Lichfield Operatic Society have just enjoyed a sell out run at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield with The King and I, which enjoyed fabulous reviews. Now for something a little different. In October they are performing The Full Monty and the production team are eager to welcome more chaps who are prepared to get their kit off!

The show is based on the fabulous film and tells of a group of unemployed men who, for their own personal reasons, decide to strip for “one night only”. This great piece of theatre will make you laugh and cry, taking you on a journey with these men who find personal and financial fulfilment by the end.

Rehearsals started in earnest on 30 April with audition preparation, and casting will be on 18 May.

For more information and to express an interest in auditioning contact Lichfield Operatic Official via their Facebook page here.

Find Lichfield Operatic Society on Twitter here.
Find Lichfield Operatic Society on Facebook here.

After their award-winning production of Anything Goes in 2014, for which they received B.F.A.M.E’s NODA cup for Outstanding Achievement, Bournville Musical Theatre Company are delighted to present Kiss Me, Kate at the Crescent Theatre from the 12 to 16 May.

Based in 1940s USA, this classic Cole Porter musical follows the antics of a travelling troupe of players as they debut their musical version of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew in a Baltimore theatre. 

The musical is complex, a ‘show within a show’, combining Shakespearean dialogue and medieval-based melodies with the more up-to-date language and musical numbers that are indicative of the post-war era. Adding to the complexities of staging a show are two love stories; that of the divorced leading couple, Fred and Lilli, and the far-from-smooth love affair between the supporting leads, Lois and Bill. Much hilarity ensues as the wrangling of the leading pair spills into the ‘real-life’ show, while Bill attempts to win over his love, Lois, once and for all. 

Bournville Musical Theatre Company have been performing now for over 80 years in the Birmingham area. The Company was originally linked to Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory where they used to perform in the Cadbury Theatre yearly. Although the close relationship with the Bournville based company no longer exists, BMTC continue to rehearse in Cotteridge and have close ties to the Bournville area.

For more information and to book tickets for Kiss Me, Kate, which runs from 12 to 16 May, click here or call the Crescent Theatre box office on 0121 643 5858.

Award-winning theatre group Union Theatre, are looking for new cast members to join them in their next production - William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

The auditions will be open to all ages and you don’t need any experience to take part. It will be very informal and will mainly consist of a read through of the play with other cast members

Auditions are taking place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 28 April 2015  in the Mayflower Room, Christ Church, Union Road, Solihull (see map below). 

For further details, please contact the director Mark Firmstone on 0121 705 1033 or 07931 218116.

A first-of-its-kind production is heading to Birmingham this festive season, as the magical swashbuckling tale of Treasure Island takes to the stage at The Old Rep Theatre.

Opening on 20 November and running until 3 January 2016, The Old Rep Theatre will be battening down the hatches as the classic tale of Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins commandeers the stage for over six weeks. Featuring tales of buccaneers and buried gold, this thrilling voyage will include matinee and evening performances for visitors of all ages.

The production is brought to the stage by Scott Ritchie and Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA). A seasoned performer and director, Scott trained at the Italia Conti Academy and Bird College. Alongside Treasure Island, he will also be directing Peter Pan this Christmas at the Festival Theatre Malvern. In addition to his directing roles, Scott currently mentors aspiring performing arts students at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.

Scott, director and producer of Treasure Island, said: 
“I’m really excited to be bringing Treasure Island to life with the support of BOA; it’s a great opportunity. Having directed many other productions across the UK, I’m really looking forward to bringing a brand new adaptation of Treasure Island to Birmingham this Christmas. I will be working with a very talented team of creative professionals throughout the year to develop this classic tale.”

Gaynor Cheshire, CEO of The Old Rep, added:
“This original adaptation will be brought to life at The Old Rep in a home-grown production suitable for all the family. You can expect peg-legged pirates and talking parrots on this exciting adventure on board the good ship Hispaniola. We can’t wait to welcome our young audiences in the Midlands to join in the pirate fun!”

Featuring tunes such as Fifteen Men on the Dead Man’s Chest, Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum, magical sets and costumes, tickets for Treasure Island are on sale now. To book, please call the Box Office on 0121 359 9444, or click here. 

Agatha Christie’s 1922 thriller The Secret Adversary received its world stage premiere at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury on 12 February 2015 in a new adaptation by Sarah Punshon and Johann Hari. Introducing crime-fighting duo Tommy and Tuppence to the stage for the very first time, The Secret Adversary will play at the Belgrade Theatre from Tuesday 28 April to Saturday 2 May as part of the 125th Anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth.

Emerald O’Hanrahan and Garmon Rhys will play the roles of Tuppence and Tommy. They are joined by Keiran Buckeridge as Julius, Nigel Lister as Sir James Peel Edgerton, Elizabeth Marsh as Rita / Kramenin, Morgan Philpott as Whittington and Sophie Scott as Jane.

The Secret Adversary is directed by Sarah Punshon and designed by Tom Rogers, with original music and musical arrangements by Alex Silverman, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by David Gregory and movement direction by John Nicholson. The production will be presented as a play with live music.

The Secret Adversary presents the first new stage adaptation of Christie’s work in over a decade. Agatha Christie Limited has chosen the award-winning Watermill Theatre to bring two of Christie’s most vibrant characters to life as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations in 2015. With a fresh and inventive theatrical approach, this production promises fast-paced action, shot through with comedy, romance and live music. 

The first of five Tommy and Tuppence thrillers which spanned Christie’s writing career (and indeed the lives of the two characters), The Secret Adversary follows the daring and dizzying adventures of the duo through 1920s London. Home from the First World War, flat-broke and unemployed, our intrepid young heroes embark on an outlandish business scheme: ‘The Young Adventurers Limited’ - willing to go anywhere, willing to do anything. Their first assignment plunges them into more danger than they ever imagined and they quickly find themselves sucked into a perilous world of political intrigue, criminal conspiracy, murder and mayhem.  Will the nation survive?  And who exactly is Mr. Brown?

Tommy and Tuppence are set to be the detective couple on everyone’s lips in 2015 when the glamorous pair will also feature in the new BBC television adaptation, Partners in Crime, starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine.

The Secret Adversary will visit the Belgrade Theatre from Tuesday 28 April – Saturday 2 May. To book, call the Belgrade Theatre Box Office on 024 7655 3055 or click here and book online. 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre recently announced their first non-pantomime Relaxed Performance.

On Saturday 5 September at 10:30am, the performance of Dr Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat will be tailored to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed theatre environment, such as those on the Autistic Spectrum and/or with Additional Needs.

The Cat In The Hat will be the third Relaxed Performance to be held at the Grand Theatre, following the sell out success of the 2013 and 2014 relaxed pantomime performances.

This new production of The Cat In The Hat was first presented in a sold out run at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and tells the story of the moment the cat’s tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door. Sally and her brother know that the cat in the hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure.

The nature of a Relaxed Performance sees that the rules of the regular theatre environment are adjusted to allow inclusion of patrons who may find the theatregoing experience stressful. Small changes are made to sound levels and lighting intensities to reduce levels of stress that the performance may induce to those with sensory or communication disorders.  There are also Chill Out Zones in areas outside of the theatre auditorium. Chill Out Zones provide a quiet and comfortable environment for patrons who need to leave the performance – the show is relayed on screens in the bar areas so that the show isn’t missed entirely.

Grand Theatre Marketing Officer (Access) Janine Graeme said:
“As a theatre we pride ourselves on making live performance accessible to as many people as possible. Feedback from our previous Relaxed Performances has been incredibly positive. Until now, we have only been able to offer this type of performance during the week for the benefit of school groups. We have listened to our audiences and are pleased to announce a Saturday Relaxed Performance for The Cat In The Hat. This will enable families to come along and experience the magic, thrill and excitement that a live performance can evoke. ”

In addition to the work put into Relaxed Performances, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is proud to be the first theatre to offer theatregoers a unique scheme of Chilled Performances. These particular events take elements of a Relaxed Performance such as the Chill Out Zones, aiming to reduce anxiety levels at particular shows throughout the year for which the performance itself cannot be altered.  The next Chilled Performance will be on Wednesday 3 June at 12:30pm for Northern Ballet’s Elves & The Shoemaker.

 The Grand Theatre will host an annual pantomime Relaxed Performance of upcoming Peter Pan starring the Chuckle Brothers and John Altman on Thursday 21 January 2016 at 11am.

Tickets for the Relaxed Performance of The Cat In The Hat are £12.50 each.

For more information on any access performances, including Relaxed and Chilled and to make ticket reservations please contact Janine Graeme (Marketing Officer – Access) janine@grandtheatre.co.uk or call 01902 573 311.

It's not long now until the amateur premiere production of Hairspray opens in the Midlands.

Award-winning theatre group Trinity Players are performing Hairspray from 12 to 16 May at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall. 

Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, and four Laurence Olivier awards including Best New Musical, Hairspray is a big, bouncy bouffant of a musical, piled high with laughter, romance, bright coloured costumes, energetic dance routines and contagious hits such as Good Morning Baltimore, You Can't Stop The Beat and many more.

It's 1962 and teenager Tracy Turnblad wants to land a part as a dancer on the Corny Collins TV show. In order to achieve her dream of stardom, she needs to fight off the evil Amber for the crown of Miss Hairspray and win the heart of local heartthrob, Link Larkin, whilst taking a stand against racial segregation. For the big girl with the big heart, anything is possible.

Trinity Players is an award-winning amateur theatre society based in Sutton Coldfield, which has been performing high quality shows for nearly 40 years. Formed in 1975 they have grown to become a thriving group that puts on three shows each year. 

For more information and to book tickets for the fantastic Hairspray, which runs from 12 to 16 May, click here or call the box office on 07843 928830. 

Find Trinity Players on Facebook here.
Find Trinity Players on Twitter here. 

South Staffs Musical Theatre Company is starting its search for talented individuals to join them for their 2015 production of the Irving Berlin classic musical, White Christmas, which will be performed at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 1 to 5 December.

An open audition for new members will be held on Tuesday 28 April in Studio 2 at The Newhampton Arts Centre (see map below), starting at 7.30pm. Please bring a song of your choice, preferably on backing track, and be prepared to do some movement and to read a piece of libretto from the show, which you will be given on the evening.

The group are particularly keen to recruit dancers with strong tap technique, gentlemen for both ensemble and principal roles and ladies suitable to take principal roles. However, please note that the ladies ensemble is complete. Trained dancers please prepare a short routine of your choice.

If you are interested in auditioning please send a message to South Staffs Musical Theatre Company via their Facebook page here. 

There is still time to be part of the Solihull premiere of Sister Act, presented by St. Augustine’s Musical Theatre Company (click here to see the original cast announcement).

The group are on the lookout for a number of men and also a woman to fill the remaining roles and auditions take place on Sunday 26 April, starting at 7pm. There are six principal male roles to be filled, all of which require strong vocal, good movement ability and good comic timing. 

Please see the character breakdown as follows:

CURTIS SHANK
A club owner, notorious gangster, and Deloris's boyfriend. Smooth and calculating.  Cocky and controlling, always on the verge of violence. Strong vocal required.
Male, 30-40 yrs old 
Range: A2 - Ab4 (Tenor/Baritone)
Audition Song: When I Find My Baby

EDDIE SOUTHER
The desk chief at the Philadelphia police station and a high school classmate of Deloris who helps get her into hiding. A sweet guy who dreams of being confident, but faces a lot of nerves when under pressure, causing him to sweat profusely. He still yearns for Deloris after all these years, and dreams of being her hero. 
Male, 25-35 yrs old 
Range: Ab2 - B4 (Tenor, with falsetto)
Audition Song: I Could Be That Guy

PABLO
One of Curtis's thugs. A natural follower, constantly speaks in Spanish.  Thinks he’s something of a ‘love-God’!  Good vocals (Soul and R’n’B) and movement required. Good comic timing.
Male, 25-40 yrs old 
Range: C4 - F5 (Tenor, with falsetto)
Audition Song: Lady in the Long Black Dress (sing all solo lines from the beginning)

TJ
Curtis’s nephew and one of his thugs. Deft and cognisant of the fact, but constantly in a state of ignorant bliss. 
Male, 16-30 yrs old 
Range: Db3 - Eb5 (Tenor/Baritone, with strong falsetto)
Audition Song: Lady in the Long Black Dress (sing all solo lines from the beginning)

JOEY
One of Curtis's thugs. Believes himself to be quite the ladies' man. Wants to please Curtis and be dangerous, but isn’t quite capable of it.  Good vocals and movement required.
Male, 25-40 yrs old 
Range: Bb2 - Eb5 (Baritone)
Audition Song: Lady in the Long Black Dress (sing all solo lines from the beginning)

MONSIGNOR O’HARA
One of the heads of the convent. A gentle, kind man who is a bored, uninspired preacher. Constantly concerned with financial matters, though soul music surprisingly puts him in a different mood. 
Male, 45-60 yrs old 
Range: E3 - G4 (Baritone)
Audition Song: Sunday Morning Fever (opening section)

St. Augustine’s Musical Theatre Company are also still to cast the fantastic role of Sister Mary Patrick, a scatty, larger-than-life nun. Her character breakdown is as follows: 

SISTER MARY PATRICK
A nun of the convent. Fun and enjoys every minute of life.  A larger-than-life character. Consistently perky, perpetually enthusiastic, easily excitable and open and willing to embrace all the changes Deloris brings to the convent. Excellent vocal and good movement required. Good comic timing.
Female, 30-50 yrs old 
Range: G3-E6 (Alto/Mezzo Soprano but with some Soprano capability)
Audition Song: Sunday Morning Fever (opening section)

The auditions will be held on Sunday 26 April at Mill Lodge Primary School (see map below), beginning at 7pm. If you would like to audition, please email us at mail@stagsmtc.co.uk, or ring Producer, Veronica Walsh, on 0121 705 3914.

The show runs at Solihull Arts Complex from 17 to 21 November. For more information about the show and St. Augustines MTC click here.

You can find St Augustines MTC on Facebook here.
You can find St Augustines MTC on Twitter here.

Award-winning theatre group, Union Theatre, will be performing a powerful version of Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons at St Edburgha's Church in Yardley from 23 - 25 April. 

Concentrating on the last seven years of Thomas More’s life, the play examines the struggle between Thomas and his King, Henry VIII. Henry is determined to break with Rome so he can divorce his current wife and wed again, while good Catholic More struggles with his inability to go along with such heresy.

The play is even more poignant due to the direct links that Yardley and its church have with the story.  The North Wall of the church is adorned with a carved door to celebrate the first wedding of Catherine of Aragon to Henry’s brother Prince Arthur. The door is beautifully carved and depicts the Pomegranate of Catherine of Aragon and the Tudor Rose. The parish of Yardley was also given to Catherine as part of her divorce settlement from Henry when their marriage ended. 

Director, John Seeley, said:
"It is wonderful to be performing in a setting such as St Edburgha's but the links that the church has with the story make it all the more real and the cast are really getting into their various characters."

The play is running from the 23 - 25 April at St Edburgha’s Church, Yardley and tickets are available by calling 0121 784 4067. For more information click here. 

Find Union Theatre on Facebook here.
Find Union Theatre on Twitter here.