Midlands and Shropshire am dram guide

A high energy, foot-tapping show is the perfect way to lift the spirits and if it's performed by extremely talented young performers, what could be better?

With this in mind, why not grab a ticket for Bilston Operatic Company's youth group's production of Footloose, which they will present at the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley from April 4-8?

This award-winning group, has just been nominated for a NODA award for their 2016 production of Les Miserables and is hoping for the same response to their latest production.

City boy, Ren, thinks his life has come to an end when he is forced to move to Bomont, an American rural backwater, leaving behind his urban life. Far worse than that, in Bomont, music and dancing are banned as a result of a fatal accident involving a group of teenagers from the town. But Ren just can't live without music and it isn't long before he begins to break the rules – and it would seem he is not alone.

The musical Footloose, which is based on the 1984 movie of the same name starring Kevin Bacon as Ren , Lori Singer as Aerial and John Lithgow as the Reverend Shaw Moore, is full of classic 1980's tunes including Let's Hear It For The Boy, Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, and, of course, the title song.

In this production, Ren is played by 15-year-old Joe Riley, with 17-year-old Charlotte Mason as love interest Aerial and one of our Am Dram Stars of the Week, Jacob Kohli as the Reverend.

For tickets priced at £15 each or £13 each for parties of 20 people and more, call 077987922448 or email bilstonoperatic@hotmail.co.uk

And Then There Were None is one of Agatha Christie's best-loved plays.

In fact is it widely considered to be her masterpiece and she herself described it as the most difficult of her novels to write. Selling more than 100 million copies worldwide, it's not only her best-selling book, but also the top mystery novel of all time. Agatha adapted it for the stage in 1943, giving it a different ending.

With this in mind, the stage adaptation certainly has a lot to live up to, but over the years it's been performed in theatres across the globe as well as on TV. Stourbridge Theatre Company is the latest group to take on the task of bringing the Queen of Crime's work of art to the stage, from April 6-8 at Stourbridge Town Hall.

Ten strangers are summoned to a remote island by a mysterious host. At dinner, a sound recording makes serious accusations at each of the guests and it isn't long before they begin to be murdered, one by one. As the survivors try to remain sane, it suddenly dawns on them: one of them must be the killer.

In this production Shelly Blakemore takes the part of Vera Claythorne, her first leading role in a play, while Alex Long plays General Mackenzie, Mark Stanley is Philip Lombard and Liz Sparke is Emily Brent. All the performers are from the Stourbridge area.

It's a dark, suspenseful tale with twists and turns galore and an ending you won't expect. Agatha Christie at her very best.

For tickets priced at £10 each and £8 for concessions, call 0333 666 3366 or visit www.stourbridgetheatre.co.uk. You can also call into The French Deli in Stourbridge.

J B Priestly is a popular author and playwright within the am dram world and one of his best offerings is the 1938 British farce, When We Are Married, which The Little Theatre, Donnington will present from April 6-8.

A group of old friends, who all married on the same day in the same chapel, gather at the Helliwell's home to celebrate their silver anniversaries.

When they discover that they're not actually legally married however, everyone initially reacts with horror, but it isn't long before all three couples find themselves debating the state of their marriages.

For tickets price at £6, visit www.littletheatredonnington.co.uk or telephone 01952 407959.

Just a reminder that you can catch a production of Dry Rot, presented by Charlemont Drama Society from April 5-8. For tickets call 0121 357 4169 or email hilld28@sky.com

The Goldthorn Theatre Company has been very quiet of late, but I'm delighted to see they're back in business, having formed a partnership within another popular local group, Tettenhall Amateur Players. Together they'll be presenting Whodunit by Anthony Shaffer from April 5-8 at the Hayward Theatre within St. Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton.

Six strangers and a butler have gathered for a black tie dinner in a wealthy lawyer's mansion during a thunderstorm. One guest then proceeds to tell the each of the others individually and in secret that he has the goods to blackmail them. So, when a murder occurs, "Whodunit?"

For tickets call 01902 763089 or visit www.goldthorntheatre.co.uk

Finally this week, news of an audition for a community musical at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre.

Following the success of the 2016 community project, The Hired Man, auditions will take place between April 5-8 for performers to appear in the 2017 project, The Dreaming. It's the musical version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Described as spooky, with superb comedy and an exceptional score by Howard Goodall, it promises to be the perfect vehicle for local performers to show off their talents.

All ages and sexes are welcome but the theatre is in particular need of young men aged 12-25 years.

For more information visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call 01543 412110.

Keep those emails and good quality photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton