A new play based on the life of English romantic poet Anna Seward, the panto Aladdin and two other festive themed shows are on offer in Lichfield Garrick’s autumn and winter season.
Karen Foster, the Garrick’s executive director, said, “as a small, independent charity which aims to provide the best entertainment for the city of Lichfield and beyond, our new season celebrates our city and its talents past and present, brings our community together with three joyful productions during December and welcomes everyone into the wonderful world of theatre.”
Letters To Emma, written by local author Carolyn Scott Jeffs and directed by the Garrick’s artistic director Tim Ford, is “an intriguing, modern-day ghost story” about the 18th century poet who was known as the Swan of Lichfield. The play runs in the Studio from Tuesday 3 until Saturday 7 October.
CBeebies’ Cat Sandion (Princess Jasmine), Sam Rabone (Widow Twankey) and Ben Thornton (Wishy Washy) will appear in Aladdin which runs from Thursday 30 November until Saturday 6 January 2018.
For younger audiences Home for Christmas, a “fun-filled adventure” following a mother’s quest to make it home in time for Christmas, will run in the Studio from Tuesday 12 December until Sunday 31 December.
New Old Friends Theatre Company will present a new show, Crimes on the Christmas Express, an alternative Christmas comedy inspired by Agatha Christie, The 39 Steps and Jason Bourne. It will run in the Studio from Friday 8 December until Saturday 6 January 2018.
Touring shows include Silver Screen, an “affectionate and nostalgic romp through the first 100 or so years of cinema”, with Robert Powell and Liza Goddard on 1 October, the national tour of Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark featuring Jack Ellis and Oliver Mellor from 10 until 14 October, Vamos Theatre’s Finding Joy, a “humorous and humane” show about dementia, on 26 and 27 October and Blackeyed Theatre’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on 13 and 14 November.