About Bishop Auckland Theatre Society and the Town that made it...

Bishop Auckland Theatre Society:

Bishop Auckland Theatre Society (B.A.T.S) is a theatre group based in County Durham in the North East of England and was formed as Bishop Auckland Little Theatre Club in 1939, having been meeting informally and reading plays at homes since 1932. 2009 therefore marks a significant milestone of 70 years entertaining the local community.

The Society originally rehearsed in what is now the Postchaise Hotel in the town’s Market Place, and put on shows at the Jubilee Hall in Victoria Avenue, now the Masonic Hall before moving its performances to Bishop Auckland Technical College in the 1960s and eventually into Bishop Auckland Town Hall in the 1990s.

Usually, the Society performs two plays per year, one in April and one in September and rehearsals take place twice a week , usually at the local Cricket Club. New for January 2012 is the revival of the B.A.T.S annual pantomime, which unfortunately had to be halted in previous years due to a decline in our youth section.

Despite having a strong membership in earlier years, thanks to the above mentioned youth section, numbers have fallen and the Society are therefore always looking for new talent, of any age, to join. No previous experience is necessary.

As well as rehearsing for, and performing, plays the Society has come a long way and has developed a thriving social scene including quiz nights, theatre workshops, drama festivals, BBQs, bar meals, nights out, Christmas parties and outings to see various regional plays. The members can genuinely call each other friends and a number of members over the years have even met their partners there.

Join our Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002937392228

Bishop Auckland, the Town: Bishop Auckland, the gateway to Weardale, is a busy market town in South West Durham. The town stands high above a meander in the River Wear, commanding spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. If you are interested in history, Bishop Auckland has it all. For further information about Bishop Auckland, click here. Please click here for a location map of Bishop Auckland.