Angus is Back with his Signature Pizzazz!

Flashback to March 2020. Angus Jacobs is bringing the sass to BATS as he choreographs the six “merry murderesses” of the Cook County Jail in the show-stopping Cell Block Tango - just one of the numbers in the sizzling musical Chicago which is due to be performed at the Haymarket in a few weeks’ time.

“He had it coming,” is their repeated refrain, as each think their crime was justified.

Then - lockdown happens.
Suddenly we’re all in confinement.
The show has to be scrapped - the number is never seen.
Until now.

April 2024 - and Angus is back in the rehearsal room, revisiting the delectably devilish song, for the upcoming BATS revue, On With the Show.

Angus Jacobs

“It was definitely unfinished business,” says Angus. “It was obviously a real shame what happened four years ago, but it’s good to be back! BATS is a great society with lots of talent, so when I was asked if I’d like to finally bring Cell Block Tango to the stage, I said I’d love to!”

Angus is also staging a song from another hugely popular show, the anthem Somebody to Love from the Queen musical, We Will Rock You.

“When I’m approached by a theatre company about directing and choreographing, it’s got to be something I feel I can add my personality to,” says Angus. “I like shows with LGBTQ+ elements to them, such as Victor Victoria, Soho Cinders and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which I staged at the Bridewell Theatre in London. Shows that I can be creative with, that have something different about them.”

After working as part of a team of creatives on the BATS revue, which brings a huge range of West End and Broadway showstoppers to the Haymarket stage this May, Angus will make a full-blooded return to BATS when he takes the helm of the ‘80’s musical Rock of Ages in Spring 2025.

“The show is absolutely bonkers and very funny,” laughs Angus. “It’s got big hair, air guitars, wind machines, pyrotechnics and amazing songs like The Final Countdown and We Built This City. I grew up in the ‘80’s - that was my time - and it’s got my name written all over it!”

That’s something to savour in the future. For now, Angus is happy getting the chance to delve into the past and finally bring Chicago’s Cell Block Tango to the stage with all his signature pizzazz!

On With The Show runs at the Haymarket, Basingstoke on Friday 17 May at 7.30pm and Saturday 18 May at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. View show information and book tickets.

Michelle's Back After a 24-Year Interval

“When my son was three years old, he wouldn’t watch the Teletubbies. Instead he used to watch the film of Chicago on a loop! He knew all the words to the Cell Block Tango by heart! So I’m now having a “full circle” moment, as I’m going to be performing that very same number with BATS!”

Michelle Anderson is very excited about returning to the stage after a break of 24 years. In the 1990s she trained in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting, where she met her husband Xavier. After pursuing a professional career she gave up performing to raise her two sons.

Michelle Anderson

“In recent years I’ve been running theatre workshops for kids and helping them achieve their LAMDA qualifications. But I really wanted to experience that joy for myself again,” says Michelle.

“I’d been thinking for a few years about joining a local theatre group. Then last year I saw BATS’ production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and thought ‘this is the one!’”

Michelle joins BATS for On With The Show, described as a ‘musical theatre roulette’ featuring showstoppers from West End and Broadway hits including Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Six and the aforementioned Chicago.

“For me it’s been fun to come in and find myself playing different characters from different shows. There’s something for everyone. And the talent in BATS is insane! I’m having to raise my game as some of the dancing is pretty challenging!

“I admit as the show gets closer I have been thinking, ‘is this wise?’. But my husband and boys told me they need to see me back on stage, so it’s great to have their support.”

Meanwhile it’s also full circle for Michelle’s Chicago-loving son - who’s now pursuing his own career in musical theatre!

“He said “we are so proud of you mum” and I can’t wait for them to see the show! The rehearsals have been full of joy, fun and laughter and I’m really looking forward to getting back on stage!”

See Michelle in On With the Show at the Haymarket, Basingstoke on Friday 17th May at 7.30pm and Saturday 18th May at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. View show information and book tickets.

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review, Nov 2023 - Basingstoke Gazette

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an absolute classic and BATS hit every note perfectly.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is an absolute hit, it's safe to say most of us can recite the lyrics of at least one song thanks to its popularity with school drama departments. If your school didn't put on a show, the choir probably did its own rendition of Any Dream Will Do during assembly.

Every year BATS effortlessly brings the West End to The Haymarket, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is no exception. As expected, the show was a joy to watch, with colourful costumes, impressive singing, hilarious characters and expertly choreographed dancing.

The musical follows the Bible story of Jacob's favourite son Joseph, played by David Honeywell, and his eleven brothers.

It is a fun tale with wacky characters and brilliant songs, while also dealing with important themes of growing up, jealousy and forgiveness

BATS bought back the creative duo of Louise Travis (director and choreographer) and Jonathan Eiø who were behind the production of Rent in May to deliver the brilliant production.

The simple staging of bleacher steps with an impressive pyramid means all the focus is on the costumes, singing and dancing.

With more than 40 people on the stage, the performance is a musical extravaganza - it's hard to know where to look because it's all just so brilliant.

This year marks the first time in BATS' 60-year history that it has put on a relaxed performance. On November 15, the group turned down the volume, reduced the harsh lighting and altered the choreography to make the performance as accessible as possible. 

Despite the changes, the performance was as brilliant as ever and it was more magical knowing that some members of the audience were experiencing theatre for the first time thanks to the adaptations.

Megan Stanley
Basingstoke Gazette

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review, Nov 2023 - Retiring in Style

There’s just so much to love about BATS’ latest production, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. It wasn’t just the dream coat that was amazing and technicoloured – this was a show full of colour, dance, laughter and eccentricity which had its audience totally engrossed and thoroughly entertained. If the main purpose of a show is to entertain, then the standing ovation at the end of Tuesday’s opening night, proved BATS had, once again, delivered.

The production was directed and choreographed by Louise Travis, with Luannsa Goodman as her co-choreographer and Jonathan Eiø as Musical Director. Louise and Luannsa were fortunate in having some superbly talented dancers to bring their choreography to life; in addition to the nifty footwork, I must make mention of what the judges on Strictly Come Dancing like to call “armography” which made the dancing even more watchable.

The costumes, as well as being of technicolour brilliance, were a fascinating mixture of styles, ancient and modern, making this Joseph production more edgy and up-to-date than some I have seen. Super-fast costume changes must have been required as various cast members were taking on several roles but nobody appeared to miss a step.

Every actor who plays Joseph puts a slightly different spin on the part and David Honeywell played him as a gentle soul seemingly unaware of the jealousy his thoughtless tales of his egocentric dreams were creating among his brothers. His relationship with Jacob, helping his father “live his youth again” in the early scenes was especially poignant, showing the audience just why Joseph was Jacob’s favourite son. During his rendition of “Close Every Door to Me” even the most excitable of the mainly young audience fell silent.

Ranged against “poor, poor Joseph” were the other eleven brothers. While the strength of the brothers mostly lies in their unity, they were all the stronger for their individuality. I only wish I could name them all personally because they were a brilliant Band of Brothers. James Young (Reuben - One More Angel in

Heaven, with a bevy of wives joining in the fun), Adrien Nortier (Simeon - Those Canaan Days) and Harrison Crangle (Judah - Benjamin Calypso) took the lead in three of the show’s most popular group songs. Best of all the brothers’ interpretation of Those Canaan Days, bewailing the fate that had befallen them since they had betrayed Joseph, supposedly to a life of servitude, was a standout performance. Their excellent characterisation and faultless harmonies won them the loudest applause of the night.

One of the three narrators, Kirsty Kingham, was unable to perform on the opening night, leaving Laura Newborough and Eronwy Selwyn to carry the story-line which must have been a considerable challenge. It is a tribute to them both that they carried it off so harmoniously.

The children were a delight and extremely well-rehearsed, taking obvious pride in their performance. Team Lloyd was on stage on Tuesday but I am sure Team Webber will have been equally charming.

As a reviewer, I had a great seat in the middle of the stalls (thank you, BATS!) but part of me wanted to be up in the Circle watching from on high as the story unfolded, so that I could get a better, more all round view of the action. Boy, was it busy! This was very much an “ensemble show” with most of the cast on stage for much of the time. From my seat in the stalls, this meant that some of the principal performances lacked the focus that their roles deserved. For example, the sequence with Potiphar, (well played by Benedict Kennedy) and Potiphar’s wilful wife (equally well played by April Fost-Evans) lost some of its impact because my eyes were irresistibly drawn to the startling choreography of the accompanying dancers (was it just me or was this reminiscent of “Cabaret”?) Even Pharaoh, played very successfully for laughs by Ian “Spud” Smith, started off his performance at the back of the stage where he, too, was partly obscured by the dancers in front of him. Up in the Circle, I would have seen them all more clearly and been able to enjoy their performances even better.

Incidentally, Wednesday evening was a “relaxed” performance, a first for BATS. As one of the governors at a special educational needs school, I really appreciate the society’s acknowledgment that absolutely everyone deserves the chance to experience live theatre. The cast and crew of Joseph played this for laughs, creating a real party atmosphere, a theatrical adventure to give pleasure to everyone. Their boundless energy and exuberance were totally infectious, so that everyone left the theatre with a smile on their face. Well done, BATS!

Jaqui Ball
Retiring in Style

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review, Nov 2023 - National Operatic and Dramatic Society (NODA)

SET: The set was two sets of bleachers that moved apart to make an entrance/exit at the rear of the stage. The backdrop being a technicolour brightly lit pyramid of colour. The use of the stage in this way made room for the large cast. The focus was therefore on lighting and costumes. 

COSTUMES: Costumes were fantastic, brightly coloured and varied in style from traditional biblical to modern and all were vibrant, well fitting and suited to their characters. There must have been some very quick changes due to doubling up of characters and scene changes. The narrators were in black and this was a good contrast to the colourful characters within the story.

Joseph’s coat was indeed amazing and the 29 colours were displayed in full glory in one of the cleverly choreographed dance routines.

THE PRODUCTION: Although this was a relaxed performance with slightly reduced sound volume and some adaptations to the script and lighting, it did not diminish the energy, exuberance and enthusiasm of the cast who worked hard and kept the pace up throughout the show. There was an almost party atmosphere during this sumptuous and fun filled production. All the performances oozed with personality and a certain amount of light-hearted mischief, its almost impossible to single out any individual. However, Ian ‘Spud’ Smith as Pharoah deserves a special mention, particularly as he clearly relished the role and his Elvis number was simply joyful.

The music provided by the live musicians under the direction of Jonathan Eio was never less than perfect and this complemented the tuneful singing of the cast. The intricate choreography from Director, Louise Travis and co-choreographer Luannsa Goodman was first class, varied in style and executed with precision. This biblical story was told with lightness and humour but there were also serious, important themes running through as well, such as sibling rivalry and the perils of greed and pride.

Well done BATS on making this theatrical experience inclusive and therefore open to an audience who may have been enjoying live performance for the first time. 

Chris Horton
District 14 Regional Representative
National Operatic and Dramatic Society (NODA)