Alison Norton's am dram round-up - November 25

Christmas is on its way and this week our am dram guru

previews Willenhall Musical Theatre Company's production of Mother Goose and The Ellenvale Singers' Christmas concert.

If you listen very, very carefully and raise your noses skywards, you just might hear the faint jingle of sleigh bells and smell the mince pies, as the festive period is fast approaching.

And what comes to am dram land at Christmas and New Year? Why pantomime of course!

Over the next few weeks, I fully expect to be inundated with details of pantos everywhere.

Countless Aladdin's, Dick Whittington's and Sleeping Beauties will be typing my email address in to their PC's (modern technology don't you know! No rubbing of lamps anymore!) intent on sending me details of their performances and I love it! This is without a doubt my favourite time of the year.

Kicking off the amateur panto scene is Willenhall Musical Theatre Company with their production of Mother Goose, which they are presenting at Moreton Community School from December 6-10. Willop as they are affectionately known have been delighting audiences with amateur musical comedy for many years and believe it or not, this is their very first panto.

The company has also recently undergone a change of name, having previously been known as Willenhall Operatic Society.

Back in 2003 when I took over South Staffs Musical Theatre Company as chairman of the group, one of the first things I did was bring about a change of name, as "musical theatre" is far more in keeping with am dram performances of this nature today and I am glad to see that Willenhall have followed suit.

At Mother Goose we are invited to 'take a gander' (sorry!) at this special family entertainment for Christmas, with an eggstraordinary (again, sorry!) talented cast and groan at their eggscruiciating jokes (no more, I promise!).

The little ones will love singing along and adults will laugh out loud! Couldn't be a better night out.

Andy Poulton is directing the panto, assisted by choreographer Meg Dowen and Musical Director Phil James.

Andy said:?"The cast are appearing in costume at Somerfield in Bushbury on Saturday November 26th, giving out leaflets, selling tickets and drumming up support for the show." So look out for a rather large goose if you are over that way!

For tickets, priced at just £7.50 for adults and £5 for children, call 01902 607355, 07717312098 or visit www.willenhallmtc.co.uk

If you prefer something a little gentler than panto, The Ellenvale Singers, who regularly perform at the Brierley Hill Civic Hall, are performing their Christmas concert on December 7. They will be performing a range of traditional and modern Christmas music to suit all tastes and the audience will also get the opportunity to join in with carols, guaranteed to melt the heart of the worst Scrooge this festive period.

Proceeds from the concert will go towards two very worthy causes. The first is specialist rehab care for youngster Joshua Dudley, who was left severely mentally and physically impaired following a horrific accident and also the purchase of a wheelchair for cerebral palsy sufferer, two-year-old Alfie Cartwright from Netherton.

Life can be so cruel can't it? It is wonderful though that groups like The Ellenvale Singers are so supportive of people in their own community. The families of both boys will be attending and I am sure they will appreciate everything the group is doing for them. That's the true spirit of Christmas I think.

Well that's all for this week. Keep those emails and photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk or call me on 01902 319662. Break a leg!