Busy Summer term

28 Jul 2017

Leighton Buzzard Children’s Theatre and The Advance Theatre Company are celebrating an excellent Summer term with £900 being raised for Macmillan Cancer Support and £700 for The John Radcliffe Hospital as a result of four fantastic productions. “Zoom” performed by the youngest members LBCT Mini Theatre told the tale of the hare and the tortoise with song, dance and plenty of Drama. The cast of 30 local children aged 4-9 were amazing led by Hugo Starkey as Toby tortoise and William Norton as Harvey Hare. Squirrels, hares, foxes, tortoises were everywhere. Colourful costumes and characters took to the Leighton Buzzard Theatre stage raising £300 for Macmillan. “Dream on” was performed at The Leighton Buzzard Theatre by the Children’s theatre cast aged 8-13. A hilarious adaption of A Midsummer Night’s Dream allowed the young cast to shine with many many stars including Antonio Borelli as Bottom, Charlotte Squires as the wall, Adam Derland as Oberon and Billy Knibb as Puck. The children told the story with song and dance-everyone acted and sang their hearts out raising £300 for Macmillan The older Youth Section performed “Beauty and the Beast” with accomplished performer Corinne Hubbold as Belle and talented local Jacob Townson as the Beast. The cast of 36 performed at the Vandyke Theatre to 2 capacity audiences. The Youth Section is made up of Upper school and older Middle school aged children. The cast was brilliant from the moment the curtain opened in the little French town with “Belle” to the show stopping “Gaston” played marvellously by Morgan Dewberry and his side kick Lefou played hilariously by Clio McGivern to the full ensemble number “Be Our Guest” choreographed by Josie Derland. The youngsters worked tirelessly to put on a fabulous production with rave reviews from the audience. The production raised £700 for The John Radcliffe Hospital. The hospital charity was chosen by member Chloe Bright who knows how important the hospital is as it has supported her throughout her childhood. A letter from Erica Watson senior play specialist at the hospital informed the group that the money would be used to buy fibre optic strands for the young patients who enjoy watching the lights as they change colour and it also help decorate their cots The adult group associated to LBCT The Advance Theatre Company also took to the stage this term with a performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream at The Leighton Buzzard theatre. The cast included a company director, a financial advisor, 2 teachers, teaching assistants, professional and semi professional actors, students and more! The slightly abridged version saw the meddling's of Puck played perfectly by Zack Charlton Bennett enticed by Oberon played menacingly by Kirk Redmond. The lovers played by Karl Darby Warner, Jacob Townson, Carly Halse and Hayley Green ran through the woods falling in and out of love, the mechanicals rehearsed and eventually performed their hilarious play and the fairies watched the human folk with amusement at the antics. The production raised £300 for Macmillan An exciting but busy term for the groups! The Autumn term will bring new challenges- during “community term” the younger children will take perform at The Leighton Linslade Living History Day, the Youth Section will hold their annual leavers show in early September to say goodbye to members who are leaving to start university, they will then start work on a brand new production whilst also preparing the Big Sing Out Against Cancer in December. The Advance Theatre Company will produce an evening of showstoppers in November and also be busy performing for local sheltered housing and community groups. Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre is a true local community group run entirely by volunteers with great teaching and experiences for all ages.

photos attached