Blackwood Miners’ Institute has a whole range of shows coming-up over the next few months, including Black RAT Productions’ take on the West End hit – the hilarious whodunit The 39 Steps. Hitchcock’s unmissable tale of espionage is playfully brought to the stage as a comic spoof by the team behind Bouncers, Up ‘n’ Under: The Welsh Tour, Neville’s Island, Boeing Boeing and last year’s Bedroom Farce. It premiere’s at Blackwood Miners’ Institute October 6 at 7.30pm, before touring venues across Wales.

There’s plenty of drama for audiences this season. Frank Vickery returns from October 12-14 with Three-of-the-Best – three one act plays starring the man himself! The Element in the Room: A radioactive musical comedy about the life and death of Marie Curie is on November 12 and a wonderful radio play of the classic festive film It’s A Wonderful Life will be on November 30.

Audiences won’t be short of choice when it comes to live music. There are performances from Dub War, Sleaves and the Meat Puppets (to name but a few) as part of the Velvet Coalmine Festival from September 4-6. A Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers spectacular Islands in the Stream will be on September 24, Voice of the Heart – Karen Carpenter will be on October 22 and arguably ‘The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World’ – Showaddywaddy will be on 30 October.

The MAGIC OF MOTOWN make a welcome return on 7 November, The War Horse Songman – stage star and musician Bob Fox will be on November 10, Dire Streets return on November 14 and there are songs from the 70’s in Solid Gold 70’s on November 21. Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra return for their annual Christmas Night at the Movies on November 27 and The Pitmen Poets - four leading champions of England's coal mining musical heritage (including ex Lindisfarne singer and writer Billy Mitchell) will appear on January 8, 2016.

Families have lots to choose from including adaptations of well-known and much-loved children’s stories. Anthony Horowitz’s hilarious family film noir pastiche The Falcon’s Malteser is on October 17, and there is Chalk About - a playful, funny show that explores how we see ourselves and others on 4 November.

There are stage adaptations of well-known Hans Christian Anderson story’s – The Ugly Duckling on October 28, The Princess and the Pea on November16 and The Little Match Girl on November 25. If you buy for two of these performances the third one is Free.

Local choir Mynyddislwyn Male Choir will appear on 17 September, Markham Band play on 5 December and Risca Choir will sing on 9 January.

If that's not enough Only Fools and Horses legend John Challis will be appearing in Only Fools and Boycie on 13 November and there’s a treat for Horror fans in the run-up to Halloween with a brand-new adaptation of Bram Stoker's gothic pot-boiler Dracula on 29 October.

There’s even more to come! Caerphilly Youth Theatre will be performing The Addams Family musical on 15 & 16 September and there’s a full production of one of the World’s most famous operas – Madame Butterfly on 27 October.

Don’t forget that there is always hilarious stand-up on offer in the monthly Stute Comedy Nights and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, this year’s Christmas panto starring Owen will run from 9 – 30 December.

For more information on any of these events, please contact the Box Office at Blackwood Miners’ Institute on 01495 227 206 or visit www.blackwoodminersinstitute.com.