Bilton Theatre Archives - North West End UK

20Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A is for Arsenic – Bilton Theatre

The snow lay inches deep in Bilton, near Hull, on Wednesday evening, but that didn’t deter theatregoers from making their way to the Bilton Amateur Dramatics Society’s (BADS) theatre to watch the comedy murder mystery, A is for Arsenic. Written by David Pemberton and directed by Carol Hawxwell, the play is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts. But there was nothing lazy about the six actors who brought the play to life - I really do think it was one of the best this small, talented company has brought to the stage so far. The curtain opens on a brick-walled basement room - table, chairs, bookcase, white board with stand and little else. Over time, members of a crime writing group - yoga teacher Sally (Mandy Grimston), housewife Fay (Helen Davison), and Brian, insuranc...

Five Shorts and a One-Act Play – Bilton Theatre

5Jun

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Five Shorts and a One-Act Play – Bilton Theatre

Joining the queue to enter the Bilton Theatre on Wednesday evening, for Bilton Amateur Dramatic Society’s (BADS), production, Five Shorts & A One-Act Play, it was obvious this talented group of performers had, once again, succeeded in drawing in the crowds. No mean feat for a society that is over 70 years old! After showing my ticket, giving my drink order (tea or coffee, plus biscuits, included in the £10 ticket price), I took my seat on Row G and waited for curtain up. First up, The Pub Play or “Did We Win?”, a comedy by Doc Watson, featured befuddled playwright (Patrick Wilkinson) who, while trying to write an award-winning play, ropes in an equally befuddled actress (Ailsa Oliver) to achieve his goal. Pub-goer Nick Northcott-Orr ends up just as befuddled as the other two a...

7Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Corpse For Christmas – Bilton Theatre

As Storm Darragh raged outside on Friday night, the cosy little Bilton Theatre, in Bilton, near Hull, began to fill up with theatregoers eager to find out who’d “dunnit” in Bilton Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of A Corpse For Christmas. Billed as a “thriller with a touch of comedy”, all the action takes place in the front room of Philip and Alison Winter, and their daughter Naomi. There’s nothing posh about the Winter’s home - a comfy, but worn, beige three-piece suite, a fireplace, coffee table and some pictures on the wall. A Christmas tree stands in the corner waiting to be decorated by Alison, who usually doesn’t like anyone else interfering with what she considers her territory. Other decorations hang over the back of the sofa, waiting for Naomi to drape them over...

7Jun

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Give Us A Sign – Bilton Theatre

Talk about life imitating art! On Thursday evening, as my sister and I tried to follow directions to Bilton Theatre (in between house numbers 17 and 19, Main Road), to watch its amateur dramatic production of Give Us A Sign, I mentally prayed for a sign. Lo and behold, a gentleman appeared carrying a huge sign with the theatre’s details on. Phew! Surely a good omen? Turns out it was. Members of Bilton Amateur Dramatic Society (BADS) tread the boards in the village of Bilton, a short distance, east, from the city of Hull. Taking our seats in this cosy little venue, reached via a narrow lane off the Main Road, we perused the printed programme thoughtfully left on our chairs and waited for curtain up. At 7.30pm sharp the heavy stage curtains parted to reveal a suburban sitting ...