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Another classic play performed in October 2024 and directed by Ian Stead. The story set in a country railway station has a twist at the end when the Ghost train proves to be a cover for arms smugglers. It proved to have comic elements as well as more serious elements giving our talented cast a wonderful opportunity to show their skills in both genres. Another show throughly enjoyed by all.
The latest BTP production was their annual pantomime. However because of Calderdale Councils decision to sell our traditional home, The Civic Hall Brighouse, we have had to find alternative venues for productions. This meant looking further afield this year (Elland) and a different time of year (Easter). Both of these factors may have impacted on the attendance numbers, which was a real shame as it was considered to be BTPs best ever Panto. (The opinion of those attending and not just BTP marketing!) The reaction to the subject Romeo &Juliet has established it as a real contender for a family pantomime! Supported with brilliant sound/lighting/scenery/props and costumes, the fantastic cast created a beautiful demonstration of how to make a non-traditional Panto theme relevant and enjoyable, aided and abetted by Peter O’Hares excellent band and Katey Jo’s creative choreography. All these ingredients were mixed together by the very talented Director, Damian Shalks.
Brighouse Theatre Productions have done it again- another sell-out event. This time it was that classic film/play The Ladykillers. The show was very successfully played out over three ‘levels’ of a set. Every well-cast member played their part brilliantly especially the two leading characters Professor Marcus (Ian Stead) and Mrs Wilberforce (Loretta Ramsden). Great fun was had by all. We can’t wait for the next production: a pantomime at Easter. New time (Easter week) New venue (The Brooksbank School Elland and a brand new family pantomime ‘Romeo & his Juliet.
Stepping Out is a warm and very funny play about the lives, laughs and loves of a group of women (and one man) attending a weekly tap-dance class in a dingy North London church hall set in the 80’s.
BTP performed this very funny play on three ‘sold-out’ nights at St John’s Rastrick to enthusiastic and appreciative audiences in June 2023.
BTP aims to perform a mix of shows over a calendar year and Stepping Out followed the successful Panto -Aladdin in January 2023 and will be followed by The Ladykillers play in November 2023.
Following the closure of Brighouse Civic Hall we relocated to Brighouse High School for our 2023 pantomime. We were again lucky enough to have script written for us by Sean Brennan and Damian Shalks.
The production was directed by Damian Shalks, his first pantomime for us, using his professional experience to develop our cast of characters. Although we missed our usual home of the Civic Hall, everyone from all departments pulled together to bring another successful show to the public of Brighouse and surrounding areas..
Performed in April 2022 at St John’s Community Hall and directed by Damian Shalks. A comedy version of an Agatha Christy murder mystery written by Derek Webb gave our talented company chance to try out a different type of play and certainly kept the audience laughing.
Funds were raised for Candlelighters (Cancer Charity) in memory of Phoebe Gibson-Wriggles, who took part in several pantomimes..
A special production written by Damian Shalks and Sean Brennan for Speight’s Gin (www.sp8gin.com) to launch their new gin at Shibden Hall, Halifax and based loosely, on the Anne Lister story.
It has since been performed at Shibden Hall as part of the Anne Lister festival and is part of our Street Theatre performances. These are specially written short performances with the aim of introducing the public to live theatre by taking it out onto the streets of Brighouse and surrounding areas.
The society’s first performance post COVID. Performed in October 2021 at St John’s community Hall Rastrick and based on the TV series written by David Croft and Jimmy Perry.
The production, directed by Damian Shalks, won the NODA North East Councillors’ award for best overall show, earning comments not only for the show itself but the total experience with the hall ‘make-over’ and front of house staff all joining in. Our experienced cast proved that if you “Don’t Panic” you can have a highly successful show. Funds were raised for The Royal British Legion.
Our final production before COVID hit the country was performed at Brighouse Civic Hall and directed by Roy Byram. We had taken a gamble on a new writing team, Sean Brennan and Damian Shalks and it proved to be a decision that paid off.
With an amazing script (now available from NODA) cast, and a new MD in Peter O’Hare we had people laughing out loud at the antics of Jack, Dick and Sarah the Cook. We also received some wonderful comments from the audience including those from the NODA representative who said, “it was the best mop scene I had ever seen”.
The Society's first move into doing plays performed in May 2019 and directed by Margaret Warmington. The play utilised scripts from the TV series written by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, and proved a great success, giving an evening of enjoyment for both performers and audience.
We also raised funds during the run for Parkinson’s, an illness from which Paul Mayhew-Archer suffers and were lucky enough to have a specially written piece from him to include in our programme following a meeting between him and one of our technical team (Glynn Pringle) at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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