Natural PRESS RELEASES
A NIGHT AT THE BIJOU
8th October 2008
Following its sell-out success last year the Natural Theatre Company have brought the aged (and odd) staff of the Bijou Cinema out of retirement, to shine their torches and tear your tickets one more time! The Rondo Theatre will be recreated into a 1950’s cinema to present A Night at the Bijou, Thursday 30th October to Saturday 1st November at 8pm, with a special Halloween midnight matinee Friday 31st – no trick, definitely a treat!
Aged usherettes and cobwebby commissionaires have long been on the list of Natural Theatre’s comic characters. Devised by two Naturals stalwarts, Alastair Goolden and Andy Pollard, they have teamed up with other NTC regulars to create a whole cinema evening, peopled by a host of characters that one might have come across in a night out at the local flea-pit. Like much of Naturals work, this is a very nostalgic experience. The performers, all of whom play at least two parts, improvise around a B movie, Ed Wood’s ‘Bride of the Monster’, a film so bad it is good. For the performers it is more like scriptless street theatre than a set stage show as they attempt to recreate such long-forgotten cinematic devices as ‘Wet-o-rama’ and ‘Feel-o-vision’. As ever, things can’t be expected to go entirely smoothly in the special effects department!
A Night at the Bijou will appeal to every type of audience - a trip down memory lane if they are very old or an interactive multi-media extravaganza if they are young. Both theatre and film audiences will be able to enjoy the show on whatever level they choose with the added ingredient of flights of comic fantasy inspired by the film itself and by 1950’s film going folklore.
Even though the Naturals have travelled the world with their inimitable style of walkabout entertainment and stage shows, this will be the first time they have performed a midnight matinee. Hopefully the decrepit ‘staff’ of the Bijou cinema will be able to stay awake until the witching hour and who knows what special Halloween treats they have in store for the audience of this special performance?...apart from the popcorn!
As with all Natural Theatre Company productions the performance will feature beautifully observed characterisations, clever props and, of course, unexpected happenings. If you can get past old Sprocket, the commissionaire, you'll be shown to your seat by flirty usherette, Honey Wagon (runner up of "Miss Hot Dog" 1958). Once in your seat you can relax while Ernie Glissando runs his hands over his mighty Organ and encourages you to sing along to his bouncing balls. Before the film begins there's just time to grab something cold and creamy from Gladys, the oldest usherette in the world.
So come and enjoy a night at a 50's cinema. Wear your best 1950's outfits, (prizes for the best dressed!). Watch a real 1950's B movie. Sample 3D and Smell-o-vision! Sample the usherettes! But no snogging in the back row!!
Tickets available from Bath Festivals Box Office, 2 Church Street, Abbey Green, Bath, tel: 01225 463362 or visit www.bathfestivals.org.uk, £9, concessions £7.
ENDS
DATES: Thursday 30th, Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November 2008 at 8pm. Special Halloween Midnight Matinee Friday 31st October.
VENUE: Rondo Theatre, St Saviours Road, Larkhall, Bath BA1 6RT
TICKETS: £9, concessions £7
BOX OFFICE: Bath Festivals, 2 Church Street, Abbey Green, Bath BA1 1NL. Tel: 01225 463362. www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Contact: Sarah Huntington, Marketing Officer.
sarah@naturaltheatre.co.uk, 01225 469131
Photograph: High resolution image available on request