Tours of Stamford will return at Easter with the Mayor's Guides while preparations continue for a production of Cats by Stamford Showstoppers in September

Performers are looking forward to stepping back into the limelight after a year away from the stage.

Nicola Sandall loves the razzle dazzle of theatre and is often found at the heart of amateur productions.

Three lockdowns left a big gap in her diary, but with the Prime Minister setting out his roadmap to normality, Nicola has begun planning for the coming months.

Her first step out of lockdown will come on Thursday, April 1 when the Stamford Mayor’s Guides resume their tours of the town.

Groups of five will be able to join one of the guides to learn more about the town’s history.

The tours will run at 11am on Thursday, Saturday and Sundays, and at 2pm on Fridays from the town hall.

There are also special spooky tours planned over the Easter weekend.

Nicola is also looking forward to resuming face-to-face rehearsals for the next Stamford Showstoppers production.

The group performed Chicago last February before the pandemic hit, and in September they started online auditions and rehearsals for Cats.

The performance dates are scheduled for September 23-25 at the Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre.

Nicola said: “We have been working hard and rehearsing over Zoom since going into lockdown in December.

“In September when we could meet in small groups outdoors we held the main auditions one at a time in our back garden.

“It has been unusual rehearsing and teaching dance moves over Zoom but our fabulous cast have been up for the challenge and we can’t wait to get back to rehearsing together.”

Nicola will round off the year by directing the Stamford Pantomime Players production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

This year is the group’s 70th anniversary, having formed in 1951.

Click here to book a tour with the Mayor's Guides or visit the Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre website to book tickets for Cats.