Tuesday, 01 October 2019 19:09

Busy season for refurbished Bull Theatre

Written by
Susi Earnshaw, Artistic Director of the Bull Theatre and founder of the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School Susi Earnshaw, Artistic Director of the Bull Theatre and founder of the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School
A packed programme of productions has been lined up for the coming months at the Bull Theatre, High Street, Barnet, to help raise £8,000 that is still outstanding for the cost of new seating.

Rows of plush red seats with thicker cushions – together with wider aisles – have transformed the auditorium and will make a visit to the Bull a much more enjoyable and comfortable experience, says artistic director, Susi Earnshaw.

A highlight of the autumn programme – see details below – will be Love and War, the first live performance by The Bull Players, an amateur group established at the Bull a year ago.

Siobhan Dunne, director and producer of the show, who has chosen extracts from well known productions about love and war, is promising a fun evening of passion and laughter.

The Bull Players, whose ages range from 20s to 80s, meet every Wednesday to learn about drama, improvisation, script reading and theatre making.

Ms Earnshaw says the Bull is delighted to be staging the Players’ first production.

“When they’re not at their drama classes, members help out at the theatre in a variety of roles, ranging from ushers to ice cream sellers.

“We are so pleased so many of our volunteers – including one of the group’s founder members Pina Griffin – are having a chance to appear on stage.”

We are so pleased so many of our volunteers... are having a chance to appear on stage

The new seating and associated work cost just under £28,000 and the proceeds from Love and War will go towards the seating fund.

“We were really desperate to upgrade the auditorium because the steel frames of the old seats were falling apart and so often after a production my husband had to weld them back together, just to keep them going.”

Ms Earnshaw said that from mid-November she hopes the interior of the whole building will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland ready for the Bull’s all-important pantomime, Aladdin, written and directed by Simon Rawlings, who produced last year’s pantomime at the Bull.

Councillor David Longstaff will be taking to the boards once again, appearing as the Dame.

Four former pupils of the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School will be in the cast for Aladdin. “They’re all donating their time and it will be so wonderful to welcome them back,” says Ms Earnshaw.

Josh Lawton has the part of Wishy Washy; Roshaan Sharpe, who has graduated from a musical theatre course at the Brit School will play the genie; Christina Constantinou, an MA graduate from the Mount View

Theatre School, will be the Spirit of the Ring; and Clementine Griffiths, who left the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School last year, will play Princess Jasmine.

Autumn Programme at the Bull Theatre (book online at www.thebulltheatre.com)

  • Saturday 12 October, The Trembling Wilburys, a tribute to the Travelling Wilburys, with special guest Susan Black, singer and songwriter from Finchley

  • Saturday 19 October, The Bull Players present, Love and War, an evening of passion and laughter, 2.30pm and 7.30pm, tickets £10

  • Saturday 26 October, Wiz Productions present London Pride, “a magical blend of old and new, featuring dance, music and laughter”. 7.30pm. Tickets, adult £15, concession £12.50

  • Wednesday 30 October to Saturday 2 November, Whetstone Musical Theatre Group presents the musical, Stepping Out. 7.30pm All seats £15

  • Saturday 14 December to Monday 30 December, the Bull Theatre presents, Aladdin. Adults £15, concessions £12.50

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