Bench Theatre is an award-winning amateur theatre group based at The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant, UK.
For tickets to any Bench show at The Spring, call the box office on (023) 9247 2700
Our September 2024 production is Dear Jack, Dear Louise by Ken Ludwig
Award winning playwright Ken Ludwig's "Dear Jack, Dear Louise" is a poignant and engaging love story, filled with comedy and an uplifting sense of hope. Based on Ludwig's parents and the true story of how they fell in love during World War Two via letters, this play follows two strangers slowly falling for one another over a two year period.
Their letters become a conversation, and as we slowly learn more and more about these lovebirds, we begin to understand what an amazing accomplishment their love was. Not only to fall for each other only through the power of words, but also during one of history's and harshest times. It is impossible not to feel deeply involved in Jack and Louise's journey, and on this, the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, we invite you to join Bench Theatre's production of this wonderful show.
Performances:
Wednesday 11th September until Saturday 14th September 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday 14th September at 2:30pm (matinee)
Ticket Prices
£13.00, concessions £11.00
Thursday 11th September. Buy one get one half price (on cheapest ticket)
Bench members and Friends: Free
Our November 2024 production will be Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin, adapted by Jessica Swale.
The play follows the three Dashwood sisters and their widowed mother as they are forced to leave the family estate at Norland Park and move to Barton Cottage, a modest home on the property of distant relative Sir John Middleton. There Elinor and Marianne experience love, romance, and heartbreak.
Performances:
Thursday 14th November & Friday 15th November 2024 at 7:30pm
Wednesday 20th November until Saturday 23rd November 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday 16th & Saturday 23rd November at 2:30pm (matinees)
Ticket Prices
£13.00, concessions £11.00
Thursday 4th July. Buy one get one half price (on cheapest ticket)
Bench members and Friends: Free
Our July 2024 production was Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Eliza Doolittle, a young lady from London’s impoverished streets, has aspirations. After an accidental encounter with Colonel Pickering and Professor Henry Higgins, Eliza approaches Higgins for speech lessons to improve her lot in life. Pickering wagers that Eliza cannot be presented as a lady amongst the upper echelons of London society, and during this life-changing adventure, Eliza learns difficult and often embarrassing lessons that cause her to question Higgins’ preconceived assumptions about gender roles and social class. Eliza is brilliantly irrepressible as she defies the stereotype that Higgins attempts to fit her into, leading to an explosively humourous, caustic, and gentle satire.
Bench Theatre invited you to enjoy Shaw’s wonderful sense of character, his keen ear for dialogue and his sparkling wit as Eliza attempts to shed her humble beginnings. And for all the play’s rumbustious energy, there is a perhaps unexpected poignancy as this very funny play approaches its conclusion.
Our April 2024 production was Abigail's Party by Mike Leigh
Abigail’s Party is a darkly humorous look at 1970’s society, attitudes and social aspirations.
Beverly and Laurence are holding a soirée for their suburban neighbours - new residents Angela and Tony and divorced single mother Sue who is not welcome at her own house where a rowdy party is being hosted by her teenage daughter Abigail.
As the evening progresses the initial civility, fuelled by drink and awkward revelations, exposes tensions between Beverly and Laurence which escalate into an explosive and unexpected conclusion.
Funny, poignant and at times deeply uncomfortable.
Upcoming Dates:
Aug 11th | 'Sense & Sensibility' Audition |
Aug 14th | 'Sense & Sensibility' Audition |
Sep 5th | Annual General Meeting |
Sep 8th | 'Dear Jack, Dear Louise' Get-In |
Sep 15th | 'Dear Jack, Dear Louise' Get-Out |
Oct 3rd | Club Night |
Nov 7th | Club Night |
Nov 10th | 'Sense & Sensibility' Get-In |
Nov 24th | 'Sense & Sensibility' Get-Out |
Dec 5th | Club Night |
Auditions for 'Sense and Sensibility':
Auditions for our November production of Sense and Sensibility will take place at The Spring at 2pm on Sunday 11th August and 7.30pm on Wednesday 14th August. More details, including the cast list, will be circulated in due course.
Bench Theatre Annual General Meeting:
Our Annual General Meeting will be held at The Spring on Thursday 5th September. Nominations for the three Executive positions (Chair, Secretary & Treasurer) are needed as these are voted on each year. This year we will definitely need a new Chair as Jacquie Penrose is standing down. There are also Non-Executive positions available if you wish to be nominated for these. A calling notice including any motions to be debated and voted on at the AGM is to be circulated a month in advance.
Bench YouTube Channel:
The Bench Theatre has a YouTube Channel from which you can stream our trailers and other videos, check it out at Bench Theatre YouTube Channel.
Bench Miscellaneous
Havant Borough Council run the Havant Borough Community Lottery which supports good causes locally. Bench Theatre has been accepted as one of those good causes.
This is a small lottery with the emphasis very much on community and supporting good causes. That is where you come in! We would like to invite you, your friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues to take part, have some fun and support Bench Theatre.
Please visit Havant Borough Community Lottery website. Click on buy tickets, then on 'Support a specific cause'. Search for Bench Theatre then follow the instructions.
Bench Theatre will be very grateful for your support in this exciting new venture!
Members are gently reminded that membership cards must be offered at The Spring box office when claiming free member ticket(s). These tickets are for the named member only and are not transferable to family and/or friends.
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© Bench Theatre 2011, registered charity 291935