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Life at The Little Theatre column: The Wolves, halted by Covid, return to Southport

The latest news from Southport's Little Theatre

TONIGHT: The cast are ready and waiting backstage for the first performance this evening

By Jennifer Corcoran and Andrew Sloman

The Wolves are here!

The long awaited Wolves of Willoughby Chase opens tonight, Tuesday, March 7 and runs every night until Saturday, March 11. Based on a novel by Joan Aiken, the play is set in an alternative history of England where wolves are migrating to Britain from the bitter cold of Russia, gaining access through a channel tunnel.

Director Paul Wilkinson has revived this play, due to be staged last spring, halted not by an invasion of Wolves, but Covid! Many of our amazing performers have since moved on as education has taken them away from town, but there is still a wealth of talent to bring this tale to life.

Wildlife: Get your hand up, there’s magpie about

We meet cousins Bonnie and Sylvia Green (played by Katie Allen and Emilie Alty). They are in the parent-less predicament for different reasons - Bonnie’s parents have left Willoughby Chase and sought warmer climes to convalesce whereas Sylvia is an orphan.

CHANGES: The cast may have changed but the wealth of talent is clear

They are in peril due to the evil schemes of their governess Miss Slighcarp (Abbie Strefford). Miss Slighcarp has a plan to make the grand estate her own, in the absence of the rightful owners, and seeks assistance from the aptly named Mr Grimshaw (Harry Corcoran).

When the plucky lasses rumble Miss Slighcarp’s malintent, she sends them to an orphanage run by another unpleasant guardian, Mrs Brisket (Natasha Molton). The conditions take their toll on Sylvia and Bonnie enlists the help of their new friend Simon, the goose-boy (Orlando Campolucci-Bordi) to plot their escape. Another ally throughout is loyal footman, James (Sebastian Fisher).

The exact date and time the clocks will change this month as Spring arrives

Rounding out the cast in various, and often multiple roles, are Mia Fox-Johnson, Grace Higgins and Joshua Jones. Will the good guys triumph over the bevy of baddies? You will have to book your tickets and come and find out.

Also in rehearsal we have Peter Quliter comedy “The Actress” which opens on 24th March. This will be followed by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton’s classic Blackadder the Third opening on May 5.

To book for Southport Dramatic Club - go to the Little Theatre Southport website , or visit the box office in person/ ring 01704 530521 between 11am to 1pm – and from 6pm to curtain up on show nights.

For more information about Southport Dramatic Club, visit our website. For updates, competitions and more follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

The Little Theatre is at Hoghton Street, Southport, Merseyside.

Life at The Little Theatre column: The Wolves, halted by Covid, return to Southport

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