Island Theatre with Maureen Sullivan

It’s hard to believe it’s November already and we’re on the cusp of panto season – oh yes we are!!

First, though, BLTC are staging ‘The Ghost Train – A Radio Play’ at Bembridge Village Hall on November 9-12. The stage is set as a working radio studio of the 1930s, so the audience will see the often hilarious process of recording a play to be heard over the radio. Tickets via iow.life/bltc. You can also phone 07841 950261 or pop along and see Martie in Bembridge Library between 10am and midday on Wednesday.

Ad Lib Theatre brings Shakespeare into Bembridge Village Hall with perhaps the Bard’s most famous tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, on November 24-26. A tale suited to those murky, late-in-the-year days, this production, with a contemporary setting, is faithful to the original text yet with a modern twist. Intrigued? Then pop along for entertainment and food for thought. Oh – and there’s fighting! Tickets via iow.life/alt or call 0774 7738338.

And now for the beginning of the festive treats – Curtain Call Creative’s ‘Nativity – The Musical’ is at Shanklin Theatre from November 23-26. Every child’s Christmas wish is to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’re attempting a musical!

Feel-good, funny and full of yuletide joy. Tickets from iow.life/curtaincallcreative or call 868000.

On November 28 and 29 at 6.30pm, First Act Theatre Company will return to Shanklin Theatre with their festive show, ‘Peter Pan’. I’m looking forward to getting into the Christmas (there, I said it!) mood, with the traditional story of the boy who never grew up, based on the JM Barrie book. Tickets at iow.life/firstact or 868000.

If you’re looking for more festive fun, Trinity Theatre’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, will be staged from December 1-3 and 8-10 .

Enjoy the classic tale of spinning wheels and princely dreams! Tickets from iow.life/caods.

Look for the final theatre column of the year to find out about even more Christmassy treats coming your way, from traditional pantomime to an original youth theatre production, to carols and mince pies.

Is it time to put up the tree yet?