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
The Bench Theatre are taking Jacquie Penrose's One Act Play 'Face the Music' to this year's Chichester Fringe, part of the Chichester Festivities 2024. This was one of the plays performed in 2021's The Bench Presents Again production and will be reprised by the same cast. The play is to be performed at 4pm on Sunday 9th June at Chichester City Arts Centre, St. Bartholomew's Church, Mount Ln, Chichester PO19 3DQ.
If you want to see this show then then ticket details are on the Chichester Fringe web-site at Chichester Fringe what's-on.
Our July 2024 production is Pygmalion by George Bernard-Shaw
The captivating story of George Bernard Shaw’s 'Pygmalion' has been entertaining audiences for decades, delving into themes of gender, class and the importance of education.
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 invites 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.
Performances:
Thursday 4th July & Friday 5th July 2024 at 7:30pm
Wednesday 10th July until Saturday 13th July 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday 6th & Saturday 13th July 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 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.
Our February 2024 production was The Father written by Florian Zeller (translated by Christopher Hampton)
Andre is a man facing persecution from all sides, and he refuses to take it any longer. First some girl steals his favorite watch. Then his daughter Anne tries to take his flat away -- the beautiful flat he’s had for over thirty years. His daughter Elise, the one he actually loves, never comes to visit. And to top it off, strangers keep entering Andre’s flat, telling him that they are his friends and family, telling him that he doesn’t live in his flat anymore. However aged he may be, Andre knows that he is a powerful man, a man of authority, and he will find some way to assert it. After all, he still has all his faculties…. Doesn’t he?
In a darkly humorous and deeply poignant translation by Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller’s The Father is a tragi-comic mystery, emotionally intense look at the world through the eyes of a man experiencing dementia. The play was considered as 'the most acclaimed new play of the last decade' and won the Moliere Award for Best Play in 2014. The play has subsequently been made into an award-winning film starring Anthony Hopkins.
The video trailer for this show can be found on YouTube at Trailer for 'The Father', February 2024
Our September and November Productions Now Selected:
During our Play Selection Meeting on 2nd May, out of a list of 5 prospective plays the following plays were voted in; 'Dear Jack, Dear Loiuse' by Ken Ludwig in September (directed by Cal West) and 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austin, adapted by Jane Swale, in November (directed by Fiona Fairhurst). More details to follow.
Upcoming Dates:
Jun 6th | Club Night |
Jun 9th | 'Face the Music' Perf. |
Jun 30th | 'Pygmalion' Get-In |
Jul 14th | 'Pygmalion' Get-Out |
Jul 18th | Club Night |
Sep 5th | Annual General Meeting |
Sep 8th | Sept Production Get-In |
Sep 15th | Sept Production Get-Out |
Oct 3rd | Club Night |
Nov 7th | Club Night |
Nov 10th | Nov Production Get-In |
Nov 24th | Nov Production Get-Out |
Dec 5th | Club Night |
Next Club Night:
Club nights start at 7:45pm in the Harrison Room at the Spring Arts Centre (this is the room up the stairs from the foyer). These are opportunities for Bench Members to meet up either on a particular topic or just as a social. Members, Friends of the Bench and prospective members are welcome.
Our next club night will be on the 6th June. The theme for this evening to be announced.
Chichester Festivities 2024:
Jacquie Penrose will be taking one of her one act plays, 'Face the Music', under the Bench Theatre banner, to this year's Chichester Festivities. The performance will take place at 4.00pm on Sunday 9th June at the Chichester City Arts Centre, St. Bartholomew's Church, Mount Ln, Chichester PO19 3DQ. The play was last performed at The Spring in 2022 and the original cast, Alex and Emily, will reprise their parts.
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