The Vagina Monologues (Victoria Hall, Hanley, June 8)

Jun 3 2009 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

DANCING On Ice queen Suzanna Shaw stars in the touring production of The Vagina Monologues next week.

The former Hear’Say member and West End musical star is joined by Sue Holderness - Marlene of Only Fools and Horses fame - and 3 Non Blondes’ Tameka Empson.

The show was created by Eve Ensler who asked 200 women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to share their most intimate secrets on normally taboo topics such as birth, sex, orgasms and relationships.

The trio lined up for Hanley join a celebrated army of female stars who have appeared in the show over the years including Kate Winslet, Whoopi Goldberg and Jerry Hall.

The show starts at 7.30pm on Monday, tickets are £17, phone the box office on 0870 060 6649.

Aida and Carmen (Regent Theatre, Hanley, June 9 and 10)

TWO spectacular productions of perhaps the most famous operas will be performed at the Regent next week.

First up is Aida on Tuesday, with the splendour of Egypt set against the grandeur of the Colosseum of Rome in a new production from Ellen Kent & Amphitheatre Productions.

The tragic love story is brought to life in a production set against one of the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote with the well known arias Celeste Aida, Ritorna Vincitor and the great chorus piece the Triumphal March.

Then on Wednesday, June 10, Carmen comes to life staged in a bullring for a new twist to Bizet’s famous and seductive opera.

Both performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are £29-£36, phone 0870 060 6649.

Defending The Caveman (Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, June 4-6)

ALL action Aussie Mark Little visits Crewe this week with award-winning one-man show Defending The Caveman.

He explains in his outlandish way how the differences between men and women can be traced back to the caveman days, and the horribly truthful show affectionately brings the basic differences between men and women brilliantly up to date.

Shows start at 7.30pm and tickets are £17.50-£19.50. To book, phone 01270 537333 or visit www.lyceumtheatre.net.

Dumb Show (New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, to June 20)

TORCHWOOD actress Liz May Brice is making her debut at the New Vic Theatre in the regional premiere of Joe Penhall’s Dumb Show.

The story revolves around Barry, who millions of fans know as television’s ‘Mr Saturday Night’.

But Barry’s worried his 15 minutes of fame could be coming to an end. So when a couple of hot-shots say they can help him make serious money, he’s more than happy to go along.

Of Dumb Show, Brice said: “It is frighteningly relevant right now, even more so than when it was first performed in 2004.”

“The media is no longer merely the reporter of events but is playing a starring role in stories of its own creation.”

Tickets are £8.50-£17.50, phone 01782 717962.