When Top Girls first exploded onto the stage of The Royal Court back in 1982 the country was confronted with a truly radical play which mingled fantasy and reality together to expose the huge issues for the working classes in Thatcherite Britain. 

36 years later and what’s changed? Very little. 

You’d like to hope that Churchill’s comments about class struggle and gender inequality would now be calcified but they are not. Prepare for a truly politicised theatre event lead by young actors in the Midlands using this classic of British theatre to highlight the double standards that still exist for many of us.  

Now infamous for its stylistic innovations and non-linear narrative Top Girls follows the zeitgeist Marlene who has just been appointed Office Manager of a top London employment agency. Marlene hosts a surrealist dinner-party for disparate women from time who share perspectives on maternity and ambition. 

In a time-warp these women double as her family members and colleagues and explore women’s position in society and the nature of what success is. Top Girls is presented by a company of Birmingham’s up-and-coming actors just over a week after the general election, providing a truly timely re-imagining of this classic of British theatre during a time of great change in our history. 

The show has previously previewed around the West Midlands and for Birmingham School of Acting, but now comes to mac Birmingham for a night of the very best of theatre and biting political commentary.

Top Girls plays at mac Birmingham for one night only on Tuesday 19 May. Click here for more information and to book your tickets for this brilliant show, or, alternatively, call mac Birmingham's box office on 0121 446 3232. 

Here is our top 15 theatre picks for May (we couldn't narrow it down to 10!). From amateur to professional, get your diaries at the ready to pop some of the most important dates in...

5 to 9 May
Sister Act
The Arcadians at Crescent Theatre
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9 May
I Love You Because
Starbuck Theatre Company at Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham
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12 to 16 May
Hairspray
Trinity Players at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
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12 to 16 May
Bad Girls 
Mellow Dramatics at The Brewhouse Arts Centre
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12 to 16 May
Kiss Me, Kate 
Bournville Musical Theatre Company at Crescent Theatre
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12 to 16 May
The Witches Of Eastwick
Solihull Theatre Company at Solihull Arts Complex
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13 to 16 May
Ghost The Musical
WBOS at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
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15 to 30 May
The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
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21 to 23 May
Oliver! 
Coventry Musical Theatre Society at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
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21 to 23 May
Judy - The Songbook Of Judy Garland
New Alexandra Theatre
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22 to 23 May
Thrill Me 
Old Rep Theatre
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26 May to 6 June
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
Birmingham Hippodrome
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27 to 30 May
Wuthering Heights 
SSA Drama at The Edge
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27 to 30 May
Hot Mikado
SSC Performing Arts at Lichfield Garrick
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28 to 30 May
Into The Woods
Backstreet Theatre Company at Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock
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Here is our top 10 theatre picks for April. From amateur to professional, get your diaries at the ready to pop some of the most important dates in...

31 March to 26 April
Shrek The Musical
Birmingham Hippodrome
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1 to 3 April 
Rent
South Staffs Musical Theatre Company at Wolverhampton Grammar School
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7 to 11 April
Sweeney Todd
Tamworth Arts Club at Landau Forte Sixth Form Centre
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8 to 11 April
A View From The Bridge
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
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14 to 18 April
42nd Street
Peterbrook Players at Solihull Arts Complex
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21 April to 2 May
The Bodyguard
Wolverhampton Grand
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21 to 25 April 
The Producers
Studley Operatic Society at Redditch Palace Theatre
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23 to 25 April 
A Man For All Seasons
Union Theatre at St Edburgha’s Church, Yardley
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27 April to 2 May
Rebecca
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
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28 April to 2 May
Our House
Solihull On Stage at Solihull Arts Complex
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Have you heard? A gang of criminal misfits are taking to the stage this week...

The award-winning comedy, The Ladykillers, is being hilariously restaged by All and Sundry at Redditch Palace Theatre. 

Following the story of a gang posing as a group of amateur musicians, they dupe an old landlady into carrying out a heist. Police are left stumped, but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to the ruse and gang leader, Marcus, deems there to be only one way to keep the old lady quiet...

With the help of her noisy parrot, General Gordon, Mrs Wilberforce takes on the five desperate men. 

The Ladykillers is presented by All and Sundry and opens at the Redditch Palace Theatre this week. The play runs from Wednesday 18 March to Saturday 21 March, with tickets £13 (£12 concessions) For more information click here or call 01527 65203.

Find All and Sundry on Twitter here.
Find All and Sundry on Facebook here. 

Love Midlands Theatre is a brand new platform, which has been created to celebrate the rich variety of theatre in the Midlands. From news stories, reviews and even more exciting plans for the future, Love Midlands Theatre sets out to achieve something a little bit different – putting all levels of theatre in one place.

Whether amateur, semi-professional or professional, this site will provide a window into the jam-packed theatre scene in the Midlands. Through digital support, Love Midlands Theatre wants to share and spread the love of Midlands theatre and champion the fantastic talent right here on our doorstep.

For more information, take a look around our website www.lovemidlandstheatre.co.uk and if you’ve got a news story for us, or would like us to come and review email us at lovemidlandstheatre@gmail.com.

AND most importantly, let’s keep the conversation going…

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