If you’re interested in joining BATS, now is the ideal time. Coming up after the pantomime, we’ll be preparing our entry to the Bedfordshire drama festival. This year’s entry is ‘What Are You Doing Here’, a hilarious one act play by David Campton. There are lots of roles, and as always, plenty to do backstage.

We’ll be having a read-through on Monday 23rd January, and holding auditions on Monday 30th January. So whether you’re a current member, you haven’t been down for a while, or you’re wondering whether to get involved, now’s the time to do it!

There’s a synopsis of the play and the characters below.

Look forward to seeing you there,
BATS

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Synopsis: David Campton’s What Are You Doing Here? is the hilarious story of how a bad temper is passed along from person to person, ruining journeys, meals and friendships as it goes.

When George Phipps gets a dressing down over the phone, he takes it out on his put-upon secretary Joy, who starts a pointless fight at the bus stop with Ray, who makes himself feel better by picking on his sister Sally, who – well, you get the point. By the end, there’s only one question left: Who called George Phipps?

With nine speaking parts of well-balanced size, What Are You Doing Here? is a great opportunity for lots of people to get involved – whether they’re old hands, or new faces.

Characters:

Narrator: The narrator appears throughout the piece, setting the scene and commenting on the action. Depending on how the part is played, the narrator could be a sympathetic observer, or a malicious mischief-maker, revelling in the other characters’ misfortunes.

George Phipps: A stuffy, officious boss, with a high-handed attitude to his staff. His unwarranted criticisms of Joy set off the chain of arguments.

Joy Main: Mr. Phipps’ secretary. Joy tries to help Mr. Phipps, but ends up letting him walk all over her. Once she’s out of the office though, she needs to work off her temper, and we see her steelier side.

Ray: Joy’s target, and Sally’s brother. Ray is happily waiting for the bus, until Joy picks a fight with him. His sarcastic, dismissive responses only inflame the situation. At home with Sally, Ray’s teasing tips over into bullying, but at least he gets his tea in the end.

Old Woman: The old woman is in the bus queue with Ray and Sally. Her detached observations and wartime reminiscences don’t improve anyone’s mood. The smallest part in the play, but potentially a very funny one.

Sally: Ray’s sister, and Wally’s girlfriend. Sally’s initially sunny temperament is worn down by Ray’s teasing – especially his digs about her figure, something she’s sensitive about. After leaving the house, Sally makes herself feel better by dominating her wimpy boyfriend Wally – but gets more than she bargained for in return.

Wally: Sally’s boyfriend. Wally aims to please, and is utterly bewildered by Sally’s frosty treatment of him – why has she spurned his offer of a donut? Pushed beyond his limits, Wally shows a rare spark of resistance, but is soon sorry for it. His attempts to make amends run aground against an intransigent waitress, and his repressed anger is soon bubbling over.

Waitress: Mary’s flatmate. In the best British service tradition, the waitress is bored, uninterested, and certainly can’t be doing with Wally cancelling his order for a donut. At home things go no better – her passive flatmate Mary refuses to rise to the bait, denying her an outlet for her frustrations.

Mary: The waitress’ flatmate. Mary’s refusal to be anything other than nice winds the waitress up no end, but is only a cover for her own deep frustration. Mary could be played in at least two ways – genuinely trying to be nice, not realising how she’s affecting her flatmate, or a malevolent manipulator, deliberately out to make the waitress feel bad.

Show times are:

Friday 20th January, 7.30 pm
Saturday 21st January, 2.30 pm
Saturday 21st January, 7.30 pm.

Tickets are 8 pounds for adults, 7 pounds for concessions. Group rates are available on request – please call 07872 339607.

Tickets are available online at our ticketsource site NOW!

Tickets will also be available from Thomas Morris in Biggleswade, from Wednesday 7th December.

BATS will be joining the Christmas Lights parade this Friday, 7 pm in Biggleswade Market square. As well as a sneak preview of the cast and costumes for this year’s pantomime (especially our gorgeous Dame!), the lights will be switched on by Britain’s Got Talent finalist Paul Burling.

Hope to see you there!

It should be a great night, so RSVP if you would like to come. Partners are welcome too!  A 10 pound deposit will be required to confirm the booking – please contact Katy Gardiner (katy AT timandkaty DOT co DOT uk) if you would like to come, or alternatively RSVP to the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139885922779650.

Apologies to our younger members – this event is over 18′s only.

Don’t forget that the panto auditions are on Monday 5 September – see the previous post for the exact schedule.

This year’s audition songs will be:

I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-LbvFckptY&ob=av2n

Love Story – Taylor Swift:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E&ob=av2n

As always, it’s not about having a great singing voice or being pitch perfect, it’s about cofidence and projection, so don’t be afraid!

See you on Monday!

Here’s an updated schedule for the pantomime auditions – the dates are the same, but the times have changed a bit:

Youngsters (age 9-13): Monday 5 September, 7.45 pm – 8.45 pm.

Oldsters (age 14+): Monday 5 September 8.45 pm – 10 pm, AND Wednesday 7 September, 8 pm – 10 pm (you need to come to both sessions).

If you want to be in the show, but can’t make it to the auditions, please let us know ASAP.

This year’s show is Puss in Boots – we had a read through a couple of weeks ago, and it’s a great script. As usual, there will be both acting and singing auditions. Not a great singer? Don’t worry, it didn’t stop the Dame and Smee last year )

More details on the songs and other stuff coming soon. Please please invite other people to the auditions, including people who’ve never been to BATS before – the panto is the ideal time to get involved, and we always welcome new members.

Meeting schedule: Due to the bank holiday, next week’s meeting will be on Wednesday 31 August, at 8 pm.  The plan is to do a just-for-fun readthrough of the panto (not auditions though), and get a preview of the tunes.   Hope to see you there!

Monday 22 August will be a committee meeting only.  Non-committee members are still welcome of course, but we haven’t got anything specifically organised.

In other news, remember that it’s just a couple of weeks until the Panto auditions on the 5th and 7th of September – more details soon!

Don’t forget that we’re meeting again next Monday, 15th August. Wear your old clothes again, as there’ll be more painting, but we’ll also make a start on set building.

And, as always, keep those scripts coming in – we think we have a possible candidate for next year’s festival, but the more options we have, the better.

And if you haven’t been down yet, please feel free to get involved – the panto is the best way to get started with BATS – lots of fun and lots to do!

Dont forget to keep those script ideas for next year coming in. We have already had a couple of sugestions, but more would be great!

Auditions for the panto will be on Monday 5th and Wednesday 7th September, 8 pm (you have to come both nights).  More details will be announced nearer the time.  The panto is a great chance for new members to get involved, so spread the word with friends, colleagues and schoolmates.

If you haven’t been down for a while (or if you’re interested in joining), there’s lots coming up over the next few weeks. BATS will be meeting at 8 p.m. every Monday in August (except the bank holiday on the 29th), plus Wednesday  31st.  Among other things, we’ll be starting to plan and put together sets for the panto – we’re always looking for more people to get involved with this, and it’s a great chance to learn set design and set building skills.

Alongside the panto preparations, we’ll be reading scripts for possible festival entries (or other productions) next year.  We have a few suggestions already, but more are always welcome – and if you can bring two or three photocopies of the script, even better!

See you all at the hall…