National theatre Role for Jack

First Printed in The Bolton News, 9:51am Friday 17th June 2011

A TEENAGER from Bolton will be treading the boards at one of the country’s top theatres after winning a place at a prestigious summer school.

Jack Hart, aged 14, has been accepted to the National Youth Theatre’s summer school at Laban School, in Greenwich, London.

As part of the course, the young people involved will perform at The National Theatre.

Jack, of Hilton Avenue, Horwich, has made regular appearances on stage at Bolton Little Theatre, and is currently working behind the scenes on their production of The 39 Steps.

The Rivington and Blackrod School pupil said: “Over 4,500 young people applied so it is great to be picked out and it will be exciting and a privilege to play at the National.”

On Friday, June 24, Jack will be hosting a night of music and poetry at the theatre to raise funds towards the trip. Sandra Simpson, who directed Jack in The Grapes of Wrath, said: “I am always pleased to have him in my productions as he has a mature attitude that makes him completely reliable and his concentration means he is entirely convincing in any role he takes. I was delighted to give him a reference and was thrilled when he got the place.”

Tickets for the fundraising evening cost £10, including supper. To book, ring June Grice on 01204 495622.

Review: 39 Steps

Printed in The Bolton News, Tuesday 14th June 2011

AFTER hearing rave reviews about productions at Bolton Little Theatre I had high expectations for The 39 Steps.

And my expectations weren’t met, they were exceeded.

With just four members in the cast I was curious about how the play would pan out. But as they ‘say good things come in small packages’ and with this adaptation of the John Buchan novel that certainly rang true.

The play centres around English chap and Casanova Richard Hannay’s (played by Mark Leigh) frantic and action-packed time on the run after mysterious Annabella Schmidt (Steph Shipley) is murdered in his London home.

The drama is perfectly pieced together by the two clowns (John O’Connell and Kevin Shipley) who between them had more costume changes and accents than I could count. With their instant changes the four strong cast could have pulled off a cast of 50.

Particular favourites were transformations of a spy to a sheep and a policeman to a train conductor.

It would be unfair and too difficult to single anyone out as they all hit the nail on the head.

But a special mention without a doubt deserves to go to the crew backstage who managed to take the audience on the journey from London to Scotland. The set included boats, a train, a car and some planes. And that is without even mentioning the dogs on leads, car headlights on the clowns’ legs and the puppets – you name it had already been thought of.

Set in the lead up to The First World War the many costumes were traditional but the production even had a touch of modern with some 90s chart toppers and some 4D effects weaved in for the crowd.

The busyness of the show was griping enough for the audience but the dry and somewhat schoolboy humour throughout was priceless.

The only thing I would like to have seen was more information about was Bolton’s unsung stars in the programme – Alfred Hitchcock and John Buchan have had their time to shine let’s hear more about some of Bolton Little Theatre’s finest.

An extra night has been put on due to the demand and let’s hopes every seat is deservingly filled.

Unsurprisingly, at some points you could see members of the cast breaking into a sweat – they truly gave it their all.

Having never read the book of The 39 Steps I am now unsure whether I want to in case it doesn't meet the bar now set.