Bromley Little Theatre Season Brochure Jan-Apr 2023

2023 jan-apr

UPCOMING SHOWS

Find out what's coming up for January - April (plus the rest of 2023)

WELCOME!

Welcome to our brand new regular season brochure! We hope you enjoy seeing what's coming up

FUNDRAISE FOR US

Are you a swimmer?

We need your help!

See page 4 for more details

In this first issue, we celebrate 85 years since the theatre’s first in-house productions in 1938. We also welcome the appointment of our new Joint President, Zoë Tapper. Recently we have seen real progress on improvements to the building and the agreement of a 30 year lease, securing the future of BLT past the middle of the 21st century at least.

Much has changed since H Wilson Pook converted the Coop bakery into our much loved theatre, but the fundamental mission of bringing West End quality drama to the Bromley community at affordable prices remains the same. As audiences return after the enforced closures of 2020 and 2021, the artistic team have gone to great lengths to put together a season for 2023 which has wide appeal while maintaining our commitment to excellent writing and providing opportunities for actors of various ages, genders and experience – truly Outstanding Theatre. For Everyone.

I very much hope you will enjoy reading about the 2023 season and will be inspired to book early for all the shows and also to consider volunteering to help keep BLT the friendly vibrant little theatre that we all love.

KEY CONTACT DETAILS:

Board: blt board@bromleylittletheatre org

Volunteer: blt discover@bromleylittletheatre org

Membership: blt.membership@bromleylittletheatre.org

Keith Jeremiah Chair

Welcome to BLT’s new season brochure.

COVER: Seamore Nelson, Joshua Williams-Ward, Isabella Zufolo & Freya Collins in BLT’s February 2022 production of Wind in the Willows

building works

The current phase of refurbishment work to the auditorium building is almost complete. The rehearsal room below the auditorium has been transformed into a flexible double room which we hope to make available for daytime community use as well as providing better facilities for our own production teams, the BLT Youth Group and our charity partners

Safety for our audiences is much improved by a new fire protected staircase leading to the new escape door and facilities for cast and crew backstage are also much better.

If you would like to have a look round the area of the works, please contact any member of the BLT Board or management team who will be delighted to give you the guided tour. If you would like to help with decoration and/or final fitting out, even better!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR MEMBERS

AFTER:

You may have received this season brochure by post, but we won't be able to do this for every one - if you'd like a brochure posted to you, please either call 020 3189 1690 and leave a message with your full name and first line of your address OR email blt.membership@bromleylittletheatre.org

BEFORE: The old oven room wall

AFTER: The new rehearsal space taking shape

BEFORE: The old ladies dressing room

Work in progress of the new tech room & stairs

n d r a i s i n g

I hope that Keith's update of the substantial works that have been undertaken gives you an idea of how we ' ve been investing in securing the future of the theatre and how important these works are.

We also hope that we will soon be in a position to share our new spaces to the wider community, which will provide an excellent opportunity for BLT to generate some extra income as well as increase awareness of the theatre!

Finding extra money is of course vitally important right now. This is only Phase Two of our extensive refurbishment project, and we need to raise a lot more money before we can start on the next phase, which will provide a new accessible entrance, stairs and lift as well as a much more more spacious foyer space.

We are looking at funding from external sources but will also need to ask our loyal members and friends to continue to give what they can and help us raise money from the local community and businesses.

w a y s y o u c a n h e l p

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Sign up to our monthly lottery draw - BLoTo - find out more and sign up at:

www.bromleylittletheatre.org/bloto

Donate to BLT when you shop by signing up to Give As You Live:

www.bromleylittletheatre.org/latest-fund-raising-news

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The most recent of our fundraising efforts is the SWIMALONG organised by Beckenham Rotary Club, taking place in March. Sign up to be a swimmer by emailing Dave on the email address below, and look out for sponsorship details.

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Donate any amount via the QR code below, or top up your ticket purchase with a donation!

Volunteer as part of the fundraising team - email Dave for more information!

davearmour@bromleylittletheatre.org

Scan the QR code to donate via Patronbase - every little helps!

Dave Armour Fundraising Director

a n

Love from a Stranger

By Agatha Christie & Frank Vosper

Directed by Jessica-Ann Jenner

SHOW DATES

Friday 13th, 7.45pm

Saturday 14th, 2.30pm

Monday 16th -

Friday 20th, 7.45pm

Saturday 21st, 2.30pm and 7.45pm

Main Auditorium

Tickets

£14 (non member)

£10 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

Cecily Harrington sits in her London flat waiting for her fiancé to come home from deployment but her heart longs for travel and adventure.

Enter Bruce Lovell, handsome, charismatic, mysterious; but is ‘love with a stranger’ the romantic adventure she has been hoping for or a fatal mistake! This psychological thriller has everything you want – maybe even murder!

CAST:

Louise Garrard Heather Wain

Mavis Wilson Sophie Gissing

Cecily Harrington Laura Chambers

Bruce Lovell Joshua Lawson

Nigel Lawrence Chris Hopkins

Hodgson Peter Yolland

Ethel Jemma Carew

Dr Gribble Richard Gissing

f e b

A Bunch of Amateurs

By Ian Hislop & Nick Newman Directed

Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steel arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village.

And instead of Sir Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers.

by Michael Darbon

SHOW DATES

Main Auditorium

Tickets

£14 (non member)

£10 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

CAST:

Dorothy Nettle Alison Green

Nigel Dewbury James Strange

Mary Plunkett Marion Barker

Denis Dobbins Jo East

Jefferson Steel Steve Hemsley

Lauren Bell Alison Craddock

Jessica Steel Isobel Willis

Rita, a young hairdresser, wants to know everything; this is at odds with what her family and friends expect of her. She embarks on an Open University course. Frank, a lecturer at a “ proper university” has signed up to be her tutor because he needs the money.

Rita and Frank make us laugh and think about life’s choices as they change each other.

By Willy Russell

Directed by Kerrin Roberts

f e b Educating Rita BAR SHOW

SHOW DATES

22nd - 26th Feb

7.45pm

In the Bar

Tickets

£10 (non member)

£8 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

CAST: Frank Ross Holland Rita Naomi Bowman

m a r

The King's Speech

By David Seidler

Directed by Pauline Armour

SHOW DATES

10th - 18th March

No show on 12th

7.45pm

Main Auditorium

Tickets

£14 (non member)

£10 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

Coronation cancelled! Dec 1936. Edward VIII abdicates. His brother Bertie, afflicted by a debilitating stutter is reluctantly thrust into the limelight Britain on the brink of war in Europe needs a head of state who can inspire the nation.

This brilliant stage adaptation was developed from the 2011 Oscar- winning film starring Colin Firth.

CAST:

Bertie Paul Baker

Lionel Bruce Wallace

Elizabeth Lucy White

Myrtle Emma Sweeney

Cosmo Lang Paul Ackroyd

Winston Churchill Richard Gissing

David Simon Holland

King George V John Turnbull

Stanley Baldwin Terry Richards

Wallis Simpson Jaimi Keemer

a r

mYouth Theatre Show

Directed

by

Pauline Armour & Jessica-Ann Jenner

We are delighted to announce that our 2023 Youth Theatre production will be “The Unreturning” by Anna Ruth Jordan. Full details will be announced in early 2023.

Volunteering

We're always on the lookout for new volunteers, and you don't need any previous experience (for most roles). Full training can be provided for the more technical roles, and we encourage people of all ages to get involved.

We are currently looking for volunteers in all areas of the theatre.

Please email Simon if you'd like to get involved: blt.discover@bromleylittletheatre.org

SHOW DATES

23rd - 25th Mar 7.45pm

Main Auditorium

Acting

Directing

Front of House Bar

Stage Management

Set building

Lighting

Sound Props

Wardrobe

Publicity

Fundraising

Building Management

Scan the QR code to sign up to our mailing and volunteering list.

Or visit the Get Involved page on our website for more details.

bromleylittletheatre.org/get-involved

By Henrik Ibsen

Directed by Jessica-Ann Jenner

a p r Hedda Gabler

SHOW DATES

14th - 22nd April

No show on 16th

7.45pm

Main Auditorium

Tickets

£14 (non member)

£10 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

“I was bored. Bored, bored, bored and I am still bored. Bored to death!”

Hedda is only just back from her honeymoon but has already tired of her husband. Dissatisfied and unfulfilled she seeks to take back control, but every action has a consequence, and the smallest spark can kindle the greatest flame

CAST: TO BE ANNOUNCED

Fancy seeing your name on a cast list?

Check out the back page for audition notices and the website for details.

'You think people are dead, but that’s not always the case. ’ André and Madeleine have been in love for over fifty years, but this weekend, as their daughters visit, something feels unusual.

Flowers arrive, but who sent them? A woman from the past turns up, but who is she? Why is a man sharpening knives? And why does André feel like he isn’t there at all?

By Florian Zeller

Directed by Jane Lobb

a p r The Height of the Storm BAR SHOW

SHOW DATES

26th - 30th April

7.45pm

In the Bar

Tickets

£10 (non member)

£8 (member)

Scan the QR code for full listing & to book your ticket.

CAST:

Andre Gerald Bishop

Madeleine Pauline Armour

Anne Ruth Kearley

Elise Anna McNamara

A Woman Kim Goldsmith

A Man Luca Lavagetto

coming soon

M A Y J U N

Separate Tables

By Terence Rattigan | Directed by Hilary Cordery & Kay O’Dea

Show dates: 12th - 20th May (not Sunday 14th)

A Few Good Men

By Aaron Sorkin

Directed by Paul Campion

Show dates: 9th - 17th June (not Sunday 11th)

Gentleman Jack

Adapted from the diaries of Ann

Lister by Ross McGregor

Directed by Stevie Hughes

AUDITIONS

Sunday 15th January 2023

1pm An Intervention

2pm Things I Know to Be True

J U L N O V

Things I Know to Be True

By Andrew Bovell

Directed by Jessica-Ann Jenner

Show dates: 15th - 23rd September (not Sunday 17th)

To be confirmed

Show dates: 7th - 15th July (not Sunday 9th). S E P O C T

3.30pm October show TBC

An Intervention

By Mike Bartlett

Directed by Colleen Batson

Show dates: 27th September1st October

SBAR HOW

We are hoping that the rights for a play we would very much like to include in our 2023 Programme become available over the next 12 months - otherwise we shall make an alternative choice at a later date | Directed by Paul Ackroyd

Show dates: 13th - 21st October (not Sunday 15th)

The Incident Room

By Olivia Hirst & David Byrne

Directed by Pauline Armour

There Are No Beginnings

By Charley Miles

Directed by Gillian Gissing

SBAR HOW

Show dates: 22nd - 26th November

Blackadder

By Richard Curtis & Ben Elton

Show dates: 10th - 18th November (not Sunday 12th) D E C

Directed by Tony Jenner

Show dates: 8th - 16th December (not Sunday 10th)

AUDITIONS

Sunday 12th February 2023

1pm The Incident Room

2.30pm There Are No Beginnings

3.30pm Blackadder