Roundup of theatre shows in South Cheshire and the surrounding area

Aug 4 2010 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

SPAMALOT (Regent Theatre, Hanley, until August 7)

AUDIENCES all around the world have been roaring with laughter since Monty Python’s Spamalot, by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005. The show runs from Monday until Saturday, August 7. Tickets are £19.50-£37.50, phone 0844 871 7649.

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (Regent Theatre, Hanley, August 12-14)

FORMER Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett stars in this 1950’s party musical. Audiences are whisked back to the days of Teddy Boys, quiffs, Brylcreem, poodle skirts and blue suede shoes in a parade of rock ‘n’ roll classics including Great Balls of Fire, Jail House Rock and Johnny B Goode. Tickets are £12.75-£26, phone 0871 871 7649 to book.

ORGAN PROM (Victoria Hall, Hanley, August 14)

HANLEY’S own maestro Michael Rhodes will be joined by oboe player Charmian Baskeyfield in the latest series of organ proms. The performance starts at noon and tickets are £4.50, available on the door or in advance by phoning the box office on 0844 871 7649.

GUYS AND DOLLS (Palace Theatre, Manchester, August 12-14)

THIS Stage Experience production features more than 100 young people aged 10-21 who will have auditioned for the show, rehearsed and will perform this full scale production in just two weeks during the summer holidays. Shows start at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are £14.25-£16.25, phone 0844 847 2277 to book.

FAME (Empire Theatre, Liverpool, August 5-7)

A CAST of young people from across Merseyside star in an exhilarating stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning movie and popular TV series of the same name. This breathtaking show, brought together by Stage Experience, follows the lives of a group of students attending New York’s High School for the Performing Arts. Shows start at 7pm with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are £16.25, phone 0844 847 2525.

LES MISERABLES (The Lowry, Salford Quays, August 10-21)

THE exciting new 25th anniversary production of the show is headed by Broadway and West End icon John Owen Jones and fellow West End stars Earl Carpenter and Gareth Gates. The legendary score includes the songs I Dreamed A Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home and Do You Hear The People Sing?. The show runs from August 10-21. Tickets are priced £22.50-£48.50, to book phone 0843 208 6000 or visit www.thelowry.com

HAIRSPRAY (Empire Theatre, Liverpool, August 17 – September 4)

AN ALL-Liverpool affair stars Michael Starke as larger than life Edna, with Les Dennis returning to the Empire as mild mannered dad Wilbur. The film version was originally a 70s hit starring Debbie Harry and a young Ricki Lake, but was more recently updated in the 2007 sensation starring John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer. Tickets are priced £24-£47, to book phone the box office on 0844 847 2525.