Amateur production – professional performance


You don’t always need a big budget to produce a show that entertains and enthralls. To prove it, we focus on some upcoming amateur productions in Mid Kent that are sure to impress.


Love Begins at 50 by Avenue Theatre Productions Avenue Theatre Productions performs an uplifting comedy with a magical mix of madness, guilt, deceit, eccentricity, decency, integrity, hope and love. Anita and Clive have been married for 28 years, but all that is about to change as Clive feels that life is passing him by and has a yearning


for a fling. Avenue Theatre, Sittingbourne, Wednesday May 7 – Saturday May 10, 7.45pm.


Who Will Buy and Reviewing


The Situation which are all musical theatre classics. Dickens' characters are brought to life – perhaps larger than life – with all their facets glowing in this production, which starts with a small orphan boy asking


for more! Brook Theatre, Chatham, Thursday April 3 – Saturday April 5. Shows will take place at 7.30pm on all days and matinees at 2.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday.


Oliver


Oliver by Three Towns Theatre Company


Based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, this well-loved musical with songs and lyrics by Lionel Bart will engage you with its pathos and drama, while delighting you with its outstanding musical numbers. Food, Glorious Food, I’d Do Anything, Where is Love?, Consider Yourself, As Long As He Needs Me,


Cards on the Table by Willington Players Mr Shaitana, a wealthy collector of snuff boxes and other objets d’art, invites Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard and crime novelist Ariadne Oliver to a dinner party to view his special collection. As all the guests play bridge after dinner,


Shaitana is daringly murdered by someone at the party. Battle sets out to solve the crime, aided, of course, by the eager Mrs Oliver, who begins with psychological deductions from the bridge score cards. After many red herrings, skeletons in the cupboard and two more deaths, Battle lays his cards


on the table. Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone. Tuesday April 1 – Saturday April 5, 7.30pm.


Tom Stoppard, presented by Detling Players


Oliver 24 Mid Kent Living


Tom Stoppard’s 15 Minute Hamlet kicks off the evening, followed by sumptuous home-made puddings on the house. Liquid refreshments


Compleat Female Stage Beauty by The Lindley Players


Set in 1661, a performer named Kynaston performed female roles in London, but was a man. Kynaston is famous for portraying a lot of powerful female roles and is having an affair with the Duke Of Buckingham. When women are allowed to perform on stage, Kynaston's world is destroyed. He begins to desire revenge so he can "take the stage" once again.


Playhouse Theatre, Whitstable, Tuesday April 1 – Saturday April 5, 7.45pm.


can be purchased at the bar. Then, see if you can guess whodunit in The Real Inspector Hound: a murder


mystery with a twist! Detling Village Hall, near Maidstone, Thursday May 8 – Saturday May 10, 7.45pm.


Half a Sixpence by Maidstone Operatic Society


Half a Sixpence is based on "Kipps" by H G Wells. Set around 1900 and concerned with the English class system, it tells the story of a young drapers' assistant in Folkestone who suddenly inherits a huge sum of money. Abandoning his childhood sweetheart, he moves into high society and becomes engaged. He breaks his engagement and returns to his old love but he stays living in high society where they are not happy. A bad investment loses their fortune and they realise that the simple life suits them much better. MAOS has chosen a new version, which maintains the familiar storylines and songs such as Half a Sixpence, She’s too far above me, If the Rains Got to Fall and Flash,


Bang, Wallop while delivering a faster pace, added humour and many new musical


numbers. Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone, Monday April 7 – Saturday April 12. Monday – Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, Tuesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.


Keep the Home Fires Burning by Russett Players


Keep The Home Fires Burning is an original production that tells the story of East Peckham's heroes during World War I. It is about local heroes who were wounded or lost their lives and the families they left behind. Using drama, songs, poems and actual war footage the play moves between East Peckham and


the war front itself. The Dray, The Hop Farm, East Peckham, near Tonbridge, Friday May 9 – Saturday May 10, 8pm.


Oliver images courtesy of Louise Parrot


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