Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
BOX OFFICE: 01284 669505
Saturday 31 March – Sunday 1 April 2012
The Theatre Royal Community Company
We Happy Few
by Imogen Stubbs
directed by Lynn Whitehead and Amy Wyllie
by arrangement with Nick Hern Books
The men are off fighting the Nazis and those left behind have been advised to
‘Holiday-at Home’ so a motley assortment of enthusiastic women decides to bring a bit of culture to the people of war-torn Britain. This gung-ho gang of mismatched theatricals embarks on a crazy adventure touring their props and costumes in the back of a 1920’s Rolls Royce. Members of the Theatre Royal’s Community Company have embarked on their own adventure to bring Imogen Stubbs’ heart-warming and hilarious play to the stage.
‘On this impressive debut, they are surely a company to watch in the future’
Glen’s Theatre Blog, Northanger Abbey (2011)
Wednesday 4 April
Seabright and Fitzrovia Productions
The Fitzrovia Radio Hour
‘Absolutely spiffing show that recreates the innocent, clipped, Bulldog Drummond spirit of Forties live radio drama, with a skilled company stepping up their retro mics to unfold ripping yarns. A joy.’ **** Daily Telegraph
Recreating the unique spirit of 1940’s radio plays, and brilliantly evoking a dinner jacketed age of casual imperialism and stiff upper lips, The Fitzrovia Radio Hour’s brand new show tours fresh from three critically acclaimed London residencies, and two sell-out years at the Edinburgh Fringe. Throughout the plays, sound effects are created live: a Bakelite hairdryer imitates a heating torch, a desk fan becomes an aeroplane, and multiple types of cabbage help to stage a fight scene. Rippingly good fun!
Thursday 5 April
Gonzo Moose
I’m An Aristocrat,
Get Me Out Of Here!
directed by Abigail Anderson
Inspired by the Scarlet Pimpernel, three fearless and daring actors play over 20 roles in 75 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action. Paris, 1792. Revolution grips the city and the secret police march traitors to their deaths. No one is safe. Everyone is a suspect. Paris needs a hero, someone who can deliver it from this terror and restore freedom and justice. Will such a hero emerge? Yes. With comedy and thrills galore you’ll gasp, laugh and be amazed at the elaborate sword fights, the heart wrenching love scenes, and the sensational death-defying French accents.
On Gonze Moose:
‘A riot from start to finish’ ***** Venue Magazine
‘Outstanding’ **** Chortle
Saturday 7 April
Sing a Long a Productions
Sing-a-long-a Grease
The brand new sing along version of the classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John brought to you by the producers of Sing-a-Long-a Rocky Horror Picture Show and Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music. Don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening where you are the stars and remember GREASE is the word…
Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 April
Theatre Alibi with Exeter Northcott Theatre and Oxford Playhouse
The Crowstarver
based on the book by Dick King Smith
adapted by Daniel Jamieson
directed by Nikki Sved
One moonlit night on Outoverdown Farm, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, a baby is discovered with a note pinned to its shawl ‘PLEASE SAVE THISLAMB’. As John Joseph grows up, the mystery of his birth is not the only thing that marks him out as special. He has an amazing way with animals of all kinds dogs, foxes, hares,horses. But life can be tough and danger is only ever a whisker away… Packed with action, wonderful animal puppets and beautiful live music, The Crowstarver is a thrilling and heart-warming production that will delight and move audiences of all ages, from 8 upwards. Other works by Dick King-Smith include The Sheep Pig, adapted into the Oscar winning film Babe.
‘This truly is faultless theatre – moving and highly original. Don’t miss it’
Whats On Stage *****
‘We left the theatre smiling and weeping and could have sat through the show all over again’
Audience member
Wednesday 18 April
Restoring the Repertoire
A Script in Hand reading
A Bold Stroke For A Wife (1718)
written by Mrs. Susannah Centlivre
originally read March 2007
This wonderful play is perhaps the finest example of Centlivre’s masterful plotting of comic intrigue. The soldier Feignwell and Anne Lovely are in love, but their path to the altar is blocked by her guardians Sir Philip Modelove who has ‘May in his fancy and dress, but December in his face and heels’; Periwinkle ‘a kind of virtuoso – a silly half witted fellow’; Tradelove ‘a fellow that would out-lie the devil for the advantage of stock’ and Centlivre’s magnificent creation – ‘the very rigid Quaker’ Obadiah Prim; each of whom has a different view of what sort of husband would make the right match. The satirical bite of this sparkling comedy is directed at Tory respectability, religious propriety and capitalist speculative greed.
For more information on the live recording please see Speed the Plough on page 7.
Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 April
Impact Opera
The Barber of Seville
based on the opera by Rossini
new English version written and directed by Peter Knapp
When Viscount Lindsey, of Grimborne Sussex, arrives in Seville, Spain one mad midsummer’s morning, he is not there to open a fiesta. He is in fact there to try to woo, win and wed the lovely Rosina de Croix who works at the reception desk of the Hotel Sevillana. There is one major obstacle in his way however, Lionel
Bartolo, owner of the hotel and Rosina’s jealous guardian, who alarmingly has plans to marry her himself. This is going to be no easy mission.
This hilarious musical theatre version of the comic classic is guaranteed to appeal to fun loving audiences of all ages.
‘It ought to be called The Barber of Fawlty Towers, since Peter Knapp’s re-write of Rossini’s opera, by far the funniest version I have seen, deserves the same popularity enjoyed by that enduring television series.’
The Guardian
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 April
Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society
Follies
book by James Goldman
music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
produced originally on Broadway by Harold Prince
by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh
Sondheim’s story of a reunion of the Weismann Follies flashes back to the earlier lives of the players. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes telling of love that is romantic and sometimes of love unrequited, with a fantastic score including such classics as Broadway Baby, Losing My Mind and I’m Still Here
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