Shropshire theatre round-up

Panto season is almost upon us and many fringe theatres across the region are closing for a short while as crew and cast get ready for festive fun.

At Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn, the venue is looking forward to another of its screenings from the Royal Opera House. It will be showing The Nutcracker, a ballet in two acts, on December 8.

The performance will celebrate the 90th birthday of The Nutcracker creator Sir Peter Wright, who choreographed Tchaikovsky's magnificent score.

Theatre Severn spokesman Craig Reeves said: "It is Christmas Eve and Drosselmeyer the magician sweeps young Clara away on a fantasy adventure in which time is suspended, the family living room becomes a great battlefield, and a magical journey takes them through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets."

Theatre Severn will also feature a selection of pre-1918 Chaplin Shorts on December 9. The Rink, Easy Street and One AM will be shown with live musical accompaniment. Stafford Gatehouse is gearing up for comedy with Matt Forde planning to visit on December 8 for It's My Political Party (And I'll Cry If I Want To).

Forde has been seen on The Royal Variety Performance 2015, Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week and Question Time. He has been described as 'a first-class comic' and critics have said he was 'highly engaging, inherently funny… with an ability to ad-lib laughs out of thin air'.

Lichfield Cathedral is gearing up for the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus's performance of Advent Expectations on December 10.

It will feature the chorus alongside the Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra and soloists, under the baton of Cathy Lamb, joint director of music at Lichfield Cathedral.

The programme will feature Paul Spicer's Advent Oratorio. The work was originally commissioned by Lichfield Cathedral Chorus in 2009 and given its premiere performance in Lichfield Cathedral in December of that year to celebrate its 50th anniversary. This will be its second performance in a revised version by the composer.

Bridgnorth's Theatre on the Steps will feature Lipstick on your Collar tomorrow. The exciting 50s and 60s show specialises in bringing the classic pop hits from the Golden Era of music back to life, with soaring vocals, tight harmonies and an infectious sense of fun. It features multi-instrumentalists and vocalists from many touring and West End productions.

Fans can look forward to a two-hour feel-good show that promises to leave a trail of happy faces and worn out feet in its wake.

Oakengates Theatre, at The Place, in Telford, will host a soul party with Back 2 Miami tomorrow.

Venue boss Debbie King said: "Basing their tradition firmly in 'soul with 60s style and attitude', Back 2 Miami play a variety of classic soul hits guaranteed to get an audience moving.

"All-time favourites from the likes of Sam and Dave, Aretha Franklin, The Conmittments and Stevie Wonder will make for an unforgettable night of soul success."

The venue will also host Christmas Memories on Monday. Mrs King said: "People can start Christmas in style with the country's most popular Christmas matinee nostalgia show, filled with over 60 all time Christmas favourite songs and many much-loved Christmas carols in a heart-warming Victorian carol concert. We can all be dreaming of a white Christmas."