blt brochure 2014/15
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Bolton Little Theatre
Bolton Little Theatre
Season Brochure2014/2015
A warm welcome to Bolton Little Theatre
Each year we at Bolton Little Theatre (BLT) not only look back at the past years , with a certain amount of nostalgia, but we also look forward as
we plan for an exciting new season of plays and other events.
This coming season has been planned so that there is a balance of old and new drama and comedy to suit the audiences that we welcome in our theatre
The main project for 2014-15 which has already been publicised, is for us to ‘purchase’ the building from the Wigglesworth Trustees, The work on the pro-ject began 3 years ago involving surveys and negotia-tions that we (the Board) hope will with your support enable the theatre be ours. The appeal for £90,000 was launched just before Christmas 2013 and by the time we reached the start of February we had with pledges, donations from members and added to by gift aid reached £74,000. The Board appreciates the confi-dence that has been shown in what we do , Owner-ship will enable us to continue to improve the building
– internally and externally for the benefit of audiences and members and future generations. We are still fund raising so ask that you support in whatever way you can. Watch out for events that will be taking place but above all buy your tickets for the plays
2014 marks an eventful date in BLT history as it was 80 years ago that the first (now very dated) play – Mr Prohack - was produced. More than 600 plays later we are still doing what we all enjoy , by being involved in all aspects of running a successful theatre
The production team has planned an interesting and exciting programme for the coming season One for the Road was last done in 1984 when it was taken to Skipton Drama Festival. That was in the days when festivals were part of the theatre calendar Classic plays have their place – Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance and Arsenic and Old Lace will make a splendid contrast to end 2014. 2015 will see BLT presenting two interesting plays in the Forge –Damages and Boy Gets Girl. BLT has been chosen to take part in the RSC Open Stages. Leah’s Daughters in April 2015 will see Lear from the perspective of his three daughters. And not to forget two great main stage plays, Pack of Lies and We’ll Always have Paris, to complete a fantastic season.
No comment could be better than the comment made in her Archive interview by our President Shelia Coates ‘ BLT is a busy place. If one asks the question
‘Why are you involved ? they’re interesting people who go down to the Theatre no matter what they’re turn-ing their hands to really. There’s an artistry there, but they’re all notorious for having some kind of quirk ‘
There is a place for everyone at BLT whatever your skills but especially for your enthusiasm. So help us make our 80th year in Hanover Street one to remember for many years to come.
Elizabeth TatmanChairman
Season at a Glance
September 13th - 20th 2014
One for the Roadby Willy Russell
November 1st - 8th 2014
Serjeant Musgrave’s Danceby John Arden
December 7th - 14th 2014
Arsenic and Old Laceby Joseph Kesselring
January 31st - February 7th 2015
Damagesby Stephen Thompson
March 7th - 14th 2015
Pack of Liesby Hugh Whitmore
April 15th - 18th 2015
Lear’s Daughtersby Women’s Theatre group and Elaine FeinsteinMay 9th - 16th 2015
Boy Gets Girlby Rebecca Gilman
June 13th - 20th 2015
We’ll Always have Parisby Jill Hyem
PLAYS+
Booking Arrangements• At the Town Hall, Albert Halls Box Office in person
• By phone (01204 334400)
• Online at www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk
• Or on 01204 524469 after 6:30pm on performance nights only
All performances start at 7:30pm unless otherwise stated.
Ticket Seat Prices:All seats for Main Stage and Forge Theatre shows: £10Monday Special: Buy 2 tickets and get 3rd free.Reduced prices for groups of 10 or more except on Fridays and 2nd SaturdaysAll major cards taken at Albert Halls Box OfficeCheques for tickets should be made payable to Bolton MBC and sent to:Albert Halls Ticket Office, Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 8RU
MatineesAll our Forge Theatre productions now include a Sunday afternoon matinee performance at 2:00pm. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Season TicketsYou can buy a season ticket for the whole season at a reduced price of £60 for all seven shows, a saving of £10. Forms of application are available from the theatre. This offer is available until 16th September.
Charities and HospitalityMany charities and other organizations are now enjoying a night out at the theatre as a fund-raising activity or ‘theatre night out’. This can be part of a ‘Supper and Theatre’ deal for groups. Just contact our charities and hospitality coordinator Carol Butler on 01204 460306 or 07828 944293, or ask at the theatre for more information.
Main Stage: 13th - 20th September 2014One for the Roadby Willy Russell
This wickedly observant comedy by the author of Educating Rita finds Dennis on the eve of his thirty-fifth birthday, making a last-ditch attempt to break away from the confines of his middle-class, housing-estate existence. Reaching breaking point at his birthday party he packs a rucksack to make his escape but everyone wants to accompany him.
An hilarious comedy boarding on the farcical, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser and a great start to the new BLT season.
Saturday 13th Sep 2014
Monday 15th Sep 2014 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 16th Sep 2014
Wednesday 17th Sep 2014
Thursday 18th Sep 2014
Friday 19th Sep 2014
Saturday 20th Sep 2014
The Forge: 1st - 8th November 2014Serjeant Musgrave’s Danceby John Arden
Set between 1860 and 1880, four deserters bring the body of a dead soldier back to his home town, a mining community in the grip of a coal strike and cut off by snow. Their leader, Serjeant Musgrave, plans to hold the town at gunpoint and confront its people with the realities of warfare. Arden’s play questions the military principle of “Obey or suffer” and the cruelty and futility of war.
Saturday 1st Nov 2014
Sunday 2nd Nov 2014 2pm Matinee
Monday 3rd Nov 2014 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 4th Nov 2014
Wednesday 5th Nov 2014
Thursday 6th Nov 2014
Friday 7th Nov 2014
Saturday 8th Nov 2014
Main Stage: 7th - 14st December 2014 The Forge: 31st January - 7th February 2015Arsenic and Old Laceby Joseph Kesselring
Damagesby Stephen Thompson
A timeless and classic hit both on Broadway and in the West End. Arsenic and Old Lace is the amusing story of two charming and innocent elderly ladies who decide that by poisoning their poor, lonely lodgers and burying the bodies in their cellar, they are saving these unfortunates from the sorrows of this world - however, not everybody shares their views! This is one of the world’s most widely acclaimed comedy hits.
Deep in the bowels of a tabloid newspaper office, the clock is ticking with only an hour left before the presses have to roll….A controversial photo of a topless children’s TV star has mysteriously turned up. Who sent it? Why? And is it really all it seems?
Damages is a witty and contemporary (im)morality tale of power-hungry hacks, suicidal sub-editors and razor-sharp lawyers, trying to put the past and the paper to bed.
Saturday 6th Dec 2014
Monday 7th Dec 2014 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 8th Dec 2014
Wednesday 9h Dec 2014
Thursday 10th Dec 2014
Friday 11th Dec 2014
Saturday 12th Dec 2014
Saturday 31st Jan 2015
Sunday 1st Feb 2015 2pm Matinee
Monday 2nd Feb 2015 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 3rd Feb 2015
Wednesday 4th Feb 2015
Thursday 5th Feb 2015
Friday 6th Feb 2015
Saturday 7th Feb 2015
Main Stage: 7th -14th March 2015 The Forge: 15th -18th April 2015Pack of Liesby Hugh Whitemore
Lear’s Daughtersby Women’s Theatre group and Elaine Feinstein
The Jacksons are a nice middle aged English couple. Their best friends are their Canadian neighbours, the Krogers. All is blissful in their world until a detective from Scotland Yard asks to use their house as an observation station to try and foil a Soviet spy ring operating in the area. The Jacksons become more and more put out as Scotland Yard’s demands on them increase. They are really put to the test when the detective reveals that the spies are the Krogers and he asks them to help set a trap. Should they betray their friends?
Sisters born in a nursery-rhyme world begin to play more and more dangerous games.
After experiencing Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear, one may have unanswered questions: What happened to the Queen? Who is the Fool, really? And why is everyone so evil? Lear’s Daughters is an imagined prequel that delves into the castle’s past and explores the circumstances that turn princesses against each other.
Saturday 7th Mar 2014
Monday 9th Mar 2014 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 10th Mar 2014
Wednesday11h Mar 2014
Thursday 12th Mar 2014
Friday 13th Mar 2014
Saturday 14th Mar 2014
Wednesday 15th April 2015
Thursday 16th April 2015
Friday 17th April 2015
Saturday 18th April 2015
PLAYS+
The Forge: 9th - 16st May 2015 Main Stage: 13th - 20th June 2015Boy Gets Girlby Rebecca Gilman
We’ll Always have Parisby Jill Hyem
Theresa’s blind date with Tony seems to go well and she agrees to dinner. She has a successful career in New York and it is easier for her to commit to work than another person. But when flowers arrive every day and the phone keeps ringing, she doesn’t know whether to feel flattered, angry or threatened
Three women of a ‘certain age’ gravitate to Paris. There’s Nancy, a retired headmistress determined to throw off the shackles; Anna, recently widowed – and free – after years of nursing a sick husband; and Raquel, a divorcee in search of eternal youth and a new toy boy. A feel-good play with laughter and tears, the promise of romance, friendship and anger, and the advantages and disadvantages of growing old. Perhaps not La Vie en Rose, but We’ll Always Have Paris is certainly a play that will leave audiences charmed, amused, thoughtful – and singing!
Saturday 13th June 2015
Monday 15th June 2015 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 16th June 2015
Wednesday 17th June 2015
Thursday 18th June 2015
Friday 19th June 2015
Saturday 20th June 2015
Saturday 9th May 2015
Sunday 10th May 2015 2pm Matinee
Monday 11th May 2015 3 for 2 tickets
Tuesday 12th May 2015
Wednesday 13th May 2015
Thursday 14th May 2015
Friday 15th May 2015
Saturday 16th May 2015
The Next Generation AppealDear Supporter
We need your help. As the oldest theatre building in Bolton and
indeed one of the oldest theatrical societies in the area, Bolton Little
Theatre has been an important and well-used home for theatrical
and community groups in Hanover Street for 80 years.
We are a registered charity, run by an enthusiastic and committed
army of volunteers of all ages and receive no outside subsidies. We
have been offered an opportunity to buy the lease of our Hanover
Street building and thus to secure the future of Bolton Little Theatre.
We have so far raised £66,250 towards the total of £90,000 from our
own efforts and kind donations, but we need one big push to help
us reach our goal before time runs out.
We welcome any donations, personal or business, small or large.
If you would like to discuss how you can help please write to me at the theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton BL1 4TG or by email: [email protected]. You can also make a donation online by visiting our website, www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk/donate
I hope that we can count on your help to create a Bolton Little Theatre legacy for future generations to come.
Thank you.
Elizabeth TatmanChairman
Fridays in the ForgeAs well as a fantastic programme of plays, Bolton Little Theatre also holds regular Friday evening events in the Forge Theatre. Everything from acoustic music sessions and comedy evenings to one man shows and murder mysteries. Keep an eye on our website or social media accounts to find out more or join our mailing list.
Plays +Our Plays+ selection of performances are specially selected by the production team to offer something different to the main programme. These plays provide our audiences with the opportunity to take in something different to the usual fare with short runs of new, experimental or sometimes controversal plays from around the world. More details are available via our website, social media sites and of course through the mailing list
MembershipAs a charity run entirely by volunteers we are reliant on the good will of our members to keep us going. As well as actors, we also need a legion of ‘back stage’ workers: stage managers, props people, lighting and sound engineers, and ‘front of house’ people to work behind the bar, serve tea and coffee, man the box office, assist people getting to their seats etc.
In addition we meet on Monday evenings from 7.15pm to socialise and prepare for our next production. Most of our volunteering involves evening work but some activities do take place during the day.
Membership is £12 per year for individuals and £20 for couples. For young people under 16 and Senior Citizens, membership is just £6. Contact the Membership Secretary at the theatre or email [email protected]
Directions and ParkingBolton Little Theatre is located on Hanover Street and is less than a two minute walk from the town centre. The central bus station is located at the end of the road and the train station is just a short walk away - making Bolton Little Theatre extremely accessible from across the region.
For those travelling by car the theatre is located just 5 minutes away from the A666 and M61. Just head towards the Town Centre following signs for Moor Lane. Hanover Street is located directly beside the Albion Pub
On show nights audience members may use the car park on Hanover Street from 6pm at no charge. There is also free on-street parking from 6pm on Hanover Street and Gas Street in the designated areas.
Contact DetailsAddress: Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton, BL1 2TGE-mail: [email protected]: www.boltonlittletheatre.co.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/theatreboltonTwitter: @theatrebolton
The ForgeThe Forge Theatre is an intimate 60 seat auditorium with limited disabled access. Because of the nature of the theatre, late entry may not be possible until the first interval.
Main StageThe Main Stage is a 163 seat proscenium arch theatre with raked auditorium, and disabled lift facilities, wheelchair platform and induction loop. Late entry may be possible at the discretion of the House Manager.
With thanks to:Ben Latham for poster and leaflet design
Kev Walsh for designing the brochure [email protected]
Andrea Keeley for [email protected]
theatrebolton @theatreboltonBolton Little Theatre Ltd
Registered Company No. 01333890 and Registered Charity No. 507832