Double dose of panto in new theatre season

Music, panto and local drama talent are among the highlights of the latest programme of events to be announced by Sheringham Little Theatre.

A new brochure flagging up shows between October and March includes a Blues, Roots and Americana music weekend, a Cinderella panto with a modern Netflix twist, and six “am dram” productions.

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “Cinderella is the best panto story – but as ever we are putting a new slant on it with our Prince Charming as a Netflix star looking for love through his documentary called A Charmed Life.”

Cinderella runs from December 15 to January 2 with Emily Kate Ann as Cinders, Samuel Garrett as Prince Charming, Kit Henson and Danniella Schindler as the Ugly Sisters Beeston and Bump, Grace Pennington as Buttonz and Shane Armstrong as the stepmother and fairy godmother.

Following public demand, the theatre is also staging its first ever adult panto – Rubbin Good (Jan 12-14), a risque version of Robin Hood penned by the venue’s regular panto writer Nick Earnshaw.

The amateur offerings are Blithe Spirit (Oct 18-21)and Communicating Doors (Feb 14-17) by the Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society, Miss Marble’s Christmas Present (Nov 9-11) and Waiting for God (Jan 26-27) by Stage Direct, and Season’s Greetings (Nov 16-18) and Wyrd Sisters (Mar 28-30) by the Little Theatre Players

The Blues Roots and Americana weekend (Mar 8-10) features Sally Barker, Brooks Williams, Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke plus the Spikedrivers as well as local artists.

Fund raising events – to help pay for a new boiler at the venue – include a gardening evening with East Ruston Old Vicarage’s Alan Gray (Oct 14) and radio-style fun with Pete Goodrum and Steve Bumfrey (Nov 3).

Show details and a downloadable brochure will be available on the website www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com after August 28 when tickets go on sale to the general public. Films and screenings do not appear in the brochure but will be added via the website.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

October

14 – Evening with Alan Gray and Anna Perrott – tips, chat and fun with Radio Norfolk Garden Party duo

18-21 – Blithe Spirit – classic comedy from Noel Coward by the Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society

27-28 – Night at the Music-Ghouls – spooky musical theatre concert by the SLT Youth Theatre for Halloween

November

1 – 53 Floods – historian Neil Storey marks the 70th anniversary of the 1953 floods with stories and pictures

3 – Goodrum and Bumfrey Unplugged – chat and laughter from Pete Goodrum and Stephen Bumfrey from Radio Norfolk

16-18 – Season’s Greetings – Festive family feuding in the Alan Ayckbourn comedy by the Little Theatre Players

December

1 -Billy Fury Meets Elvis – an evening of classic rock and roll from two icons by tribute act Ivan Brady

10 – Carols at the Theatre – festive singalong with the Sheringham and Cromer Choral Society, joined by the SLT Youth Choir

15 – Jan 2 – Cinderella – professional panto fun with a Sheringham flavour with Cinders and her Ugly Sisters Beeston and Bump

January

12-14 – Rubbin Good – an alternative “adults only” panto as Robin Hood gets the rude, lewd and crude treatment

26-27 – Waiting for God – Am dram group Stage Direct’s live version of the BBC sitcom set in a retirement village

February

9 – Solve-Along-a-Murder-She –Wrote – cult interactive screening of classic murder mystery with audience participation, games and prizes

14-17 – Communicating Doors – time-travelling comic thriller set in a hotel by the Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society

24 – New Mikado – a new Opera Anywhere production putting a fresh take on the Gilbert and Sullivan story by setting it in Ancient Rome

March

2 – Big Night Out – variety show with song, dance, and burlesque hosted by drag queen MSK

8-10 – Blues, Roots and Americana weekend – with Sally Barker, Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke, the Spikedrivers and Brooks Williams.

28-30 – Wyrd Sisters – SLT Players present their version of Terry Pratchett’s bewitching take on Macbeth.