Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025, and with the new year, we have some new shows to tempt you with…..
The Wight Island Players can be relied on to bring you some new year fun and laughter with their traditional January pantomime: this year it’s Aladdin….oh yes it is! This version of the famous story is written by Peter Denyer – those of a certain age may remember him as Dennis in the sitcom ‘Please Sir!’ but he has gone on to write many panto scripts for professional and amateur theatre, so this is sure to be a treat.
Aladdin, a poor laundry boy, falls in love with The Emperor’s daughter, but to win her hand has to become rich. Aladdin becomes involved with Abanazar, the evil sorcerer, and together they seek out the magic lamp. Finally, after many twists and turns good prevails, and all ends happily. On the way there are many opportunities for exotic settings as the story moves from Ancient China to Africa and, of course, the Magic Cave of The Jewels. The comedy is carried by the outrageous Widow Twankey, and her stupid son Wishee Washee. There is much knock-about and verbal humour, loads of audience participation, and several set-piece comic routines.
Join the gang for music and comedy at Bembridge Village Hall from 17th – 19th January at 19:30 with a 14:30 Sunday matinee. Tickets can be booked online at [email protected] or on 07599 954826.
Following the amazing ‘Smile’. The Niton Playbox are back with another trip down memory lane. Commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II, ‘Run, Rabbit, Run!’ is a magical, musical journey back in time to the 1940’s. Set on the Island & written by local playwright, Val Hayward, the show features popular songs from the era that will get you ‘In the Mood’ to ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ all the way home.
Performance times are: Friday 24th Jan, 19:30, Saturday 25th Jan, 14:30 & Sunday 26th Jan, 14:30 at Niton Village Hall, and tickets can be booked online at ticketsource.co.uk/the-niton-playbox (please note there is a small booking fee for this service). Tickets are also available to reserve via text 07437675805 & pay cash on the door.
Finally, Ad Lib Theatre are back – this time with a brand new comedy written not by Shakespeare but by Island writer Maureen Sullivan, author of the sell-out ‘Bard in the Sand a few years ago. Ghost Hunting brings back together the talented team which has staged a string of incredibly popular Ad Lib Shakespeare plays, the most recent being ‘Taming of the Shrew’ in June.
Karen the Ghost Hunter can see ghosts – at least, that’s what she tells her gullible public. But the illustrious former residents of the Island know the living can’t see them….until they meet Bernard. But there’s a witch finder on the loose – it’s going to take all the skills of the living and the dead to thwart his evil plans! Meet the ghost of the Prince Regent at Northwood House; the wandering romantic spirit of Keats; wobbly-headed Charles I; the formidable Isabella, Lady of the Island and many more in a spookily silly spectacular which has been described as Blackadder meets Ghosts meets Horrible Histories.
‘Ghost Hunting’ comes to Northwood House on January 30th and 31st (tickets from Ad Lib Theatre presents “Ghost Hunting” (Comedy Play) – Northwood House) and Bembridge Village Hall February 1st and 2nd (with a Sunday 14:30 matinee) (tickets from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ad-lib-theatre
More theatrical treats next month – I look forward to sharing the dramatic joys of 2025 with you.
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...
