Countdown to Considerably Bigger Buns begins with Casting

And so the planning for this big BLT theatrical experience begins with casting news! Firstly, a HUGE thank you to everyone who came to read - thanks to you I have had an interesting and difficult time with deciding on the large cast for this play!  I am delighted to say that I have come up with an exciting solution and I've been able to cast all the ladies who came to the readings and were available for the show. I would like to thank all the chaps who came along too - it has been tough to make the decisions on casting the four male roles and I'm sorry to disappoint some of you. However, backstage crew will be needed - any volunteers? Anyway....here goes with the cast for Calendar Girls - to hit the boards at BLT in September 2012!

Cora..............................Sarah Jones
Chris..............................Gwen Livingstone
Annie............................Frankie Baskerville
Jessie.............................Yve Price
Celia..............................Shelley Bethan Morgan
Ruth...............................Ros Grummitt
Marie..............................Claire Williams
Brenda...........................Claire Watts
John................................Bleddyn Jones
Rod.................................Jerry Grummitt
Lady Cravenshire........Val Rosser
Lawrence......................Matthew Oliver
Elaine.............................To be shared by Fay Grummitt and Emma Percy
Liam...............................Christopher Harris

I will be contacting the cast over the weekend to arrange first rehearsals.  These are such exciting times and I am looking forward to getting started with some of Blackwood's finest.  My dearest husband has reminded me that we also have a British Final to compete in, (and hopefully win!)  so things might be a bit fragmented for a week or two but we will then be able to get into a pattern of rehearsals.

See everyone soon.

Peta x

Welsh One-Act Final 2012

On June 9th, the Welsh One-Act Final took place at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran. We had two productions taking part - 'Godfather Death' on the Friday and 'Biscuits' on the Saturday. It was announced, after six very good plays had been watched and adjudicated, that the winner of the final was 'Biscuits'!

The British Final is being held at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven on the 6th and 7th of July. We will be competing for the title against the winning plays of the English, Scottish and Irish festivals. We will be performing on the Friday evening.

We are very proud to have made it this far and to represent our country in this festival. Hopefully we will bring the trophy back to Wales for the first time in nearly twenty years!

Please come along to support us - tickets are available from the Torch Theatre website - please click here.

Weekend at the West-End

The amazing talent of our youth theatre, are rehearsing hard to bring a high energy show at the end of July. Songs and dances from shows such as Cats, Chicago, Les Miserables, Grease, Annie and many more are all on the set list for this great show being put together by Ros and Sally Grummitt. Ably assisted by MD - Irene Livingstone, this show is selling really quickly. Please don't miss out and book your tickets now!

Please visit our website for more information.

Calender Girls - Tickets

Tickets for Calender Girls will be on sale from Wednesday 13th June. The production will have a special 'Gala' performance on September 1st, and the run will be between the 4th - 8th September.

Please visit our website for more information, including how to book tickets.

Wales Festival of One-Act Plays Final 2012

Following the success of Blackwood Little Theatre at the Gwent One Act Festival with the winning play, “Biscuits”, the cast and crew will be performing this hilarious, bawdy play once more at the Wales Final which takes place on 8^th and 9^th June at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran.

“Biscuits” is an original script by Graham J Evans, one of BLT’s most successful writers and it is directed by Neil Maidman who is no stranger to Welsh Finals. The combination of talented, experienced cast members and comedic writing and directing makes “Biscuits” one not to miss during the programme of events.

However, Blackwood Little Theatre has two bites at the cherry this year, for the 4th time running, with a second original play, “Godfather Death” by Vic Mills also making the grade for the Wales Final.

The cast and crew of “Godfather Death” are fresh from taking part in the Liverpool International Theatre Festival 2012 in Nova Scotia, Canada, where they performed and won awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Exceptional Lighting and Sound. The positive response to “Godfather Death” at the LITF 2012 indicates that this play is also one to watch at the Wales Final.

Friday 8th June 2012

• Future Shock by Richard Stockwell - The Unknown OUTCasts (Glamorgan)
• Godfather Death by Vic Mills - Blackwood Little Theatre (Gwent)
• Watch Over Me by Ross Burgess - The Players' Theatre (Glamorgan)

Saturday 9th June 2012

• Day of Days by Sean O'Connols - Loose Cannons (Anglesey)
• The Witches of Macbeth by the company - Phoenix Theatre Company (Clwyd)
• Biscuits by Graham J Evans - Blackwood Little Theatre (Gwent)

Dad's Army - Postponed

It is with great regret that Blackwood Little Theatre has decided that July's production of Dad's Army will not be able to go ahead this year. We have had some unforeseen casting issues and now feel that that we would not be able to provide the standard of production that our audiences have come to expect given the time constraints we now find ourselves in.

We have therefore decided to postpone this production until 2013 and we extend our sincere apologies to those who have purchased tickets and to those who were looking forward to the war reaching Blackwood this Summer! We will be more than happy to arrange refunding tickets or transferring them to our next production and we will be re-scheduling this production for 2013.

 Our contact details are located at our website if you wish to discuss this.

Liverpool International Theatre Festival - May 2012

"Every two years, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, hosts a dynamic, entertaining, multi-faceted cultural theatre event. Theatre troops from around the world come to the stage of the Astor Theatre to compete in a four day theatre festival.”

Having visited Liverpool during the last two Festivals – 2008 and 2010 – Blackwood Little Theatre have once more represented Wales this year at LITF 2012. A small group of seven cast and crew took part in the Festival performing an original script by published writer Vic Mills – “Godfather Death”.

The performance was live streamed over the internet so that friends and family could take part in the experience at home and the cast received a standing ovation on both sides of the continent for their efforts on the night! Jerry Grummit received an award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his spellbinding interpretation of his character, “Death”. The technical skills of Aneurin Brown and musical ability of Peta Maidman and Steve Wride also drew praise in the form of the Adjudicators Award for Exceptional Lighting and Sound. Nominations for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Original Script were also received by Sarah Jones and Vic Mills.

Of course the whole experience in Liverpool was one for us to cherish! We had an unforgettable week of watching thought provoking, inspired plays by theatre groups from all around the world – Germany, Brazil, Egypt to name but a few. Perhaps we will go back in 2014 or 2016?

You can read our blog here.