LBCT update

Well done to everyone who worked so hard to get The Pied Piper, The
Leavers Show and The Factory Children onto the stage- great shows all
well received. Some stunning performances in all sections
 If you did not order a DVD of The Pied Piper or the Factory Children
they are available to order at £15 each
photo CD of Factory Children available to order at £3
also CD of 12 songs by  LBCT/ Minis and Youth Section available to order at £5
If you would like any of the above please email me asap so I can put
the order together



LBCT Charity Cup 2009

Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre member Josie Derland has been
awarded the groups charity cup for 2009.The cup given in memory of
front of house manager Fred Janes has now been awarded 4 times and
Josie aged 12 who attends Leighton Middle School is this years winner.
Josie has been in many charity productions with LBCT and helped to
raise thousands of pounds, she also always takes part in the community
events organised by the group including singing at Middleton Hall
Milton Keynes, our annual "Sing Out Against Cancer", the Heath and
Reach British Legion Christmas Party, the concerts at Laburnam Court
and many more.
In May last year she started rehearsing for Oh What A Show, which
culminated in 2 performances at Vandyke School, raising a  total of
£1300 for Kids Out. As well as attending rehearsals, Josie was a huge
help in organising and sorting costumes, choreography and helping
younger and less confident members of the cast. The cast were then
asked to do the show again for the Mayor in March. Once again Josie
took part and the final performance raised £1000 for Kids Out.  In
addition Josie has taken part in various fundraising initiatives at
Leighton Middle School including a Fun Run where she raised £20.
Josie received the cup from last years winner Gemma White. The cup is
awarded to an LBCT member who is nominated for the charity work they
have done, we hope Josie will continue to work hard for all her
charities.


Well done to every member of LBCT who has performed in the last month
Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre members have had a very busy month
with three productions featuring over 130 local children.


At the end of June The Leighton Buzzard Theatre was alive with the
excited voices of The Leighton Buzzard Mini Theatre who performed a
musical version of The Pied Piper over 3 performances. The young cast
retold the classic tale with song, dance and excellent acting skills.
The cast were led by 9 year old Lorna Winfield who attends Greenleas
School. Lorna charmed the rats and eventually the children of Hamelin
away because of the corrupt ways of the mayor played by 9 year old
Alex Warren who goes to Linslade Lower School and his council played
by Georgia McElwee, Gemma White, Anna Pridgeon and Lizzie Lister. The
Mayors wife Eulalie, played by 9 year old Elisha Fowler from St
Leonards School, stired up the people in a rousing song "People Power"
The rat pack were led by their strong leader Matthew Jones who is 9
and attends Pulfords Lower School. The young rats danced and sang with
all their might as they plotted against the town with their dirty
underhand tricks. Seven year old Ella King from Husbourne Crawley
School who played dirty rat Cagney was excellent in her delivery. Old
rat , Corinne Hubbold who attends High Ash School sang beautifully and
 told the younger rats of the rat wars she had survived. The rat pavk
included Danny Goodwin, Ellie Prophet, Erica Meadows, Molly Lowther,
Monique Donavan- Smith, Olivia Campbell, Rebecca Knibb, Rebecca Murry,
Samuel Gruner and the youngest rat 4 year old Rebecca Kelly who goes
to Greenleas School.

The townspeople were summoned on stage by the Town Crier, Ben Craig
-with a big voice and a ready smile. Townspeople included Adam
Birtles, Amy Jane Shane, Helen Montford, Aaron O'Neill, Harry Charter,
Jack Potter, Joel Parrot and Tim Metcalf. The townsfolk treated the
audience to a great market day scene where they sold their wares until
they realised the rats were running wild. The children of the town
sang of the grown ups who "nag, natter, moan and fuss but who are so
lovely to come home to" Lucy Paine who is 8 and attends Heathwood
School played Hans the child who could not dance after the piper and
who was left alone(until the piper came back!) Other childrens roles
were played by Amy Robertson, Ella Fox, Hannah Murray, Holly Lane and
Robert Beilby.
All the young actors performed superbly to great applause.
 The production was directed by local drama teacher Sally Allsopp with
excellent assistant from Joe Parslow who is starting a degree course
at The Central School of Speech and Drama in September. The Leighton
Buzzard Mini theatre are part of The Leighton Buzzard Childrens
Theatre who have 150 youngsters aged 4-18 involved locally in weekly
drama sessions.The show was held in aid of Cancer reasearch Uk and
raised over £300

Leighton Buzzard Childrens Theatre Youth Section which involves local
youngsters aged13-18  performed their annual leavers show on  Sunday
12th July at The Vandyke Theatre. It was time to say goodbye to local
youngsters  Eleanor Cloake, Becky Flach, Scarlett Forest, Chrisie
King,  Bethan Edwards, Matt Lee, James Leaver, Sam Lowther, Sophie
Lowther and Joe Parslow who have just completed A level courses at
Vandyke Upper, Cedars Upper and Aylesbury High School. Ellie is taking
a gap year and will be working abroad studying equine studies for a
year. Bethan is off to Newport University to study Drama, Matt is to
study Sports Science and Joe has a place at the Central School of
Speech and Drama to study for a degree in Drama. The ten leavers have
notched up more than 60 years between them with LBCT! Eleanor
performed as Cindrella aged 5 in the Potted Pantos at The Leighton
Buzzard theatre. James has played numerous roles including The Major
General in The Pirates of Penzance and Ko Ko in The Mikado. Joe and
Matt have taken on roles as Youth helpers helping younger performers
at the weekly sessions. Joe co- directed The Pied Piper at the
Leighton Buzzard theatre in June.
LBCT  put on a fantastic show packed full of singing and drama.
Showstopping numbers included songs from  "Les Miserables "West Side
Story" "Fiddler on the Roof"and many, many more. There was also  a
compilation of music, dance and acting including scenes from "The
Wizard of Oz" the prayer from the opera  "Hansel and Gretel" a tribute
to Michael Jackson with  "Thriller!"and many more!
The show was hosted by last years leavers, Jenny Bernarde, Dawn Mayne,
Lydia Watkins, James Trendall and Tammy Oxley who have been studying
hard during their forst year of university.
The show was held in aid of The Keech Cottage Hospice and  the
youngsters raised over £300

Last week the LBCT yougsters again took to the stage for three
performances of  the historical musical theatre piece "The Factory
Children" which tells the story of youngsers often as young as 8 who
worked in the factories of England in the 1830's. The cast was packed
with stars with some outstanding singing and scting from Anna Pridgeon
as Liz, william Thomson as John, Jenny Beckwith as Pru, Thomas dunne
as Ben and Tommy Scudamore as Lucky. The piece was interspersed with
song and dance from the social consciences who made the cast and
audience think played fantastically by Rosie Brookes, Georgia McElwee,
Lizzie Lister and Josie Derland. The production at The Vandyke Theatre
had a cast of over 40 local young people aged 9-14, showstoppers
included "Enterprise" sung by Lucky and his gang and "Them and us"
performed by the ensemble. The musical accompliment performed on
keyboards by David Allsopp was superb and the lighting by James Leaver
really enhanced the piece.The production in aid of Cancer research
raised more than £400

Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre is proud of every member who has
performed over the last month and is looking forward to the new term
when productions starting rehearsal will include Bugsy Malone, The
King and I and The Pirates of Penzance.


The Leighton Buzzard Theatre was alive with the excited voices of The
Leighton Buzzard Mini Theatre who performed a musical version of The
Pied Piper over 3 performances. The young cast retold the classic tale
with song, dance and excellent acting skills. The cast were led by 9
year old Lorna Winfield who attends Greenleas School. Lorna charmed
the rats and eventually the children of Hamelin away because of the
corrupt ways of the mayor played by 9 year old Alex Warren who goes to
Linslade Lower School and his council played by Georgia McElwee, Gemma
White, Anna Pridgeon and Lizzie Lister. The Mayors wife Eulalie,
played by 9 year old Elisha Fowler from St Leonards School, stired up
the people in a rousing song "People Power"



The rat pack were led by their strong leader Matthew Jones who is 9
and attends Pulfords Lower School. The young rats danced and sang with
all their might as they plotted against the town with their dirty
underhand tricks. Seven year old Ella King from Husbourne Crawley
School who played dirty rat Cagney was excellent in her delivery. Old
rat , Corinne Hubbold who attends High Ash School sang beautifully and
told the younger rats of the rat wars she had survived. The rat pavk
included Danny goodwin, Ellie Prophet, Erica Meadows, Molly Lowther,
Monique donavan- Smith, Olivia Campbell, Rebecca Knibb, Rebecca Murry,
Samuel Gruner and the youngest rat 4 year old Rebbecca Kelly who goes
to Greenleas School.



The townspeople were summoned on stage by the Town Crier, Ben Craig
-with a big voice and a ready smile. Townspeople included Adam
Birtles, Amy Jane Shane, Helen Montford, Aaron O'Neill, Harry Charter,
Jack Potter, Joel Parrot and Tim Metcalf. The townsfolk treated the
audience to a great market day scene where they sold their wares until
they realised the rats were running wild. The children of the town
sang of the grown ups who "nag, natter, moan and fuss but who are so
lovely to come home to" Lucy Paine who is 8 and attends Heathwood
School played Hans the child who could not dance after the piper and
who was left alone(until the piper came back!) Other childrens roles
were played by Amy Robertson, Ella Fox, Hannah Murray, Holly Lane and
Robert Beilby.

All the young actors performed superbly to great applause.





Oklahoma! February 2009

Superb performances by all concerned- great ensemble work and soloists
were all fab
60 young people
One great show
snow snow and more snow
GREAT
well done
Thank you all so much for your commitment, attitude and energy
SUPERB!!!!



£1,200 made in aid of Cancer research Uk

WELL DONE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED

Merry Christmas

MK Shopping Centre Singing raises £272 for Keech Cottage Hospice
22nd November 2008

At this years Christmas singing inside Milton Keynes Shopping Centre
we raised £272 for Keech Cottage Hospice. Amazing!

Well done to all of you who attended

SUPERB!!





Christmas dates





Sing Out against Cancer 2008 will take place on Saturday 13th December (all)



Leighton Buzzard Christmas tree switch on Friday 28th November (all)

Heath and Reach senior citizens party Sunday 6th December (as invited)



Alice the Musical
Monday, 15th September 2008
Reviews for both the Children's and Mini Theatre performances are up
on the reviews page.

Well done to everone who performed in Alice the Musical - it was fantastic

Thank you to everyone who supported the show

Good luck to Tammy Oxley who heads off to Leeds to study Medicine -
thanks for being a great Youth helper - we will miss you!

Mikado Review
Tuesday, 6th May 2008
A review of The Mikado has been added to the reviews page.

The Mikado - Outstanding
Saturday, 3rd May 2008
Everyone is buzzing- audience reaction was immense
Thank you so much for the beautiful japanese figurine- it's amazing and the card
you are such great people - Sally.

Reviews:

"Better than the Doyle Carte opera company"
"I'd pay double to see that again"
"Visually stunning"
"Singing was professional- sound was perfect"
"Loved the light show and the martial arts- the firefly lights were beautiful"
"So many amazing performers"
Well done
have a rest on Tuesday
then bring on the Leavers show!!

The Mikado update
Wednesday, 30th April 2008 an>
"The Mikado" of Japan is coming to Leighton Buzzard. Youngsters aged
13-18 from Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre Youth Section have been
busily preparing the colourful musical for performance on May 2nd and
3rd at the Vandyke Theatre.
The musical theatre production follows the fate of Nanki Poo and the
girl he adores Yum Yum as they try to escape capital punishment for
flirting! The production directed by Sally Allsopp assisted by Janine
Nightingale is a traditional Gilbert and Sullivan piece with a special
sparkle, the addition of specialist martial arts work by expert Colin
Lawrence and musical direction under David Allsopp with special
permission of the Doyle Carte Opera Company.

The Mikado will be played by Edward Percival of Heath Road, Leighton
Buzzard. Edward is studying A level drama and would like to be a
proffesional actor. "Playing the Mikado is great" says Edward "It is
an over the top part and I get to sing -which is super"
There are many principal parts all played by local youngsters, the
singing is intense and the young people have been practising weekly
since January.

Costumes are colourful in the production and will include items
donated by local people after a plea to local people as well as twenty
kimonos bought on the internet from Shanghai.

Director Sally says- "tackling something like the Mikado is a
challenge but the cast have really risen to this- they have learnt a
lot about Victorian operetta and the performances promise comedy,
culture and charisma from the varied and complex characters. I have
loved working with the young talented company and do hope the poeople
of Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding area will come to see their
work. I performed the part of Yum Yum at school in Dunstable wh en I
was a teenager and my husband David was Nanki Poo,we were 17 and loved
it, we also produced the show ten years ago with LBCT so we kind of
have a history with it- it's great fun - my favourite songs are "Three
Little Maids from School" and "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring"
It is a totally different experience for our Youth theatre group-
versatility to me is what every good performer needs- it's wonderful
to see young people so commited to this type of work."

The production will add to the charity work of LBCT, over the past 13
years the group has raised over £33,000 for local, international and
national charities. The Mikado is in aid of Cancer research Uk. Ticket
details are available on www.lbct.org and tickets priced £5/£3 are
available from sally@lbct.org or 01525237469 (answerphone)


Sam gets into Sylvia Young
Tuesday, 29th April 2008
Congratulations to Sam Harris who has succesfully gained a place at
the Sylvia Young Theatre School. Sam will commute to London daily
starting in September. Sam is an outstanding performer who has been in
many LBCT productions including "Annie" and "Dream On" and always been
involved in our community performances. We will miss him but wish him
every best wish. Well done Sam

The Mikado
Wednesday, 26th March 2008
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!!!
Friday 2nd May at 7.30
Saturday 3rd May 3pm and 7.30
£5/ £3

tickets from sally@lbct.org or 01525237469 (answerphone)

PLEASE RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY

CAST for THE MIKADO- all members will take part in ALL shows except
Rebecca Flach who can only perform on Friday eve

Friday 2nd May at 7.30 plus Saturday 3rd May at 3pm and 7.30

Ko- Ko- James Leaver (all)
Pish Tush- Joe Parslow (all)
Nanki- Poo- Adam Smart (all)
The Mikado- Edward Percival (all)
Pooh Bah-Harry Apostolides (Fri)
Matthew Lee (Sat x 2)
Yum Yum Scarlet Forrest (Fri)
Eleanor Cloake (Sat x 2)
Pitti Sing Bethan Edwards (Fri)
Dawn Mayne (Sat x2)
Peep Bo Jenny Bernarde (Fri)
Sam Lowther (Sat x 2)
Katisha Emer Downey (Fri eve)
Lydia Watkins (Sat x 2)
Woo Shoo-Alex Eddy (all)
Karat Ye-Tilden Shipway Porter (all)
Moto- Emily Beckwith (all)
Tito- Tammy Oxley (all)
Ping- Pong- Josh Holt (all)
Lu Lu- Megan Jones/ Sarah Gallagher (all)
Sing Sing- Amber Nightingale/ Lissie Allsopp (all)
Nang Nang- Sarah Bull/Sarah Lightfoot(all)Rebecca Flach (Fri only)
Ling - Ling- Rosie Jolly/ Sasha Flitney- (all)
La La- Lorna Drummond/ Sarah Watson- (all)
Lip Lip- Jess Lee/Alanna Muldownie(all)
Me- Me- Serena Tartaglia (all)
Ku-ri- Rebecca Lander (all)
Su- Ri- Cara O'Neill (all)

chorus of singers/martial arts/ ballet (all or when not playing principal part)
Harry Bianci, Bethan Edwards, Chris Harding
Krissy Glaister, Matt Lee, Daryl Humpries
Andrew Fell, Dawn Mayne, Eleanor Cloake
Lizzie Farren, Emer Downey, Hannah Rourke
Hari Apostilides, Ingrid Hu, Jenny Bernarde
Jon Vernon, Lydia Watkins,Rebecca Macafferty
Sam Lowther, Scarlet Forrest,Stephanie Harrison
James Trendell, Keiran Faulkner

Fans Needed
Saturday, 23rd February 2008
Wanted - fans for the Mikado!

Over 50 local youngsters from Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre
Youth Section aged 13-19 are busy rehearsing The Mikado for
performance at The Vandyke Theatre in April. The Mikado by Gilbert and
Sullivan is a comic opera with additional libretto written by director
Sally Allsopp. The piece is full of colour, fun and popular tunes
including "Three Little Maids from School" and "I've got a Little
List"

The cast are learning Martial Arts moves with expert Colin Lawrence
and enjoying the experience of a totally different type of production.

To make the performance complete the cast are looking for any
colourful hand fans, oriental parasols, martial arts suits and full
length colourful kimonos that might be hiding in Leighton Buzzard and
the surrounding area. LBCT are offering free tickets for the
performance to anyone who can donate any suitable costume(s) or
prop(s) for the production. If you have anything that might be
suitable please contact Sally on 01525237469 or email sally@lbct.org.

The group is keen to forge more community links and would love to see
the Vandyke Theatre full of local people who may have not seen these
talented youngsters perform before, they are happy to collect any
items that can be donated and will offer free tickets in return.

Charity Update
Saturday, 2nd February 2008
Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre members have started the New Year
by sending £1,000 to Cancer Research UK and £500 to Keech Cottage
Hospice. The group which has 150 members aged 5-19 in three seperate
groups- the Mini theatre, the Children's Theatre and the Youth section
raised the money in December with performances of Fiddler on the Roof,
Sing out Against Cancer and Christmas singing at Milton Keynes. "It
was a great finish to 2007" said director Sally Allsopp "and the
fundraising for this year has already started, 30 members performed at
Laburnam Court last weekend and raised £60. The youngsters will decide
their charities for 2008 soon and money will be raised at many events
including Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" in April and "Alice in
Wonderland the Musical" in July. The group has raised over £30,000
since 1996 and have sent money to local, national and international
charities."

"The Mikado" will take place in the Vandyke Theatre at the end of
April and will star over 50 local young people aged 13-19. the Mikado
is a colourful, fun comedy and will be a traditional production with
Yum Yum marrying Nanki Poo and the Lord High Executioner trying to
find someone to behead from his "little list" Casting is almost
complete and the players come from Leighton, Linslade, tring, Milton
Keynes, Dunstable and many surrounding villagers. Edward Percival who
has been with the group over 7 years will play the title role of The
Mikado with James Leaver aged 17 playing Ko- Ko. James has been with
the group for many years and played the Major General with the group
in Pirates of Penzance when he was 10. The group first performed "the
Mikado" ten years ago at the Leighton Buzzard Theatre.

Great start to 2010 with a fabulous production of Bugsy Malone in aid of Cancer Research UK 

New term Sessions due to start Tuesday 20th April

all members should have received new term dates

Productions to look forward to

Happy Easter

Congratulations to everyone involved in Bugsy Malone

It was fantastic

We will miss the splurge and chaos!!

hope you all enjoyed it

Sessions as normal Saturday 6th March

  LBCT update
Well done to everyone who worked so hard to get The Pied Piper, The
Leavers Show and The Factory Children onto the stage- great shows all
well received. Some stunning performances in all sections
 If you did not order a DVD of The Pied Piper or the Factory Children
they are available to order at £15 each
photo CD of Factory Children available to order at £3
also CD of 12 songs by  LBCT/ Minis and Youth Section available to order at £5
If you would like any of the above please email me asap so I can put
the order together