BLT Spy Comedy Coup hits the Paper

Theatre celebrates spy comedy coup

From the Bolton News, Sunday 19th September 2010.

BOLTON Little Theatre is celebrating after becoming the first amateur theatre in the country to be granted the rights to perform the classic spy comedy, The 39 Steps.

Five years ago, Bolton Little Theatre member Mark Leigh saw the adaptation of The 39 Steps on its pre-London tour and immediately saw it as a potential hit for the amateur company. However requests to the producers for permission to perform the play resulted in refusals as professional versions were being staged all over the world, including on Broadway and in London.

Undeterred, Mark persisted, and his hard workpaid off when the theatre was given permission to stage the show next year.

Mark said: “This is a real coup for Bolton Little Theatre. The show is still running in London and all over the world, but the audiences at Bolton Little Theatre will be able to see it on their doorstep.”

The show is based on the 1935 thriller film of the same name, which was directed by Albert Hitchcock. It centres around a man who finds himself accused of the murder of a counter-espionage agent, and who must stop a spy ring from stealing top secret information while simultaneously trying to clear his name.

John O’Connell, who won the Best Actor trophy at this year’s BATS awards for his role as Alec in Brief Encounter, will be taking on the role of the policeman.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge. We have already had some fun taking photographs of us in the scenes.”

The show will also star Mark Leigh, and married couple Steph and Kevin Shipley.

The four actors will between them play 139 characters, and director Andrew Close has promised all the famous scenes from the film, including the escape on the Forth Bridge, and a deathdefying finale on the stage of the London Palladium. The comedy element was introduced when it was adapted for the stage in 2005.

The show will run from June 11 to 18 next year. Tickets cost £9 and are available now from theAlbert Halls Box Office or by ringing 01204 334400.

The Forge turns 21!

On Friday 24th September we are celebrating 21 years of theatre in the Forge. 

It opened 23rd of September 1989 with "Hindle Wakes" directed by Margaret Ward.

Michael Shipley has organised a short entertainent from the many plays which have been put on over the years with some of the original casts.

This will be followed by a light supper (not the Pasty and peas but M&S nibbles organised by June Grice) with Birthday cake to follow.

Tickets £8 available from Frances at boltonlittletheatre@gmail.com or 01204 469468

Review: Bolton Little Theatre - Relative Values

Taken from the Bolton News, Monday 13th September 2010

Relative Values Bolton Little Theatre Until September 18 Tickets: 01204 334400

Natalie Compton and Stephen Stubbs as Miranda and Don Lucas
Picture curtsey of Steve Gill at smileweddings.co.uk

RELATIVE Values is in many ways its own toughest critic.

There’s a hint of the post modern when the butler, Mr Crestwell - played deftly by Michael Tatman - turns to glance beyond the fourth wall and utters the line: “a comedy of manners quickly becomes obsolete when there are no longer any manners.”

Noel Coward, mate - you don’t know you were born. If you thought English society was on the decline in 1950, try a night out in Stalybridge in 2010.

Anyway, the dialogue, so steeped as it is in manners and class division, can sound a little alien to modern ears - but don’t let that put you off.

The Bolton Little Theatre audience is clearly one of taste, refinement and manners, as this discerning crowd revels in the urbane witticisms that are the stock-in-trade of the genre.

Typically, much of Relative Values’ action is based upon an implausible contrivance involving someone pretending to be someone else, and much hilarity ensues - guffaw, guffaw - and we all learn a nice lesson about social inequality and culture clashes in the process.

The acting is universally superb; the cast of nine command the stage, which is beautifully decorated in the style of a 1950s English manorhouse living room, and there’s not a moment wasted - every glance, every intonation is spot on.

Natalie Crompton, making her BLT debut, nails the offhand insensitivity of her movie star character without losing her warmth or humour, and June Grice is the definition of composure as the unflappable Countess of Marshwood.

In fact, all Relative Values’ characters are so likeable, it’s difficult to know who to cheer for.

Suffice to say it’s a play that’s well worth a look - but don’t forget your manners.

Review by Julian Thorpe

BLT Celebrates BATS Success

Representatives from Bolton Little Theatre celebrated a fantastic season of Bolton Amateur Dramatics at the Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies Awards last Friday. Not only was an evening of good food and entertainment enjoyed but BLT also came away with a fantastic number of awards and nominations.

Nominations included:

• "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for best Set and Costume design
• Andrew Close in "Harvey" for  Best Actor in a Comedy
• June Grice in "Harvey" for Best Actress in a Comedy
• Wendy Dawson in "Steel Magnolias" for Best Actress in a Drama
• "Steel Magnolias" for Best Drama

A big well done for all those nominated. As for awards, congratulations go out to:

• Mark Leigh in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for Best Actor in a Comedy
• John O'Connel in "Brief Encounter" for Best Actor in a Drama
• "Blue Remembered Hills" for Best drama

A big well done for those people involved in making the evening a great success and congratulations to all those that won or were nominated. We look forward to an equally entertaining time next year.

Next at Bolton Little Theatre

Relative Values
by Noel Coward
Saturday 11th to Saturday 18th September

Relative Values is sparkling fun from the Master of light comedy, Noel Coward. The comedy was recently revived at Chichester Festival Theatre with Susan Hampshire and Sarah Brightman, and even more recently filmed starring Julie Andrews and Stephen Fry.

Relative Values

The comedy takes place at Marshwood House, Kent, in 1951, and consternation reigns as Nigel, the eligible Earl of Marshwood, announces his engagement to Miranda Frayle, the latest Hollywood heart-throb, or to quote the household of Marshwood House, “a painted floozie”. Nigel’s mother takes the news with a stiff upper lip, but privately she’s appalled to hear her son and heir is to marry, of all things, a Hollywood actress! The fun and chaos continues with surprise revelations, surprise visitors from Hollywood, and perhaps not so surprising, a happy ending. It is all light-hearted fun with a top-notch cast to match.

June Grice leads as Felicity, the Countess of Marshwood, with Jennifer Lee, Natalie Crompton, Carol Butler, Sara Collinson, Michael Tatman, Phil Lunt, Stephen Stubbs, and Ben Latham giving strong support.

Stunning period costumes have been designed and created by Lorraine and Viv Parry, a suitable aristocratic setting by the Stage Team, and David Lodmore is lighting the show.

Tickets are now available from the Bolton Albert Halls Ticket Office.

The play was to be directed by Audrey Lias, who, together with Renee Caine, completed extensive preparation before her illness. All this work has been incorporated into the production, and Audrey hopes to be with us at the show.