New production is an epic creation

From The Bolton News, 28th February 2011

BOLTON Little Theatre’s production of The Grapes of Wrath, recreates Steinbeck’s epic tale of the Joad family’s journey from Oklahoma to California in search of work. When the Joads needed a vehicle to carry the family and their few possessions along Route 66 for 2,000 miles, luck was with them!

Epic Creation with the help of Jolyon Coombes (far right)

Jolyon Coombes, who worked at The Octagon for many years, walked into the theatre looking for a challenge. Twenty four hours later he was back with a scale model of just the jalopy to do the job. Three weeks later, with help from BLT’s resident stage crew, the finished product is in danger of being the star of the show.

Travel with them on this courageous trek by booking seats for this production which opens on Saturday March 19 and runs until March 26.

The volunteer set builders meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.

Tickets for the show cost £9, and are available from the Albert Halls box office on 01204 334400 or through htpps//www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk.

Kat Dibbs

Gripping Night of Entertainment

From the Bolton News, Thursday 3rd February 2011

Dangerous Corner by JB Priestley Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton Runs until Saturday February 12th THIS JB Priestley masterpiece is perfect for the intimate setting afforded by the compact Forge Theatre within Bolton Little Theatre.

A larger auditorium would definitely detract from the maximum impact Priestley intends with this drama.

However perfect the theatre is though the right setting would be pointless if the cast didn't have the sort of excellent acting skills I was lucky enough to witness last night.

This was amateur acting at its very best - so polished and perfect it would put many professional casts to shame.

The storyline is dramatic from start to finish. This is edge of the seat stuff with plenty of character assassination and the odd assignation thrown in for good measure.

Sitting so close to the action means the audience feels somewhat of a voyeur - watching lives unfold and disintegrate at close hand makes for fascinating, viewing and so real are the performances at time you feel you are watching a real life confession of sins.

But where to start with the accolades? Suffice to say each of the seven cast members brought their own qualities to their individual role and each was faultless. If pushed to pick my favourites it would have to be Peter Scofield as Robert Caplan and Jennifer Lee as his wife.

There is so much intrigue around each and every corner that this production is as fast flowing as it is revealing.

The two intervals do give you the opportunity to pause for breath and then it's back to the heady ride that is Dangerous Corner.

Given that this play is a sell-out may I make the suggestion you take a look at future BLT productions and book yourselves in as soon as possible so as not to be disappointed.

Gayle McBain