Your Midland and Shropshire am dram round-up
The summer is not quite over yet, despite the drop in temperature. The evenings are still light until 8.30pm, and so we must all take advantage of the last few weeks of this season before we face the autumn.
With this in mind, why not pop along to Brewood Cricket Club on September 7? Here, Phoenix Theatre Company is joining forces with a professional trio of vintage singers, The Bluebird Belles, to entertain you at an outdoor show entitled Dreamboats and Petticoats
One of the three Bluebird Belles is Beth Berwick-Lowe, the fiancée of Mitchell Bastable, the am dram performer whom I dedicated this page to last week, following his tragic death aged just 45. Mitchell was due to take part in this concert too and so 25 per cent of the proceeds will be going to Headway, the charity chosen by Beth and Mitchell’s family in his memory.
The performers will present rock and roll classics from the show, as well as a host of other popular musical theatre tunes.
Bring your own picnic and there’s a licensed bar for the purchase of drinks.
l For tickets priced at £12 for adults, £10 for over 65s and £8 for under 16s, email Brewoodsocial@outlookcom
l For more information on The Bluebird Belles, visit www.1940strio.co.uk
Sticking to the vintage theme, Oswestry Musical Theatre Company, the Royal British Legion and Marches School are joining forces to raise much-needed funds for the two charities, by staging a spectacular show of variety and music hall. It will be at Marches School Theatre on the September 2.
The show will include the music of some of the best loved performers of the time including Dame Vera Lynn, George Formby, The Andrews Sisters and many more.
Shropshire Community Fundraiser for the Royal British Legion Jenny Robey says: “In 2018 The Royal British Legion is leading the nation in saying thank you to all who served, sacrificed and changed our world.”
“The Marches School has kindly donated the use of their theatre for the show, enabling even more funds to be raised, with half of all the ticket sales going to the Royal British Legion. The other half is going to Oswestry Musical Theatre Company, a registered charity in their own right.”
Current serving members of the Armed Forces (regulars) will be admitted free on production of a current ID card.
l Tickets are available now online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/omtc and l also be available at Rowanthorn, 4, Old Chapel Court, English Walls, Oswestry SY11 2PD. Group booking discounts are available and there’s free parking.
Every year around this time, local am dram companies wave goodbye to some of their members who are heading off to colleges and universities. Their absence can leave quite a gap in some groups, especially if they have autumn shows or pantomimes to cast.
One group feeling the pinch is Youth Onstage, who are looking for new members to join them for their annual panto, which this year is Hansel and Gretel.
The show will run from December 5-8 at the Dovehouse Theatre in Solihull, but the group are beginning rehearsals in early September and is seeking people aged from nine to 25 to take part.
l Interested? Then contact Debs Brook on deb-brook@outlook.com or call 07824 552431.
Another group seeking new members for their panto is A Comedy Theatre Group, a Stourbridge-based amateur theatre company, who’ll be performing Snow White and her Little Friends during the festive season.
They are particularly looking for The King, who is Snow White’s father and a lady to play a daytime TV presenter. Strange? But come on folks, this is panto!
Rehearsals are on Monday evenings at Gigmill Hall in Witton Street and are light-hearted and easy going, with members learning while having fun.
l For more information email acomedytheatregroup @hotmail.co.uk or visit the group’s Facebook page.
On a slightly different note, Kinver Light Operatic Society is looking for a production team for their 2019 show, Legally Blonde the Musical.
If you are a director, musical director or choreographer who would like to take on the tale of Elle Brooks, blonde bombshell turned lawyer, ‘Omigod you guys’, you need to move quickly because the closing date for applications is August 31.
l Email chair.klos@outlook.com with your CV, or visit the group’s Facebook page.
There’s plenty of excitement at costumiers Stageworld at the moment, as the company has rebranded, changed its name and moved to a new home on Planetary Road at Bentley Bridge, Wolverhampton.
Owner Laura Leo says: “We are keeping our emerald green colour as a tribute to the wonderful late Olwyn Rowley who was the original owner of the business, as well as her tag ‘you perform it, we’ll dress it!’
“We have renamed the business Leo’s Theatrical Costumiers, after my late grandad Joe Leo who was the owner of Leo’s Ice Cream. He is my inspiration every day. I follow in his footsteps.”
l The official launch of Laura’s new venture is September 1. For information visit her Facebook page or for now, www.stageworld-costumes.co.uk
Finally this week, local soprano Laura Davies from Shropshire is presenting An Evening of Song, a celebration of the best-loved songs from musical theatre, at The Birchmeadow Centre on August 31.
l Tickets are just £7.50 or £25 for four. Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-of-song-tickets or call 07495783879. All proceeds will to go Sleapy Cats Rescue Centre.
l That’s all for this week. Send me all your news and quality photos to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton
