Tamworth Assembly Rooms back ‘on tour’ with festive fun
There’s plenty of festive entertainment in store for audiences this December as Tamworth Assembly Rooms goes ‘on tour’ with popular events being taken out into the community while the theatre is closed for refurbishment.
Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts and Events team has been working with groups including Stage It!, Amington Band and Tamworth Pantomime Company to ensure the show goes on this winter.
December’s programme kicks off with Tamworth Stage It! Academy’s Christmas song and dance spectacular, featuring performances from children aged four to 16. Stage It! At the Movies will take audiences on a journey through some of the most memorable movie scenes in history from the Lion King to Blues Brothers, Mary Poppins to Little Shop of Horrors and much more.
The family friendly show is this year being staged at the Landau Forte Sixth Form Academy in Ashby Road, on Sunday December 11, from 1.30pm. The performance is suitable for all ages and is a great showcase for the talented Stage It! group, which now comprises almost 100 students.
Tickets for the show are priced at £8 and £6 for children and concessions.
The refurbishment of Tamworth Assembly Rooms also left the tricky problem of finding a new venue which could host several performances of Tamworth Pantomime across a two-week period. The solution is a once-in-a-lifetime pantomime experience performed in a large, heated Big Top circus tent, in Tamworth Castle Grounds.
Audiences can expect songs, dance and laughter from some of Tamworth’s best-loved performers, when Jack and the Beanstalk opens on Thursday December 15. It will continue with matinee and evening performances until December 22.
Follow Jack’s journey with his hapless sister Jill and beloved pet cow Daisy as they get tricked by the evil wizard and have to scale the giant beanstalk; a sight to behold in the unique performance space. This year’s show promises to be a pantomime like you've never seen before.
Tickets are priced at £14/£9 concessions, with discounts available for family tickets and group bookings – a group of 10 or more will pay £8 each. VIPP (Very Important Pantomime Person) tickets are available for an extra pound, which includes ringside seats and the chance to meet the cast and get photos in the interval.
If you need any more help getting into the Christmas spirit, the annual Amington Band Christmas Show is packed with festive favourites from start to finish, plus special guests Tamworth Arts Club. Taking place at Landau Forte Sixth Form Academy on Saturday December 17, the show will feature classic carols and popular hits including The Snowman, Once in Royal David’s City, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, All I Want for Christmas is You and White Christmas.
Tickets to the 7.30pm show cost £8 and £7 concessions.
Cllr Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Environment & Culture, said: “The regeneration of Tamworth Assembly Rooms represents a significant investment in the future of our arts and will provide Tamworth performers and audiences with a modern theatre fit for the 21st century.
“However, ensuring that the arts scene continues to thrive during its closure is a top priority and a lot of work has been done by the Arts and Events team to ensure the groups which regularly perform at Tamworth Assembly Rooms still have opportunities to perform. As well as helping to make sure the show goes on, Tamworth Assembly Rooms on Tour also gives people the opportunity to experience these shows in some unique locations, such as the Big Top.”
Tickets for all shows are available online at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk, from the Tourist Information Centre in Marmion House or by calling the Box Office on 01827 709618. A transaction fee of £1 is payable on all online and telephone bookings.
