Bishop Auckland Theatre Society

Entertaining the Local Community  

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Cast of the recent pantomime "Robin Hood" by Ian Hornby were interviewed on the radio:  

 

Some of the cast members for the Society's pantomime attended 2D's Community Festival Fayre at Bishop Auckland College on Saturday 21 November 2009.  After making a nuisance of themselves handing out flyers to very nice visitors around the College, the cast joined Terry at Bishop FM for a short interview.

Click here to listen to our Radio advert on Bishop FM

http://www.bishopfm.com/community/2d-community-festive-fayre/

Our pantomime "Robin Hood" by Ian Hornby was also mentioned in a number of local papers:  

 

"Robin Hood", Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland (13 - 16 January 2010)

 

Local children are showing real talent through their performance in Bishop Auckland Theatre Society’s production Robin Hood. ..oh yes they are!

Bishop Auckland Theatre Society used to have a strong youth section however the number of young people in the Society has fallen over recent years. It was therefore necessary to look to Stagecoach, a local performing arts school, for local young talent to be involved with the Society's next pantomime.

Stagecoach Bishop Auckland's Principal, Kate Ruddick, set up her Bishop Auckland Franchise at King James I Community College over 5 years ago having already worked in other Stagecoach Schools as a teacher for ten years.

Pantomim director, Rob Berry, said "this is a great way for us to engage with local children. Their quality individual and group performances have really brought the pantomime to life."

Kate believes that the students at Bishop Auckland have been the best she has taught at any school, many of whom have been successful in securing leading parts in famous musical productions such as Oliver and Annie. "We have a number of committed, focused and talented young people at Stagecoach. This pantomime is a fantastic opportunity for local children to use their theatrical skills in a fun and creative environment" said Kate.

 

Our last production, "Fairway to Heaven" by Diana Raffle was mentioned in a number of local papers:   

     "Fairway to Heaven", Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland (29 September - 3 October 2009)

A shared love of the theatre led to a family’s decision to ‘act up’ at Bishop Auckland Theatre Society (B.A.T.S).

 

As the 70th anniversary year closes, one member celebrates her 15th year as a member of the Society. Rachel Humphrey first joined the group in

1994 and immediately took to playing a vital role as principal girl in many of the Society’s pantomimes and is continuing this trend to date with the role of Maid Marian in the Society’s January 2010 pantomime.

Rachel’s involvement in the pantomimes enticed Sharon Humphrey to follow in her daughter’s footsteps. “There is a strong family love for performing, we are a large family and our family occasions are one long pantomime”.

 

The most recent family addition to the Society is Sharon’s niece, Paula Byrne, who followed the family’s acting trend in 2006 in her first ever acting role in the Society’s performance of Flying Feathers. “Since joining the Society I have never looked back. I am looking forward to this, my 5th production, where I can really get my teeth into my character as she is very different from last ones I've done”.

 

In addition to being members of Bishop Auckland Theatre Society, Sharon, Paula and Rachel also share a family passion for teaching and all three are employed at Bishop Auckland College. You can see Rachel, Sharon and Paula in action in the Society’s next performance, Fairway to Heaven, which opens at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 30th September and runs until Saturday 3rd October 2009.  

 

Our production, "Wait Until the Ghost is Clear" by Ian Hornby received a very positive review in the Northern Echo:

 

 

"Wait until the Ghost is Clear", Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland (22 - 25 April 2009)

 

"The childhood hometown of comic genius Stan Laurel seems the perfect place to watch this farcical comedy, produced by Bishop Auckland Theatre Society. The play hits the ground running as the curtain opens, with the two main characters Jack and Jill Hardy locked in a heated marital bickering match. The two display the illogicality and hilarious pettiness that can characterise such domestic battles.

 

The couples' life seems to be one long endless row. Enter the old fail-safe staple of British comedy- the annoying mother in law, shortly followed by a flirtatious femme fatale and you have recipe for disaster!

 

Set in the couples living room Hornby has used a simple formula not unlike The Royle family in that the humble living room is a place where all manner of human frustrations are played out.

 

Colin Nobbs playing Jack and Yvonne Doyle as Jill bounce of each other with ease and superb comic timing. Doyle convincingly portrays the angst of a disillusioned wife and Nobbs is particularly good at delivering the plays' fast paced one-liners with funny facial expressions to boot!

 

As the farce develops someone is murdered and the culprit isn't found. The dead person returns as a ghost to get mixed up in the ensuing melee, acting out his invisible high jinx.

 

Layer upon layer of delicious humour is piled up until the story reveals a twist in its heart-warming finale. Icing on the cake!" (Andi Nader, Northern Echo)

 

If you would like to come to this performance, you can reserve your tickets here.  

Email us at bishoptheatre@yahoo.co.uk