Excitement growing for new theatre

As a keen theatre goer, I am very excited about the first season at Shrewsbury’s new theatre, which has everything from musicals to plays to dance, writes Rebecca Lawrence.

Theatre Severn is an impressive building on the town’s skyline and I can’t wait to enjoy a glass of wine in the bar before performances and appreciate the view of the river from the balcony on a balmy summer’s evening.

I’ve already ticked off the dates in my diary with all the performances I want to see and this first season shows just what Shrewsbury has been missing with bigger and better productions that the Music Hall could ever dream of presenting.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Pilot Theatre’s production of Lord of the Flies - based on the novel by William Golding. With a much larger stage at Theatre Severn, it should be a spectacular performance.

I’m also interested to see Benjamin Zephaniah, who is coming to the theatre on April 15. As one of the most high profile authors today, it is quite a coup for the theatre bosses to book him in for Shrewsbury.

He will be talking about his life and also reading extracts from his poetry.

I also have to admit to being a huge fan of musicals and love a night out at the West End, but now I can save the cost of the train fare to London as three massive hits are actually coming to Shrewsbury.

I’ve always wanted to see Blood Brothers, which tells of two twins separated at birth who meet again when they grow up and it’s on at the theatre from June 1 to June 6 so I’ll definitely be singing along.

Then Beauty and the Beast will be amazing - the pictures of it look superb and it will take me right back to my childhood - I already know all the words after my sister made me watch the video at least once a week.

And of course, there’s Cabaret which will be wonderful treat in the cold November days next year.

I think I’ve got my weeks booked up for the next year thanks to the new theatre and I can’t wait until the opening in February.

By Rebecca Lawrence