Beauty in Yeovil last year.

After 2015's record breaking production of Jack and the Beanstalk, the Lichfield Garrick has teamed up with Evolution Productions to present a new adaptation of the pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, that will keep the local area at the heart of the show.

Evolution Productions, led by television presenter Paul Hendy and his partner Emily Wood, is one of the most successful pantomime companies in the country and produces shows throughout the UK.

Audience members can expect lots of audience participation, lavish sets and stunning special effects – including a fire-breathing dragon. It promises to be The Garrick's funniest and most magical pantomime ever.

The show opens tomorrow and will run until December 31.

Meanwhile, youthful dancers are being sought to audition for a part in a David Walliams play at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

The UK tour of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny by Birmingham Stage Company are looking to find the character of Diane for performances in Wolverhampton at the Grand Theatre from March 22-26.

Grand spokesman Scott Bird said: "Applicants must be above compulsory school age and fit the look of the character description – Diane is 11 years old and around 5'4'' in height. The character has a small solo disco dance in the middle of the show and is part of the finale dance. The show is 2 hours 15 minutes long.

"The show times are Wed 22 March at 7pm, Thurs 23 March at 10.30am and 7pm, Fri 24 March at 10.30am and 7pm, Sat 25 March at 10.30pm and 2.30pm and Sun 26 at 11am."

No rehearsals are needed with the cast but the dancer will be required to learn the dance from a tuition film. The production company require the dancer to have the technical ability to be able to perform the complete the entire routine. Full information can be found in the news section of the Grand Theatre website grandtheatre.co.uk and Birmingham Stage Company give a gesture of £21.38 per performance as per equity guidelines.

Applicants are asked to film themselves dancing the routine as an audition and send to Alison Fitzjohn – Assistant Director of GANGSTA GRANNY by email to gangstagranny@birminghamstage.com. All submissions must be received by Monday 16 January 2017.

Comedy and music are on the bill at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre. The venue will welcome Martyn Joseph, a Welsh Bruce Springsteen, on Monday.

Joseph fell in love with music at an early age: "I was always drawn to story tellers. Whether it was Springsteen or Glen Campbell singing Jimmy Webb songs, I loved the emotional connection and narrative between music and people's lives. I wanted to do that in some way from my youth. It manifested itself naively at first but it was still obvious there was something natural going on between me and music."

The venue will feature comedian Matt Forde on Thursday before its Wok and Roll panto, Aladdin, opens on December 9, running until January 8.

Panto will also feature at Shrewsbury's Theatre Seven, with a production of Cinderella running from November 30 until January 8.

Oakengates Theatre @ The Place will also host panto with a production of Sleeping Beauty running from Wednesday until December 31.

Venue boss Debbie King said: "Sleeping Beauty is a wonderful story that everyone knows and loves so people should book their tickets nice and early to secure the best seats."