Your Midlands and Shropshire am dram round up

From September 27-30, West Bromwich Operatic Society will offer us an insight into the drama and romance of the Second World War as they perform South Pacific at the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley.

Two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas falls in love with a wealthy, mature French plantation owner, Émile. It’s a match made in heaven it would seem, that is until Nellie discovers that the deceased mother of his two children was an island native and she find herself unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised. Nellie refuses his marriage proposal, but is extremely unhappy.

Meanwhile, handsome Lt. Joe Cable falls for an innocent Tonkinese girl, but because of the same fears that Nellie harbours, he denies himself a life with her.

Despite the heartbreak, South Pacific is still a wonderfully uplifting, thought-provoking tale, with plenty of moments of amusement and comedy, courtesy of a crew of US Navy sailors hell-bent on having fun.

The score is unforgettable and includes classic musical theatre moments such as Some Enchanted Evening, There is Nothing Like a Dame, I’m Gonna Wash That Man and Honeybun.

In this production Laura Stanford takes the role of Nellie, with John Weatherall as Emile. George Stuart will take the role of Cable and has the enviable task of singing the beautiful, ballad, Younger than Springtime.

Guaranteed to entertain, delight and certainly make you shed a tear, South Pacific is a must see.

l For tickets, priced at £16.50 each, call 01384 377402, visit www.wbos.co.uk , call 01384 377402, or see the group’s Facebook page.

On a similar romantic theme, Jane Austen fans will be delighted to hear that The Attfield Theatre Group is performing Emma – the first production in their 2017/2018 season from 2-7 October at The Guildhall in Oswestry.

Adapted for the stage by Michael Bloom, this sparkling comedy sees Emma playing matchmaker, but with disastrous consequences.

Grace Turner takes the title role, with Shaun Higgins as her openly critical, but caring brother-in-law George Knightley.

l For tickets, visit the box office at Guild Hall, Oswestry, or call 01691 680222.

There is nothing like a good old fashioned British comedy and When We Are Married from the pen of J. B. Priestly is farce at its very best.

Three couples, who all married on the same day in the same chapel, meet to celebrate their silver anniversaries. But when they discover that they are not legally married, each couple initially reacts in horror, before finding themselves re-evaluating their marriages.

Horsehay Amateur Dramatic Society is the latest group to present the comedy, at Horsehay Village Hall from October 12-14.

l For tickets, priced at just £7 each, visit www.horsehayamdram.co.uk, call 01952 610555 or email eedavies@talktalk.net

Over in Shropshire, there’s a new youth theatre group launching this month called Watch This Space.

Taking place at Arleston Community Centre and run by a team of experienced youth theatre leaders, the group is open to anyone aged eight-18-years-old.

Spokesperson for the group Lynne Carney says, “Watch This Space is about having fun with theatre, building skills and confidence for every young person who wants to have the chance to perform.”

Sessions are just £3 a week too, which as Lynne says, is good news for mums and dads.

“We are a voluntary run group which keeps costs down for parents, but we have great expectations for the young people we work with.”

So, I guess you need to just ‘watch this space’ to see how Lynne and her team get on.

l For full details visit the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/Watchthjsspaceyouththeatre or follow them on Twitter @WatchThisSpaceT

At Codsall Village Hall from September 22-23, there’s just time to catch Codsall Dramatic Society’s production of Joanna Murray-Smith’s wicked comedy, The Female of the Species.

Margot Mason is one of the pioneers of the 1970s Women’s Liberation Movement. More than 30 years on from her ground-breaking work, she has shocked and inspired in equal measure, with many of her celebrated books. But now she has writer’s block and so the arrival of an unexpected guest seems a welcome relief from the solitude of her country house. However, things get rather out of hand and the situation quickly escalates.

Join the group for this deliciously naughty comedy, as they delve deeper into the world of feminism and explore the concept of gender roles in modern times. Dancing between satire and farce while answering deeper questions, the play will hopefully make you laugh out loud too.

But don’t take the kids as The Female of the Species contains adult themes and some strong language and is therefore unsuitable for the under 15s.

The run has already started, but there’s still time to catch tonight’s 7.30pm performance or tomorrow’s 2.30pm matinee.

l For tickets priced at £8.50 each, visit www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk , call 01902 267322, or call into Ian Rigby Jewellers at Birches Bridge, or Village Crafts at The Square in Codsall.

Finally this week, Walsall Gilbert and Sullivan Society, who reside at Forest Arts Centre, is on the lookout for experienced singers to join them for their new season.

The group rehearse every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm and are inviting potential new members to come along to see the existing group, which ranges from 18-80-year olds, perform and perhaps join in.

As well as presenting Gilbert and Sullivan shows, the group performs other musicals and tours with their concerts across the local area, covering many genres of music, old and new.

l For more information, contact 07940311240 or visit www.walsallgands.co.uk or the group’s Facebook page.

l Well that’s all for this week! Please keep on sending me all your news and good quality colour photographs to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton