It's almost time for BLT to go 'on hols' for the summer, but not before we bring the first half of our season to a rip-roaring climax with 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' and the Youth Theatre's production of 'Collected Grimm Tales'.
And even though August is our 'dark' month, there'll still be plenty going on with The Big BLT Clean-Up on August 9th - more details below!
In this edition:
* Preview and booking details for 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' and 'Collected Grimm Tales'
* Previews of 'All The Great Books' and 'My Boy Jack'
* BLT sweeps the board at the Bromley and Kent drama awards!
* Join The Big BLT Clean-Up on Aug 9th!
* New lighting classes and help needed backstage - get involved!
* 'Anne Boleyn' at Hever and 'Clybourne Park' at the Brockley Jack
* Agenda for the next Playgoers' AGM on 28th July at 8pm
Book now for July's brilliant comedy
The Cripple of Inishmaan
by Martin McDonagh Directed by Nikki Packham
Fri 4th - Sat 12th July at 7.45pm
This very funny and achingly sad play is a must-see! The West End production (with Daniel Radcliffe in the title role) is now wowing New York audiences and is up for no less than six Tony awards, so now’s your chance to catch it much closer to home!
'The Cripple of Inishmaan' is based on the true story of American director Robert Flaherty, who came to the Isles of Arran to film “Man of Arran”, one of the first documentary feature films, and his desire to use local people.
We see the effect the news of the filming has on a small rural Irish community in 1934. We live orphaned cripple Billy’s longing to be in the film, the worry this causes his two ‘aunts’ who have brought him up, the misplaced energy of Helen, who delivers the eggs, her brother Bartley’s longing for the sweets he can’t find in the shop, the bringing of the news by Johnnypateenmike, the liking for the drink by his Mammy, the vain attempt to stop the drinking by Doctor McSharry’s and the two sides of Babbybobby, whose boat the youngsters need to travel to the filming. They all contribute to this tale of heartbreak, eggbreak, love and loss.
You'll laugh and cry in equal measure and if you saw McDonagh’s 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' at BLT, you’ll know you're in for another treat!
...closely followed by our Youth Theatre's July production...
Collected Grimm Tales
Adapted by Carol Ann Duffy Dramatised by Tim Supple Directed by Tunde Euba, Joel Trill & Helen Dunlea
Thurs 24th - Sat 26th July at 7.45pm
The BLT Youth Group is excited to bring you their version of the Brothers Grimm’s Tales: Ashputtel, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and Little Redcap.
These dark and sometimes sinister tales, involving various twists and turns, are dripping with cruelty, suspense and danger. Often morally complex, they are even at times ambiguous. The supernatural and the fantastical are woven into real folk life, and characters in these stories face harsh lessons and vicious circles of poetic justice.
This version of the tales was originally dramatised by Tim Supple and the Young Vic Theatre Company, to great critical acclaim. Based on their dramatisation, our devised production will showcase every aspect of the young company’s imaginative capability and their repertoire of developing dramatic skills by creating a taut and challenging interpretation, exploring themes of good and evil, dark and light, the moral and the immoral, the wise and the foolish.
We hope audiences of all ages will be enthused, entertained and afraid … very afraid!
by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor
Directed by Wayne Sheridan
Thu 4 – Sat 6 Sept 7.45pm in the Bar
Do you like your literature short, sweet and highly entertaining? Then join us as we explore the world of books at breakneck speed. In just one evening you will witness 100 of the greatest works as you’ve never experienced them before.
See Don Quixote as a Spanish soap opera!
See Harry Potter performed through interpretative dance!
See Walden reimagined as an action movie!
You’ll laugh … you’ll cry … you’ll wonder why we didn’t do the Da Vinci Code!
Brought to you by the team who produced the spectacular (and Sarnie award-winning) production of 'The Complt wrks of Wilm Skspr (Abridged)', this is another foray in to the condensing of stuffy old books and making them shorter than a Borrower!
by David Haig Directed by Tony Jenner Fri 12th – Sat 20th Sept at 7.45
In 1913, with war imminent, Rudyard Kipling is adamant that his son Jack must fight for King and Country. When Jack is turned down again and again owing to his severe myopia, Kipling pulls some strings and gets him into the Irish Guards. The action then switches to the trenches in France where Jack goes missing in action during the Battle of Loos. Following a lengthy search, a man is found who was with Jack on that day and who knows what happened to him. The truth is hard on all concerned, as the consequences of Kipling’s dogged determination to send his teenage son to the trenches triggers a bitter family conflict.
David Haig’s play is a moving and powerful account of the anguish at the heart of the man whose storytelling continues to delight millions of people all over the world today.
For more information on booking for BLT shows please scroll to the bottom of this email
BLT sweeps the awards!
Our recent production of 'Clybourne Park' picked up a whole string of awards at both the Bromley Theatre Guild and Kent drama festivals, including the ultimate accolades of Best Production (at Bromley) and Best Play (at Kent). Space forbids listing them all, but you can read all the details HERE.
Well done and congratulations to Pauline Armour and her cast & crew!
Join the Big BLT Clean-Up!
9th August at 10am
Yes, folks – it’s nearly that time of year where BLT 'goes dark' for a month - the perfect opportunity to clean, paint, fix, botch, bash and generally clear out all those troublesome nooks and crannies in our theatre.
BUT… this year, we’re doing things a little differently.
On August the 9th, we're asking volunteers to give up just one day to come down and focus on the revival of one fixed space within the building – but don’t worry as there will be plenty of people to help and give guidance.
If you’re a regular BLT visitor but have never taken part in any of our extracurricular activities, then this is a great opportunity to get to know a little bit more about what we do behind the scenes.
We're very keen to see new faces and you only need to give up one day. Families are welcome en masse too. Remember: many hands make light work!
Plus...there'll be some refreshments during the day and in the evening a special party that only people who have volunteered will be able to gain entry to! This will consist of food, drink and entertainment. If you’re interested, please turn up on the 9th of August at 10am in old clothes and loaded with bags of energy.
Come and get your hands dirty!
Be enlightened...
Would you like to learn how to operate stage lights?
We'll shortly be running a series of evening workshops for people who are interested. These will be hands-on sessions with small groups (max 3 people per session), lasting no more than one and a half hours. If you'd like to get involved please contact Howard Binysh on either 0771 552 7911 or email him HERE to arrange a suitable time.
...about working backstage!
BLT already has a great team of dedicated folk working backstage but we do need a bigger pool of people to ensure the smooth running of our productions.
Working on a show is a commitment; (rehearsals usually begin about 6 or 7 weeks before the run) but it's great fun!
If you'd like to find out more about joining the backstage family at BLT, please email Pat Jones HERE. We would love to hear from you!
First stop: 'Anne Boleyn' at Hever Castle Festival Theatre
Thursday July 24 at 8pm Friday July 25 at 2-30 and 8pm Saturday July 26 at 8pm
Directed by Pauline Armour
Howard Brenton’s ‘Anne Boleyn’ was a huge hit at BLT during the summer of 2013. Now this dramatic, highly accessible production comes to Anne’s ancestral home at Hever Castle.
History lessons are not really supposed to be such fun but Brenton’s vision of the life and afterlife of Queen Anne Boleyn is a bawdy, raucous romp packed with drama, sex, intrigue, hilarity...as much entertainment value as a Tudor execution!!
...then see 'Clybourne Park' encoring at The Brockley Jack!
16th - 27th September
As reported above, 'Clybourne Park' recently swept the boards at both the Bromley and Kent Theatre awards.
If you missed it at BLT now's your chance to catch this marvellous play in the perfect setting of the Brockley Jack Theatre - scene of BLT's recent triumph with 'A Doll's House'. Come and support our fabulous cast as they wow the denizens of Brockley with this modern American tour de force!
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE DETAILS - COMING SOON!
The next Playgoers' AGM
To be held at the theatre on Monday 28 July at 8.00PM
AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the AGM of 3 May 2013 3. Matters arising from the minutes 4. Chairman’s report 5. Treasurer’s report 6. Bar Treasurer’s report 7. Membership Secretary’s report 8. Election of committee (nominations to reach the Secretary by Monday 21st July 2014) 9. Any other business
NOMINATIONS
Members may nominate themselves or other members for election to the Committee. Nominees must indicate their willingness to stand if nominated by others and be supported by another member if nominated by themselves. Nominations are invited from as broad a cross section of the membership as possible. Please send your nomination to Ruth Jarvis at the theatre or email her HERE
Did you know that 'Spotlights' is now also online?
BLT's member's magazine has now gone digital - but don't worry you'll still receive the 'real' copy by post every quarter too! To read the current (and previous) issues click the image.
*You can use the online booking system with your membership number and a credit/debit card, provided we have a valid e-mail address for you registered on the Ticketsource system. In the event of any problems using the system please click on these links to email the membership secretary or the box office
Please note: tickets booked online or via the telephone booking system can be refunded with 48 hours notice but are subject to a deduction of the 10% Ticketsource booking fee
IMPORTANT: To book tickets for shows at Bromley Little Theatre you MUST be a member. For details please click here
May we remind you that the smoking of electronic cigarettes is not permitted anywhere on Bromley Little Theatre premises. Thank you.
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