Your Midlands and Shropshire am dram round-up

Harold Brighouse’s play is set in 1880’s Salford and tells the tale of a widower, Henry Horatio Hobson, a master bootmaker, pillar of society and father of three hard working daughters who wait on him hand and foot. When he threatens to marry two them off to men of his choosing, but leaving his eldest daughter Maggie to run the shop and his life, she takes matters into her own hands and persuades her father’s talented but somewhat naïve boot hand, Willie Mossop to marry her.

Then when her sisters follow suit, Henry realises there is only one choice – Hobson’s! In this production, the title role is taken by Mike Frost, with Sarah Aldridge as Maggie and Graeme Lockey as Willie.

Wombourne Players have been lucky enough to have friends at Hobson’s Brewery who’ve kindly supported the production, offering the company the chance to sell real ale at the play at very reasonable prices.

Catch this amusing production at Wombourne Community Centre from May 16-19 at 7.30pm nightly.

l Tickets are all priced at £6 on opening night, and £7 for adults and £6 for concessions for the rest of the run.

Also running from May 16-19, but this time at Stourbridge Town Hall is Tinkers Farm Opera Company’s production of the classic musical comedy, Me and My Girl.

This challenging but uplifting and funny show is always worth a look.

Me and My Girl has plenty of well known melodies including The Sun Has Got His Hat On, When You Lose Your Heart, Leaning on a Lamppost, The Lambeth Walk and, of course, the title song.

The leading male role of Bill Snibson requires an experienced comedic performer who can also tap dance. In this production Richard Cooper has that honour, with Rebecca Bate as his long-suffering girlfriend Sally Smith by his side. Simon Wilkinson makes his debut as the upper-class buffoon, Gerald, and Di Hingley plays Bill’s aunt, the Duchess of Dene.

Me and My Girl is the ultimate rags to riches, feel-good show.

l For tickets, visit www.boroughhalls.co.uk/TFO or call 01384 812812 or 0121 422 2466.

Another rags to riches tale is Half a Sixpence, which two local companies are performing from May 15-19.

First of all, Brownhills Musical Theatre Company will be presenting the tale of Arthur Kipps, a poor shop boy who inherits a fortune, but struggles with his new life, at The Lichfield Garrick Theatre, while Solihull Theatre Company will present the same show at The Core Theatre, to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

Half a Sixpence is popular at present, having recently enjoyed a successful West End Run. You can see why, as the show includes some wonderful numbers such as If the Rain’s Got to Fall, Money to Burn, Too Far Above Me, Flash Bang Wallop and the catchy title song.

l For tickets for Brownhills, visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call 01543 412121, and for Solihullw, visit www.solihulltheatrecompany.com or call 0121 704 6962.

Porthill Players who perform at the Stoke-On-Trent Repertory Theatre will be presenting Don’t Panic! From May 15-19, at 7.30pm nightly and a 2.30pm Saturday matinee performance.

Now where have you heard that phrase before? It’s from the hit BBC comedy Dad’s Army of course!

Porthill Players have been established since 1911 and usually present musicals but having performed a play for the first time last year, which was a huge success, Dad’s Army was chosen for 2018.

I learned about this production from a colleague who works for Signal Radio in Wolverhampton and I know for a really good comedy people are more than prepared to travel a couple of junctions up the motorway.

Spokesperson for the group Jonathan Fernyhough says: “Pooling the more senior talent from around the area, we have tried to replicate the cast as best we can.”

Sounds good to me, so if you fancy an evening with Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson, Lance Corporal Jones and the gang, this is the perfect show for you.

l For tickets call 01782 635500 or visit www.porthillplayers.co.uk

The resident group at Little Theatre, Donnington is putting the final touches John Godber’s Sale of the Earth, a humorous tale which follows three generations of a working-class family through good times and bad.

Beginning during the post-war austerity of 1947 and culminating amid the backdrop of the miners’ strike in the 1980s, the play captures the dreams, ambitions, joys, fears and disappointments of the Parker family.

l Salt of the Earth runs from May 17-19, with performances at 7.30pm nightly. Tickets are £6 available from www.littletheatredonnington.co.uk

I was delighted to hear that Brierley Hill Musical Theatre Company will be presenting Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure in October.

Spokesperson for the group Adam Siviter says: “We are busy with the start of rehearsals and we are in need of more chorus members, especially young male performers aged between 11-18 years old to play the Lost Boys in Neverland.”

l So, if you would like to be involved in this exciting production, visit the group’s Facebook page or www.bhmtc.co.uk for more information.

l Well that’s all for this week. Keep all your company news and good quality colour photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk or call me on 01902 319662.