It’s May – summer is just around the corner and there are bank holidays to look forward to this month – what’s not to like? So treat yourself to a theatrical outing or 2!
Bembridge Little Theatre Club are known for their talented casts and ability to stage fantastic plays that blend humour, pathos and great entertainment. Following on from the sell-out success of ‘Lettice and Lovage’ last year, ‘The Actress’ by Peter Quilter will be staged from 11th – 14th May, including a Sunday matinee. Lydia Martin, the actress of the title, is giving her final performance before retiring to be with the new, yet aged and infirm, love of her life. Her ex-husband clearly disapproves – but what of their daughter? Lydia’s agent? Dresser? Theatre manager? They all have their own views, and are not afraid to express them….
The writer describes the play as “A funny and poignant comedy, dramatising the events backstage as a colourful, complicated actress makes her farewell performance, while dealing with unexpected visitors.. Drama and comedy collide as people say their goodbyes, declare their love, roar with laughter, spit insults, grab a final embrace, and renew old battles.”
Tickets are available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Bembridge-Little-Theatre-Club or call the Box Office on 07841 950261.You can also pop into Bembridge Library on a Wednesday morning between 10 and 12 and buy in person.
Meanwhile, ‘Labour of Love’ is the next play to be staged at the Apollo Theatre, from 19th – 27th May. This razor-sharp political comedy from James Graham centres on Labour MP David Lyons who cares about modernisation and “electability”… his constituency agent, Jean Whittaker cares about principles and her community. Set away from the Westminster bubble in the party’s traditional northern heartlands, this is a clash of philosophy, culture and class against the backdrop of the Labour Party over 25 years, as it moves from Kinnock through Blair into Corbyn… and beyond?
There is a suggested age 15 and above as the play contains some strong language, and tickets can be obtained online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/…/labour-of-love/e-byvmxj or by calling 01983 210010.
On June 2nd – just too late to be included in next month’s column, so here it is now – Medina Theatre will be hosting the wonderful Way Forward Group who are presenting ‘Annie and Oliver – The Adventure’ at 18:45.
Living in an orphanage isn’t so great huh? That’s what the kids who live there think, especially when Mr Bumble and Mrs Hannigan are in charge! But there’s two children who really want to make a change in their life. Oliver and Annie are ready to do anything to make their dreams come true, but sometimes its not always what it seems. Join us on this adventure with all your favourite songs as well as some added extras as we follow Oliver and Annie on an adventure of a lifetime!
Get your tickets at http://www.medinatheatre.co.uk/article/way-forward-presents-oliver-and-annie%E2%80%99s-adventure fbclid=IwAR3IxzaPNsjBzhuI07UwCVUizaCcLInyZFu9SE1LtWw8UjB_9c6FfrqkgE4
If you can’t manage to see any of these wonderful shows, there’s lots more coming up later in June: The Apollo’s next play is ‘Handbagged’, there’s ‘Calendar Girls’ at Shanklin Theatre, and Ad Lib Theatre are staging their outdoor Shakespeare show for this year at Northwood House, which is the hilarious ‘Comedy of Errors’. More details on all of these shows next time. For now, enjoy the extra holidays – and hopefully, the sun
Maureen Sullivan is a regular contributor to Island Echo’s coverage of the Arts on the Isle of Wight. Maureen has been actively involved in the Island’s amateur dramatics scene for several years, appearing in many different roles and guises with several theatre companies. In her free time, Maureen also writes and reviews at iwtheatre.org.
Catch Maureen’s column each month for the latest theatre and art happenings...
