Theatre Previews: July 3 - 9

By kaarcher

Dances For a Lost Traveller

Warehouse Theatre, Croydon

Until Sunday, July 12

Signdance Collective are made up of deaf and disabled artists pioneering a new art form, signdance theatre. It's a combination of art forms, cultural origins and physical abilities that creates a unique theatre experience.

The company was set up in 2001 by David Bower and Isolte Avila, who have been working together for 25 years.

Three pieces of four, Listen, Here, The Words and Travelling, are performed each evening.

Listen is based on artistic director David Bower's experience of tinnitus, Here is a dance piece about a relationship in flux, The Words addresses sign language and spoken language, and Travelling looks at travel and boundaries.

Performances at 6.30pm Tuesdays, 8pm Wednesdays to Saturdays, 5pm Sundays, no performances Mondays.

Tickets from £8, call 020 8680 4060.

The Wizard of Oz

Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, Carshalton

Friday, July 3 until Monday, July 6

Award-winning performers Croft Drama Group are putting on this classic tale with almost 70 actors and a dog.

Among the eight girls who share the role of Dorothy are Kirsty Downing who has performed in the West End, and Elena Frohlick who owns the starring dog.

Money raised will go towards the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in Carshalton - the group have so far raised nearly £20,000 over 16 events.

Performances at 7.30pm.

Tickets £8.50, concessions £6.50, call 020 8770 6990.

Lambeth Orchestra

All Saints, West Dulwich

Saturday, July 4

The Lambeth Orchestra perform a concert of Copland's Appalachian Spring, Barber's Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances.

With Charlotte Scott on violin.

Performance at 7.30pm.

Tickets £10, concessions £8, children £1, buy on the door.

Croydon Academy of Eastern Arts

Fairfield, Croydon

Sunday, July 5

CAEA present their 25th anniversary show with music, percussion, Bharatha Natyam dance, and drama.

The group run classes in Tamil language and culture, as well as music, drama and dance.

Performance at 5.30pm.

Tickets £15, seniors and students £10, family ticket £30, call 020 8688 9291.

An Evening with Val Hood

Secombe Theatre, Sutton

Tuesday, July 7

Val Hood is one of the UK's most popular mediums and is known for taking the fear out of contacting the spirit world.

She will be running a session at the function room in the Secombe Theatre this week.

Performance at 7.30pm.

Tickets £12.50, call 020 8770 6990.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Churchill, Bromley

Tuesday, July 7 until Sunday, July 12

BBC's Any Dream Will Do star Craig Chalmers returns in the lead role of Joseph.

He sold out his debut performance at Bromley in 2007 of this Bill Kenwright production, so get in fast to buy your tickets.

Featuring all the songs he performed during his stint in the hit TV competition, such as Any Dream Will Do and Close Ev'ry Door To Me.

Performances at varying times, see www.ambassadortickets.com/bromley.

Tickets from £15, call 0870 060 6620.

Premier Christian Radio

Fairfield, Croydon

Tuesday, July 7

The Christian radio station present a programme of choirs from America and the UK.

Maria Toth, presenter of Woman to Woman, makes a live recording of her show at a lunchtime event, with the audience welcome to join in the debate.

Performance at 7pm, lunch event at 1.05pm.

Tickets from £5, lunch event £5, call 020 8688 9291.

Katherine Howard

Miller Centre, Caterham

Thursday, July 9 until Saturday, July 18

The story of Henry VIII's fifth marriage is dramatised in this play by William Nicholson.

It's a story of a king and two queens, as Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves ends and his relationship with Katherine Howard begins.

The intrigue, plots and betrayals of life at Tudor court make for a fascinating play.

Performances at 8pm.

Tickets from £7, call 01883 349 850.

'Allo Allo!

Warlingham Church Hall

Thursday, July 9 until Saturday, July 11

ATG bring the classic TV series to the stage in 'Allo Allo!.

With all those memorable characters, dodgy accents and hilarious jokes, it's a chance to see the popular programme performed live.

Performances at 8pm.

Tickets from £6, go to www.atgdramagroup.co.uk/boxoffice or call 020 8668 3131.

Alistair McGowan

Epsom Playhouse

Thursday, July 9

The nation's favourite impressionist comes to Epsom this week.

Alistair McGowan does a huge range of impressions with no make-up and no costume changes - just one man and a microphone.

Listen out for footballers, film stars and all sorts of famous characters as McGowan transforms his voice over and over again.

Performance at 8pm.

Tickets £15, call 01372 742 555.

Theatre Notices

Dorothy Auditions

Wickham Theatre Centre

Sunday, July 5

Award-winning drama group WWOS are looking for a Dorothy for their production of The Wizard of Oz later this year.

Those interested must be 16 or over by September and their auditions will include singing, dancing and acting.

In September the group will be holding junior auditions for two teams of Munchkins.

Pre-register for auditions at www.wwos.org.uk/dorothyidol.html or call 020 8777 4413.

Sutton Music Festival 2009 - Register Now

Sutton Music Festival is back for its 76th year, giving people of all ages the chance to take part in classes and competitions for music, speech and drama.

This year there are cash prizes totalling £400 and exceptional groups will be invited to perform at a British and International Federation and Barnados concert at a major London venue in 2010.

Applications close on October 1 and the festival begins in November, but if you're interested and especially if you are entering a schools group, it's recommended you get looking at the syllabus now.

Syllabus and entry forms are at www.suttonmusicfestival.org.uk.