What's On

Russell Kane Live!

Russell Kane Live: The Essex Variant!

Russell Kane’s bringing to town his gut-punch funny, searing, award-winning take on the two years we’ve just gone through. Hailed as the The Guardian’s Number 1 comedy performance to come out of 2020 (The Guardian are miserable and usually hate everything) – this high-octane show brings nuclear-energy belly laughs and pant-wetting observations which prove laughter really is the best medicine* (*actually, it’s probably hospital medicine).

Russell Kane has two chart-topping, award-bagging podcasts: Man Baggage and BBC Radio 4’s Evil Genius. He is a regular on Channel 4, BBC, and ITV: all the usual shows you see funny people on. He’s also a writer, actor, and presenter. He drinks lots of coffee and is ‘like that in real life’.

He was the first ever comedian to bag the two most prestigious comedy awards on earth in the same year, for the same show: The Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly The Perrier), and The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award, (formerly known as the Barry Award). He’s also a raving bighead that likes listing his achievements.

 ‘Russell Kane has made his name with verbose, hyperactive comedy – and he shows no sign of slowing down’ (THE I)

‘Fierce, funny and heartfelt… a thrilling reminder of what comedy can do’ (THE GUARDIAN)

‘Storming physical comedy… splendidly manic’ ***** (MAIL ON SUNDAY)

• Masks are required. Please only attend if double vaccinated and do not have symptoms. The theatre will be well ventilated.

18 February, 8pm

£20  SOLD OUT

*The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage

by Philip Pullman, adapted by Bryony Lavery, directed by Nicholas Hytner

Set twelve years before the epic His Dark Materials trilogy, this gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world in which waters are rising and storms are brewing.

Two young people and their dæmons, with everything at stake, find themselves at the centre of a terrifying manhunt. In their care is a tiny child called Lyra Belacqua, and in that child lies the fate of the future. And as the waters rise around them, powerful adversaries conspire for mastery of Dust: salvation to some, the source of infinite corruption to others.

Eighteen years after his ground breaking production of His Dark Materials at the National Theatre, director Nicholas Hytner returns to Pullman’s parallel universe. Broadcast live from London’s Bridge Theatre.

17 February, 7pm £15/13

*BTCT received funding in 2019 for Bakewell Live!, a project to install at large motorised cinema screen, projector,  satellite receiver and 7:1 sound system to allow us to offer live streaming from the National Theatre, along with musical events and film. This was generously supported by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Devonshire Fund.

Henry V, by William Shakespeare

Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) plays the title role in Shakespeare’s thrilling study of nationalism, war and the psychology of power.
Fresh to the throne, King Henry V launches England into a bloody war with France. When his campaign encounters resistance, this inexperienced new ruler must prove he is fit to guide a country into war.
Captured live from the Donmar Warehouse in London, this exciting modern production directed by Max Webster (Life of Pi) explores what it means to be English and our relationship to Europe, asking: do we ever get the leaders we deserve?

21 April, 7pm (doors 6.30pm)

£15

• Certificate 15,   strong violence and drug use in this production

Rich Hall’s Hoedown Deluxe

Rich Hall’s comedy/music locomotive keeps on rollin’. Ever-evolving, ever-changing, Rich’s combination of keen acerbic stand-up combined with spit and sawdust alt-country lyricism is a “win-win” (GUARDIAN), as sold out crowds across the UK have attested. Fans keep returning because this show goes where other comedians wouldn’t dare: Barrow-in-Furness for example.

Rich’s acclaimed BBC4 documentaries (most recently Rich Hall’s Red Menace) and his Radio 4 series Election Breakdown have established a whole new legion of followers. He’s also a stalwart of QI and Have I Got News For You. But seeing the Hoedown is a whole different experience. Gut-busting, rib-tickling, toe-tapping, and shit-kicking, Rich Hall’s Hoedown Deluxe covers the full anatomical spectrum.

“Vital and incredulously angry. Hilarious.” (THE SCOTSMAN)

22 April, 8pm (doors 7.15pm)

£17

John Hegley

Drawings of Dromedaries and Other Animals

An evening of poems, drawings, stories and possibly dancing. Included in the spectacle are a pair of Dromedaries, alongside a number of newly composed pieces touching on John Keats’s letters and leisure activities. The singing camel (not to be confused with a dromedary) which the poet imagined in a letter to Jane and Mariane Renolds makes an appearance, although which song it sings is yet to be decided.
Other animals include Monsieur Robinet’s faithful canine companion, Chirac; 19th Century American geologist Florence Bascomb’s dog; as well as D. H. Lawrence’s tortoise, puffins, cats, frogs, elephants and half a dragon. Expect a combination of new pieces and species, and a batch selected from an extensive back catalogue. Includes some plant-based material and rhyming language. A performance devised to suit adults, but of interest to some nine-year-olds.

‘[an] exquisitely curated package that is unmistakably Hegley’ (Chortle)
‘Awesomely mundane’ (Independent).

13 May

7.30pm (doors 7pm) £15

Falls Clinic

Falls Clinic will return in its regular spot, on a Thursday at 1.30pm as soon as fitness classes are permitted. Michele is running her classes in a socially-distanced way. Please use the hand sanitiser, keep your distance and wear a mask if you can.

Thursday, 1.30pm

Court Room Gallery from 6 January

Pilates

Theresa will return with her regular Tuesday evening pilates class as soon as restrictions permit. Please follow the guidelines and wear a mask if you are able to.

Tuesday 7pm

Court Room Gallery from 4 January

Vinyasa Flow Yoga

We welcome back Liz Bortoli with her vinyasa flow yoga sessions on a new night, every Wednesday from 6.15pm.

Court Room Gallery

from 5 January

Pay-it-Forward

Exchange your pay-it-forward tickets, which can be used, without restriction on future Film Friday events. The cinema will resume in the late autumn so keep an eye out for future films. Simply bring them along to a Film Friday screening.

Your support is much appreciated and has helped us to keep going.

BTCT received funding in 2019 for Bakewell Live!, a project to install at large motorised cinema screen, projector,  satellite receiver and 7:1 sound system to allow us to offer live streaming from the National Theatre, along with musical events and film. This was generously supported by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Devonshire Fund.