Curtain up on Prince Edward’s visit

Wednesday 25th March 2009, 11:00AM GMT.

the Earl of Wessex Shropshire will today roll out the red carpet for Prince Edward, who will fly into the county to officially open Shrewsbury’s new £28 million theatre.

The Earl of Wessex’s royal tour will begin with the official unveiling of Shrewsbury’s Monkmoor Campus for Severndale School and Wilfred Owen Primary School, with school pupils getting the chance to meet the earl.

The £17 million showcase education and health project is set to transform overcrowded schools and provide a base for county-wide children’s health and family support services.

The earl will then visit Theatre Severn as part of his whistle-stop tour.

He will see a short video presentation of the construction of the building and will also watch a 15-minute presentation of musical Romany Wood.

He will take to the stage to officially declare the riverside theatre open. On a tour backstage, escorted by cultural services manager Lezley Picton, he will meet actor Sir Timothy West and Shrewsbury’s All Angels star Melanie Nakhla as well as members of the design team.

Ten-year-old cancer patient Sophie Foxley, of Bicton Heath, will present the earl with teddy bears for his children James and Louise.

The earl will then travel to Telford’s Denso factory at Hortonwood.

View more: Bucks news, Shropshire news.