November 015 | No. 5 | Bimonthly www.bromleylittletheatre.org The oFFiCiAL orGAN oF MiChAeL YorK oBe PRESIDENT: • Reviews: Yes, Prime Minister | Invincible | Anne Reid charity evening • Previews: Good People | Doubt: A Parable | The Ladykillers + events Diary • Noticeboard 1 Kerrin Roberts and Bruce Wallace in BLT chair Key contacts BLT’s September 2015 production of Yes, Prime Minister. For quite a long time now, we have been Key contact areas: able to help many deserving charities raise funds by opening our final dress rehearsals [email protected] - [email protected] on the Thursday before the first night of our main house productions to an audi ence invited by the charity. Alison Dunkley Chairman: [email protected] has been in charge of the organisation of Key: Jane Buckland these events for a number of years and- Photo: Tim Hinchliffe (www.timhinchliffe.com) Tim Hinchliffe Photo: has worked very hard with the charities to make these evenings such an enjoy Finance: able and productive part of BLT life. We are very grateful to her. She has decided Key: Howard Binysh [email protected] to step down and Emma Kerby-Evans will take over the running of the charity nights. Artistic: Thank you very much Alison and thank you Emma for picking up the baton. Keys:[email protected] Pauline Armour / Jane Buckland W I hope you’ve had a chance to look at our Tel: 07984 722308 e are very fortunate at BLT in that Spotlights 2016 season which was published in the- the revenue generated from ticket last edition of . It’s one of our Youth group: sales and membership fees covers the most interesting ones to date in my opin cost of putting on our productions and the ion. Our artistic director, Pauline Armour, - general running of the theatre. This happy [email protected] has chosen some works by wellOne known Man, Two situation of being able to live within our Membership: - Guvnorswriters, Coward, Hardy, Wilde, Pinter, Rat means is only possible because of the tens, tigan, a blockbuster comedy, or even perhaps over a whole season, hun , and a range of newer and more - [email protected] dreds, of people who give their time and Key: Christina Jeremiah challenging plays. Here at BLT we have Tel: 07871 155216 expertise for free. The actors and directors, always been delighted by the way our audi front-of-house, bar, coffee and ticket office ences will come and see less well known Box office: volunteers are perhaps the most visible, productions and this means we can offer but every production requires someone to a much more varied programme. We leave [email protected] operate the sound and lights each night, a ten-year gap before repeating any play, Key: Paul Ackroyd Tel: 079178 53621 someone to organise props and help with but if there is something you would really quick changes backstage, build the set etc.- like to see on the stage in 2017 please get Spotlights magazine: If a loo or gutter gets blocked, someone has in touch with Pauline with your suggestion [email protected] to deal with the problem; every member and she will consider it. ship application (over 900 in a typical Key: Stevie Hughes year) needs to be processed; the costumes Our membership period runs from January [email protected] have to be kept organised and in good to December but you can start renewing your membership now (see page 6). Please repair; the wine, ice cream, paper towels Website: have to be bought and replaced; someone encourage friends to join, as the price of has to organize all our publicity and charity membership is very quickly recouped from Key: Stevie Hughes [email protected] nights and I haven’t even mentioned youth lower ticket prices (members get a third off of the full ticket price). From January group, finance, building maintenance“Some and- 2016, there will also be priority booking Publicity: onemany ought other to jobs. … ” So if you find yourself at BLT thinking or saying the phrase: for members. The details of our new Key: Pat Jones , why not become that arrangements can be found on page 4. [email protected] someone? New people and new ideas are Finally, do join our Facebook group for essential if we are to continue to thrive. more informal news and comment about Bar: Key: Peter Yolland I’m afraid you may have seen the odd BLT. It is a closed group, so you may need bucket around the theatre in bad weather to wait a day or two for approval but it is catching leaks. We are in quite complex another useful way of staying in touch with negotiations with our landlords about our little community and sharing thoughts – Jane Buckland, BLT chair major roof repairs and are not ignoring and ideas. the problem but it may take some time to BroMLeY LiTTLe Theatre resolve. It is important that we find the right way to repair but also to develop this Registeredwww.BromleyLittleTheatre.org Charity No. 1132561 unique building so that it continues to be at President: Michael York oBe the heart of Bromley’s artistic life for many years to come. Spotlights COVER: ‘Spotlights’ is designed and typeset by: Bob Etherington and Kerrin Roberts in is published by Bromley Little BLT’s September 2015 production of Theatre Ltd., NorthSpotlights Street, Bromley, Kent 07789 123719 BR1 1SB. Any views or opinions expressed Yes, Prime Minister graphic design • web design • sound design by individuals in are done so Call: [email protected] www.triocreative.com Photo: Phil Cairns (http://philcairns.zenfolio.com) independently and are not necessarily the opinions of Bromley Little Theatre Ltd. or its directors. Review September 2015 Diary Noticeboard & Dates Latest News important changes to Playgoers’ chair’s address: 015/01 ticket sales Fri 6 - Sat 14 Nov 2015 at 7.45pm F y apologies for not reporting to you rom January 2016, we are changing for some time. I seemed to keep Good People our premises licence which will enable missing the deadline while I was away trav- non-members (ie the general public) to buy elling. However,Spotlights. I know that my colleagues Directed by Hilary Cordery have kept you informed of all the changes by David Lindsay-Abaire tickets for our productions. Anyone will be able to purchase a full price £12 ticket throughM Thu 19 - Sun 22 Nov 2015 at 7.45pm for a main house show and guests of mem- Doubt: A Parable bers will no longer need to be signed in. As you may know, BLT is changing to a Ticket prices will remain the same. Public Licence which means that we can sell tickets to the public, and it is the I� T�� B�� I� T�� Directed by Mike Darbon by John Patrick Shanley We’ve outlined the new system below but if intention to start doing this in the New you have any questions, please contact our Fri 4 - Sat 12 Dec 2015 at 7.45pm What has changed? Year. In order for this to run smoothly, box office. training is already in progress for volunteers The Ladykillers in all aspects of front-of-house. More are needed, so please consider whether there • A priority booking system for members Directed by Mike Savill is an area in which you could help. Please by Graham Linehan will be introduced: non-members will get in touch as soon as possible – we would be able to buy full price tickets for our love to have you. 2016 shows one month before the show opens – after the members’ priority I decided early on, when it became clear Fri 15 - Sat 23 Jan 2016 at 7.45pm booking period ends, that the Public Licence required the way Blithe Spirit • Guests of members will no longer need the bar was managed needed to change, Whatto be stays signed the in. same? that it was time for me to retire. I welcome Directed by Stevie Hughes the freedom that this has given me to follow by Noël Coward other interests and do some more travel- Thu 28- Sun 31 Jan 2016 at 7.45pm • Members will be able to book tickets for ling among other things. I wish the new The Believers themselves and for their non-member bar manager and his team every success. guests as soon as booking opens for a It has been a pleasure looking after your show, ie approximately three months in watering hole and meeting some really I� T�� B�� I� T�� Directed by Jessica-Ann Jenner by Bryony Lavery advance. great people. Speaking of which, we have Spotlights some really great people on the Playgoers Fri 12 - Sat 20 Feb 2016 at 7.45pm • Members will continue to receive six A charity evening with Committee; they all work incredibly hard editions of a year. When The rain to keep the theatre running. My thanks to Stops Falling • ‘In The Bar’ shows: only members may them all for their continued support. purchase tickets for themselves and non-member guests. I shall still be around from time to time, Anne reid Directed by Jane Lobb must although doing something less arduous. by Andrew Bovell • If you act, direct, or work on a show Fri 11 - Sat 19 Mar 2016 at 7.45pm backstage, you be a member. Our actors are still doing us proud with Anne’s approach to acting is refreshingly simple: “It’s a knack,” Far From The Please spread the word that anyone can some amazing performances. You all do such a good job – not forgetting the directors she said, “you can either do it or you can’t!” (she didn’t feel that now buy tickets for shows at BLT.