Two pieces of high-end performing arts will be coming to Wem in the new year as the town’s main venue continues to attract new acts.

At the start of February, the Garlic Theatre will be bringing its retelling of the classic children’s nursery rhyme and story The Three Little Pigs to Wem Town Hall in collaboration with Arts Alive, which organises events across the county.

The company, which was founded in 1997, is a puppet theatre group that celebrates image, puppet animation, movement and live music to create theatre productions of artistic excellence, as well as working towards inspiring children to fire up their own imagination.

Mary White, from Arts Alive, said: “This is a brand new version of the classic story of The Three Little Pigs set in Paris.

“A grumpy old wolf is a chef who wants some pigs’ tails for his soup. Will the little piggies outwit the wolf and what kind of house will they build? A funny and interactive rustic tale to make you squeal with laughter, bristling with puppets, live music and lots of joining in.”

Tickets for Three Little Pig Tails are £7 for adults, £5 for children or a family ticket for £25, and the show starts at 4pm on February 8.

Then later in the month, stand-up comedian and writer Ruth E Cockburn will bring her Love Letters from Blackpool to the venue on the High Street.

The show, which starts at 7.30pm on February 21, is a love letter to the artist’s own home town of Blackpool where she grew up and worked as a supply teacher.

The show, which is also being put on with Arts Alive, is a comic theatre piece about love and Blackpool, commissioned by The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

It was subsequently nominated for Best Show at Leicester Comedy Festival and Greater Manchester Fringe.

The show’s synopsis describes it as “using found love letters, original songs, poetry and audience interaction to answer the questions… What is love? and is Blackpool still lovable?”

Reviews of the show have included “the audience left the venue with a smile on their faces” and “she’s a real talent”.

For tickets, call 01939 232299.