Music, panto and local drama talent are among the highlights of the latest programme of events to be announced by Sheringham Little Theatre. 

A new brochure flagging up shows between October and March includes a Blues, Roots and Americana music weekend, a Cinderella panto with a modern Netflix twist, and six “am dram” productions. 

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “Cinderella is the best panto story – but as ever we are putting a new slant on it with our Prince Charming as a Netflix star looking for love through his documentary called A Charmed Life.”

Cinderella runs from December 15 to January 2 with Emily Kate Ann as Cinders, Samuel Garrett as Prince Charming, Kit Henson and Danniella Schindler as the Ugly Sisters Beeston and Bump,  Grace Pennington as Buttonz and Shane Armstrong as the stepmother and fairy godmother.   

A tragedy-hit seaside family is trying to get life back on song through music in a new comedy drama premiering at Sheringham this summer. 

Shanty is the story of a Cromer crab fisherman and his two daughters, all grieving after the sudden death of their wife and mum. 

Their rebuilding journey, laced with music and humour born out of adversity, is explored by up-and-coming young playwright and poet James McDermott who lives near Holt. 

“It is a drama drawing its comedy from the family’s attempts to form a band, the mess of grieving and being a young person clumsily trying to find a new way forward,” he explained. 

A free arts event celebrating two famous British characters will raise the curtain on a new fundraising appeal at Sheringham Little Theatre.

Prose, poetry and music will punctuate an afternoon of performance on Sunday April 23 which coincides with St George’s Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare.

Entry is free during the event which runs from 3pm to 5pm, in the Hub which will be serving cream teas as well as cakes, savouries and drinks. But donations will be invited to help kick start a £5000 appeal to upgrade the venue’s curtains.

No More Heroes? looks to explore well known and unsung icons of British culture.  Works will include a new version of the St George story, and the words, plus a parody, of the Bard, as well as music from British composers ancient and modern. 

He’s a bus station busker, whose songs are just the ticket for travellers. But who is he and why does he do it?

They are the questions tackled in new one-man comedy drama penned and performed by a north Norfolk entertainer.

Greg Powles’ show The Busker takes a journey in song, stories and humour that delves into the mystery street performer. As well as singing his songs, he explains how they fit into his life. 

It will be staged at three East Anglian venues in May – Pakefield, Sheringham and Norwich – ahead of plans to take the new work to the Edinburgh Festival next year. 

A pair of prestigious premieres feature in the newly-announced summer season drama line-up at Sheringham Little Theatre. 

Shanty is a brand new comedy, with live music, based on a Cromer sea shanty singing fishermen and his family. Running from August 8-12 it charts daughter Shanty’s creation of a band to tackle the family’s fishing business woes. It is penned by North Norfolk based playwright, poet and EastEnders scriptwriter James McDermott.

Run For Your Man (August 22-26), by farce master Ray Cooney, is a modern twist on his classic Run For Your Wife – putting cabbie Jackie into the main role, juggling two husbands in two different towns, before her life unravels.  

Songs signalled the reopening of Sheringham Little Theatre’s Hub café after a month-long closure for a facelift.

The new-look Hub held its “premiere” with an opening ceremony on Saturday morning (Feb 11) that mixed music, mingling, poetry and performance.

BBC Look East presenter and reporter Jenny Kirk cut the ceremonial ribbon, praising the project and encouraging people to support the venue’s investment in its future.

She said it was the first time she had been back in town since another reopening – a street party in 2019 to mark the end of works to repair a high street sink hole, when she was also impressed by the town’s community spirit. 

Actor Gillian Dean is set to play a blind woman in a summer drama thriller, using her own visual impairment to bring extra realism to the role.

But two weeks later she will play a fully-sighted character in a classic comedy, using stage craft and support from fellow cast members so her disability is not noticeable.

The inspirational 42-year-old from Lakenham, Norwich is currently rehearsing and learning lines for both roles at Sheringham Little Theatre this month.In Wait Until Dark she is blind Susy who is alone in her 1960s London flat with a doll being targeted by three desperate con men. In Table Manners she is Annie, who is trying to spend an illicit weekend with her brother-in-law.

Gillian said: “Thumbs up to the Little Theatre for casting a visually-impaired person to play Susy. “It is good for ethical reasons and because we disabled actors are under-represented - but I can also bring real authenticity to the role".

“I have played sighted roles before and it is all about talking to the cast and director about what I can and cannot do and finding ways around it. I can see enough not to fall over things but if, say, I cannot see a step on stage we can arrange for someone else to go up it first so I can follow. And if my cue is from a facial expression other cast members can make a noise or give me a nudge.”

Play director Brendan Murray said: “A sighted actor can represent a blind person on stage, but Gillian’s real-life experience is teaching us how to portray things from a genuine visually-impaired perspective. She is amazingly positive and a very able actor.”