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.

On With The Show adult auditions - Information for pre-audition workshops, audition dates and registration

If you are an adult aged 18+ and would like to join us to perform in our revue On With the Show - A Musical Theatre Roulette, here is the information you need about auditions.

The show will be performed at The Haymarket in Basingstoke on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May 2024.

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ACCESS AUDITION RESOURCES ONLINE: MEMBERS AREA

You must be a paid-up member to be able to access audition materials and the online audition form.

Access these resources by logging into your member account on the BATS website. If you are a new member, pay your membership online with a debit or credit card to gain instant access your account. Annual membership is £25 and runs from 1 July - 30 June.

AUDITION PACK and Outline rehearal Schedule

The audition pack provides more information about the auditions.

Cast will generally be called for rehearsal every Monday and Wednesday evening and on some Sundays.  View the outline rehearsal schedule.

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Welcome talk

It is not mandatory to attend in order to audition:
Date: Mon 8 January 2024: 7.30pm – 10.00pm
Venue: Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT
What will happen:
- We’ll outline the show/concept and share the ‘set’ list and the creatives who will be working on each number.
- Group singing and dance (ensemble audition routine) - so wear clothing/shoes you can move in!

Pre-audition workshops

You'll need to attend at least one pre-audition workshop to be taught the ensemble audition dance (everyone) and up to three other dance routines (optional). You can also book an optional individual 10-minute singing session with the musical director. You do not need to register to attend a pre-audition workshop. Though you’ll need to pre-book for an individual singing slot with the MD (see below).

Dates: Wed 10, Mon 15, Wed 17 January 2023

Timetable: Each pre-audition session will follow the same format:
7:30pm Ensemble Singing
8:00pm Movers Audition Routine (everyone must learn)
8:45pm Dancers Audition Routine (learn if you want to be considered as a dancer)
9:30pm Tap Audition dance (learn if you want to be considered as a tapper)

*Individual singing slots will run 8:00pm - 10:00pm. One session per person (additional sessions depending on availability). Book via the Show Manager at a pre-audition session (or email batsshowmanager@gmail.com)

Venue: Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT

Auditions

The online audition form must be submitted by 11.59pm on Monday 14 January 2024.

Date: Sat 20 Jan: 9.45am (warm-up) - 4.00pm
Venue: Market Chambers, Church Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7QE

Date: Sun 21 Jan: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Venue: Ramsdell Village Hall, Baughurst Rd, Tadley RG26 5RA

Performance Fee

If you are successfully cast in the show, a performance fee of £50 is payable no later than 20 April. You can pay in instalments - just talk to us to request this.

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