Theatre Severn unveils its spring programme
Tuesday 28th December 2010, 12:31PM GMT.
A spectacular spring programme has been unveiled by Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn with tickets now on sale for events in March and April.
With a number of new year shows already sold-out, Theatre Severn has unveiled details of forthcoming events.
The season kicks off with Peter Pan On Ice, as the Russian Ice Stars bring J M Barrie’s classic tale to life and the amazing Shaolin Warriors will thrill audiences when the Chinese State Circus perform the inspirational tale of Mulan.
The programme also includes a vibrant adaptation of Romeo & Juliet by the award-winning Pilot Theatre in February and members of the Icarus Theatre are set to present Hamlet in early April. Elsewhere, Shropshire Youth Theatre return with Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard following their successful production of A Winter’s Tale earlier this year.
Former Supreme Mary Wilson is joined by Chicago soul sensations The Chi-Lites, and the legendary Ben E King performs The Great American Soulbook in March.
Other highlights see star of Strictly Come Dancing Ann Widdecombe swop the dance floor for the stage as she discusses her career in politics while Pam Ayres is back to host an evening of poetry and anecdotes.
For further information contact (01743) 281281.
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Spectacular is a little bit overrated. Once again, no live bands. I have emailed the operations department at the theatre for the last three seasons only to be told that they would be included the following season…
Jackson Cumming’s needs to come out of his ivory tower and see what the population of Shrewsbury would really like to see..Shambles
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Mr Magoo,
Your response seems slightly harsh. Whilst I agree there are not many live bands in the theatre, This does not detract from the excellent acts that do appear there. I for one am very much into my comedy and have seen some fabulous performances at the severn jesters evenings as well as some stand alone acts that visit. In the new year I am looking forward to visits from Mark Steel as well as Dom Jolly. My young 4 year old son also loves visiting the theatre in Shrewsbury who have put on some great shows for him such as Chris and Pui and the current pantomine.
I appreciate that the theatre will find it difficult to appease all tastes but it is certainnly an asset to teh town compared to before it was built when the Music Hall had even more limited offerings.
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Where are the live bands? I thought Shrewsbury was changing and we’d be offered some decent music. Feed up of travelling to see bands.
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Fine if you are in your mid 80s but if the new programme is anything like the last one then I think it will be somewhat reminiscent of an early 1970s Radio-Times.
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For the record I am in my 30′s and my friedns that come with me to the theatre on a regular basis (about once a month are around the same age). We all seem to find acts and events that suit our age, so I think it is unfair to suggest that the programme is for the over 80′s only.
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Anne Widdecombe? Pam Ayres?
Did we have that ugly tall fly tower in order to put harnesses on our entertainers as they might not make it to the end of their performance or perhaps so Anne Widdecombe can show us that she’s still wearing her green leggings, yet again?
Boring.
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No i think the flytower was put in to hold scenery and support flying for things like Le Grand Cirque, Cabaret, Joseph, Blood Brothers, Pantomime, The Country Girl…….
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I wish they would put acts on that interest the under 50′s or over 5′s. There were a few comedy acts last year, but with such limited tickets I never managed to see any of them.
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MM
How can you say that you could not get comedy tickets. Every month (nearly) on a sunday evening there is the Jesters comedy night with at least three good comedians (well nearly all good). Tickets are still available on the night and rarely completely sell out. That does not mean to say that they don’t sell because the acts are poor, far from it.
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I thought this theatre that cost so much money was going to be able to pull in at least some a and b list bands, comedians and performers?
So far it has not lived up to expectation and this the spring programme looks… well quite flat.
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I’d call Milton Jones an A-list comedian and he’s appearing twice.
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Who?
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Glen Miller Orchestra, Joe Longthorne, Gyles Brandreth, Chuckle Brothers, Barbara Dickson, Mary Wilson, Pam Ayres, The Drifters and Anne Widdecombe.
And you call this entertainment for the masses??!!
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You forgot ONE of the supremes.
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What the wholy hell is going on this is not entertainment this is very rubbish acts filling a pointless venue.
This place is an eye sore its never busy and it seems that the only acts this place can attract is the like of the Chuckle brothers, Ann Widdicombe and Tony Christies basically washed up has beens
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Rarely busy?? How could you know if you dont come?? Do you actually think about what you type or does it just come out?
If you actually look at most theatres outside of London, you would notice that these kind of acts tour all the time, all around the country, it is to be expected that theatre severn would also have these kinds of acts.
I’ve seen some brilliant shows at the theatre here, of a much higher standard than these, but you cant expect round the clock blockbusting acts, be a realist. Perhaps the big acts just arent touring at this time of year???
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It astounds me to hear such negativity towards this venue. Shrewsbury’s new theatre is the envy of every market town in the country. I speak as a proud salopian who nows lives in East Anglia.
I can only hope that in time, the critics realise what an asset they have and learn to celebrate and embrace what it DOES bring to Shrewsbury.
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Sorry but I’ve only seen a few comedy acts on that I think appeal to my age group (25 to 35) and they sold out. The theatre does not seem interested in attracting those under 50. Many of my friends have questioned the theatre by email, but have had no answer.
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I am 36yrs old and use the theatre regularly I think that they are getting some good acts/ music, al murray, newton Faulkner etc keep up the good work
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nothing for the young proffessionals who surely have the most spending power ? odd strategy there, i cant beleive a venue can sustain itself long term if it only targets wealthy retired OAPs who like this rubbish. It needs to be a multi use venue for ALL, after all we are all paying MILLIONS each year to subsidise this rubbish whilst the pot holes in the roads mount up the rubbish lies uncollected and schoolchildren are taught in leaking buildings. Some people (conservative polititians) have their priorities all wrong
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I’m quite amused that you’ve managed to turn a small item about a provincial town theatre’s schedule into a party political rant.
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Whilst I have only been to most of the comedy events at the theatre and some of the childrens shows (with my young son and wife), each time the theatre has been packed out (and not with OAP’s) so they must be doing something right and therefore I suspect that the theatre is sustainable. I have no idea about whether the council subsidises it but based on the 12 or so visitis I have had in the last year, it must surely be profitable. Yes not all acts will please everyone, but I find it hard to believe that in a tweleve month period, there is nothing there for your tastes.
Come on Shrewsbury support the Theatre, most towns of our size would give their right arm for such a venue. I cannot understand why some of you are being so negative and appear to want it to fail.
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Do leaky school buildings result in professionals who cannot even spell politician?
I look at the theatre in Hereford with envy because it cost so very much less yet is a great piece of modern architecture, caters for a wider group of the arts and so consequently a wider audience.
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hang about, bunch of elderly rich white men get elected as councillors and suprise suprise spend our money and create services deigned for elderly white men to enjoy, SUPRISE!!! if you dont like it vote for some one else or stand for the council – its your money they spend on it after all
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I’ve noticed that a few people above have decided to single out a handful of “performances for oldies” and tried to use them as a representative sample of the acts that are lined up to appear at Theatre Severn.
I could try the same tactic with a few of my own:
Milton Jones
Richard Herring
Mark Steel
Sarah Millican
Dom Joly
Shock horror! Theatre Severn is only for people who appreciate cutting edge comedy!
Or:
Cinderella
Fireman Sam
Peter Pan on Ice
Oliver
The Chuckle Brothers
The Lost Forest
Scandalous! Theatre Severn is only for children!
Or:
The Rape of Lucrece
Romeo & Juliet
The St David’s Day Concert
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Coppelia: Moscow Ballet La Classique
Oh no! Theatre Severn is only for highbrow arts junkies!
I think you get my point.
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@AM, your economic analysis is flawed because OAPs now have most money in society isnt it i think the statistic is 50% of all UK wealth in the hands of the over 50s with many baby boomers enjoying early retirements on handsome final salary pensions the theatre is precisely correct to target this audience who have more disposable income than most, i suspect their marketing people do market research on this issue, theyre not stupid you know – old people have more leisure time too
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