Reviews

A new logo, a new programme and a restored Georgian Theatre all waiting for the big re-opening in Bury St Edmunds come September. The season includes Irish comic Ardal (Father Dougal) O 'Hanlon, Suffolk Opera's La Boheme, Bury St Edmunds Operatic and Dramatic Society's Annie Get Your Gun, Humphrey Lyttleton and a children's programme.

August 2006

When the first show Black Eyed Susan takes to the stage in the autumn, the building will have been out of action for two years. Whilst the company has been busy producing work elsewhere, notably in the big top in Nowton Park for the last two pantomimes, the return to the newly renovated building is something cast members and audiences have been greatly anticipating.

The theatre's Artistic Director Colin Blumenau is one of the few people allowed to see the virtually completed auditorium: "I think it looks fantastic and every time I go in there it looks even better. Happily the project remains on time and on budget and as we've seen it first being carefully taken apart and then lovingly put back together, there's been a growing realisation that it's a very special venue indeed."

Bar - none yet

Supporters of the theatre were treated to an excerpt from Black Eyed Susan along with details of the wide ranging programme at a special launch in the new foyer. The curved, barrel shaped roof acknowledges the Greene King Brewery which sandwiches the site. Although the structure is complete, the interior fittings, including that all important bar, are being completed throughout the summer. Work on the exterior also continues.

The new bar, May 2007

The opening season culminates with a return indoors for the panto with a trip to Russia for Cinderella with a few twists. Ugly sister Gladys Glasnost is keen to get those soviet puns into the traditional story.

Helga Brandt, who's the theatre's Heritage Officer, says that alongside the action on stage there'll be a focus on the history and experience of theatre in Georgian times: "We will have display panels all around the auditorium and the new bar, explaining how it was to go to the theatre, to sit in the stalls. The theatre held 780 people as opposed to today's 350, so it must have been a really bad smell there. Now we're not going to try and recreate that, but it's important to get across how the performances would have been seen."

The first performance of Black Eyed Susan is on Tuesday 11 September, tickets go on sale on the 4 June. Box office is 01284 769505 or visit the Theatre website using the weblink on the right.