It’s hard to believe it’s November already and we’re on the cusp of panto season – oh no we’re not! First though, BLTC are staging ‘The Ghost Train – A Radio Play’ at Bembridge Village Hall at 19:30 on November 9th, 10th and 11th, with a matinee at 14:30 on 12th, celebrating its centenary. Incredibly popular, the play has been adapted many times into films, a novel, and in 1988 a radio play. It is on this adaptation that Bembridge Little Theatre Club’s production is based. The stage is set as a working radio studio of the 1930’s, reflecting both the era of the original play and the golden days of radio drama, with microphones, actors, sound engineers and so on. So added to the comedy of the dialogue, the audience will see the often hilarious process of recording a play to be heard over the radio. Tickets for ‘The Ghost Train’ are now on sale: go to https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Bembridge-Little-Theatre-Club. You can also phone 07841 950261 or pop along and see Martie in Bembridge Library between 10:00 – 12:00 on Wednesday mornings. Following their open-air sell-out productions of ‘Hamlet’ last year and ‘Comedy of Errors’ in the summer, Ad Lib Theatre are bringing Shakespeare into Bembridge Village Hall with perhaps the Bard’s most famous tragedy, ‘Macbeth’. Or if you’re in a theatre, ‘The Scottish Play’. With shows at 19:30 on November 24th and 25th and a 14:30 matinee on 26th, this is a tale just suited to those murky, late-in-the-year days, tracing the path of a once noble soldier’s ambition, from his reward for loyalty and courage to kingship and tragic downfall. This production, with a contemporary setting, is faithful to the original text yet with a modern twist: the witches, whom Macbeth unwisely trusted, are presented as representatives of sources of information we may or may not be wise to trust today…. Intrigued? Whether you know the play well, dimly remember it from school (indeed are currently studying it!) or have never seen it performed, come along – you’ll be entertained and given food for thought: Ad Lib aims to show that even after 450 years, Shakespeare still has something to say about our lives! Oh – and there’s fighting! Tickets are available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ad-lib-theatre or call 07747738338. And now for the beginning of the festive treats – those talented young performers at Curtain Call Creative are back with ‘Nativity – The Musical’ at Shanklin Theatre from 23rd – 26th November. Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’re attempting to mount a musical version! Only trouble is, teacher Mr Maddens has promised that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show to turn it into a film. Join him, his teaching assistant the crazy Mr Poppy, hilarious children and a whole lot of sparkle and shine as they struggle to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true. 
Feel-good, funny and full of yuletide joy, ‘Nativity! The Musical’ features all of the favourite sing-a-long hits from the films including Sparkle and Shine, Nazareth, One Night One Moment, She’s the Brightest Star and a whole host of new songs filled with the spirit of Christmas! Presented with a live band, stunning costumes, set design and with all the production values you would expect, tickets are available from https://www.shanklintheatre.com/events/curtain_call_creative_presents_nativity_the_musical/details.aspx or call 01983 868000. On 28th/29th November at 18:30, the talents of First Act Theatre Company return to Shanklin Theatre with their festive show, ‘Peter Pan’. Having enjoyed many great First Act shows, I’m looking forward to getting into the Christmas (there, I said it!) mood with the traditional story of the boy who never grew up, based on the JM Barrie book. Get your tickets now at https://www.shanklintheatre.com/events/first_act_present_peter_pan/details.aspx or call 01983 868000. If you’re looking for more festive fun, head over to Trinity Theatre in Cowes for their pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, which will be staged from December 1st -3rd and 8th -10th. Enjoy the classic tale of spinning wheels and princely dreams! Jealous fairies and curses, magic kisses and a beautiful princess, music and laughter. Tickets are available from www.caods.uk Look for the final theatre column of the year to find out about even more Christmassy treats coming your way, from traditional panto, to an original youth theatre production, to carols and mince pies. Is it time to put up the tree yet?
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...
