amdram.co.uk

Group Details

• Type: Musical extravaganza – 2006= “Celebrate the Season”
• Age Range: mixed, with new members always welcome(pref.over16)
• Rehearsals: Monday from May till November in Worcester(with lots of Social events in between) Performing at MALVERN FESTIVAL THEATRE from 28th November 2006

Location

• Town: Worcester Area
• County: Worcestershire
• Region: West Midlands

Contact

• Email: aileenandjohnhaden [at] hotmail [dot] com
• Phone: 01905 452868 (Aileen Haden-Secretary)
• Website: http://www.mmtg.biz

MMTG was formed in 1978 by Robert Wilson MBE, and his wife Sue, after the business manager of Worcester’s Swan Theatre asked if they could devise a show to fill a vacant spot at Christmas. Robert had always wanted to do a “Minstrel Show’ and so, with the help of a group of friends, MMTG was born. It was only ever intended to be a “one off’ show, but the format proved so popular with performers and audiences, that here we are over 28 years later having played to something in excess of 110,000 patrons. Many of you return year after year and no doubt that some of you have seen all our shows! During that time, many friendships have been made and we have become a “family” with an ever open door to new members . Many of you recognise us in the street and tell us how much you enjoy our shows. Thank you.

MMTG has it’s own wardrobe, to which we add and adapt costumes each year, an ever growing music library and we maintain a large storage space with our many stage sets and props. As the curtain comes down on the Saturday night, we are back to a “blank piece of paper” for next years show. Ideas come from our members and occasionally “audience requests”. We rehearse hard, but enjoy our “play” too!

In the early days, we discovered that a coach of senior citizens could not get to see the show due to heavy snow – so we decided to take the whole show to them! Then, there was the Charity Show for Guide Dogs for the Blind when the dog on stage stood up as we played the opening bars of the National Anthem! (we had not rehearsed him). Oh, the VE Show! We were only scheduled for one performance, but your demand for tickets was so overwhelming that we did three and those of us on stage will always remember looking out to your sea of flags as we all sang Land of Hope and Glory. And of course, how can we forget our appearance at the Royal Albert Hall . We now consist of over 100 members, and perform a ‘Musical extravaganza’ show at Malvern Theatre, set in the Victorian town nestling under the great hills of Worcestershire. Our Wardrobe team make most of our spectacular costumes, and the expertise of our members is expressed in innovative scenery and lighting design. Professional musicians and sound technicians ensure a memorable evening of varied music, singing, dancing and comedy.

We have now been entertaining audiences for over 28 years, and the theatre (which holds over 700), is an ideal venue for our performances. We are a registered charity, and the proceeds of our shows go to local and national causes.

In our first programme, Robert wrote that he “hoped MMTG would have three ambitions”

1. To Help Charities – our financial support to dozens of charities is now over £100000 and we established “The John Pritchard Award” in 1995 and have supported several young people aspiring to careers in theatre and entertainment.

2. To Keep Live Theatre Alive – when time permits (and even sometimes when it doesn’t) we organise a second show for a chosen charity or take part in other shows. – Watch this space!

3. To Entertain – we believe we do.

The MMTG CHRISTMAS SHOW has become as much a part of Christmas as choosing your Christmas tree and mailing your cards to family and friends. Since 1978 thousands of people have enjoyed the MMTG’s annual all-new spectacular Show.

You know that Christmas is truly upon us when you see the stunning sets and costumes, hear the enjoy the heart warming enthusiasm of the talented girls and boys of the Midland Musical Theatre Group.

If you have never experienced the special glow of an MMTG Show, then don’t delay. This is the hottest ticket in the MMTG calendar, and we invite you to ‘CELEBRATE THE SEASON’ and make MMTG one of your favourite Christmas traditions. This show will truly warm your heart in every way.

Join us at a Glamorous Party to celebrate ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’. Come to the Caribbean to ‘Get Away from it All’. Wonder in the beautiful music as we ’Feel the Spirit’ of Christmas. Take a festive trip to ‘New York and Broadway.’ Travel back in time to those ‘Dickensian Days’. Swing ‘Sinatra Style’, as you tap your feet to tunes you know and love, and then marvel at our ‘Spectacular Fantasy Finale’. Oh yes – and don’t forget our trip to the ‘Panto’!!

Once again we will be joined by the ever popular comedian Barry North, and the talented Dancers from the award winning Harlequin Stage School.

Join us for an evening (or Saturday afternoon ) and hear the music, feel the excitement – and start your Christmas with MMTG. You will find a warm welcome from Midland Musical Theatre Group.

There are three ways to reserve your Tickets:

1    Call Carole Langford – 01905 425299;

2    Visit the website and do it on line;

3    Call Malvern Theatres box Office – 01684 892277.