What's On

String Trio

featuring works by Mozart, J.S.Bach and Schubert

Our friends from the Hallé Orchestra finally return with a glorious programme of music for string trio. After such a long absence of music from the Town Hall, we are delighted to welcome Rosemary, Christine and Dale back with a beautiful programme to lift the spirits and soothe the soul. We’re limiting the capacity to 100 to ensure plenty of room for the audience.

Bach – Three-Part Inventions arranged for string trio

Schubert – String Trio in Bb Major, D 471

Mozart – Divertimento in Eb Major, K 563

Performed by: Rosemary Attree – violin, Christine Anderson – viola, Dale Culliford – cello

7 May

7.30pm (doors 7pm), £15

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

National Theatre Live

Straight Line Crazy

a new play by David Hare, directed by Nicholas Hytner

Ralph Fiennes (Antony & Cleopatra) leads the cast in David Hare’s (Skylight) blazing account of the most powerful man in New York, a master manipulator whose legacy changed the city forever.

For forty uninterrupted years, Robert Moses exploited those in office through a mix of charm and intimidation. Motivated at first by a determination to improve the lives of New York City’s workers, he created parks, bridges and 627 miles of expressway to connect the people to the great outdoors.

Faced with resistance by protest groups campaigning for a very different idea of what the city should become, will the weakness of democracy be exposed in the face of his charismatic conviction?

Broadcast live from the Bridge Theatre in London, Nicholas Hytner directs this exhilarating new play.

26 May 7pm (doors 6.30pm)

£15

Town Hall Chamber Series

La France

A beautiful programme of French and Canadian composers sees the return of our favourite musicians from the Hallé.

Claude Debussy – Premier Rhapsody for clarinet and ensemble
Jaques Ibert – Two Interludes for flute, violin and harp
Caroline Lizotte – Suite Galactique for solo harp
Claude Debussy –Epigraphes Antiques for flute and string trio
Maurice Ravel – Introduction and Allegro

The Players:

Peter Liang and Ed Pether -violins
Alex Mitchell – viola
Jonathan Pether – cello
Sarah Bennett – flute
Rosa Campos -Fernandez – clarinet
Marie Leenhardt – harp

17 July, 7.30pm

£15

NT Live: Prima Facie

Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play.

Tessa is a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge. Prima Facie takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game. Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live from the intimate Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.

A production from Empire Street Productions. Visit the Empire Street Productions website to find out more.

21 July, 7pm

Assembly Room  Theatre

£15

Safer Neighbourhoods Outreach Sessions

Talk with police and emergency services in these regular outreach sessions at the  town hall. If you have worries or concerns drop in and speak to a PCSO or other representative of the emergency services. 

Council Chamber, 10-11 am

7 June

 12th July
9th August, 6th September, 4th October
8th November, 20th December

Film Friday: Belfast

It’s been a long time! Regular fortnightly films return with Kenneth Branagh’s Oscar-winning love letter to his home town. A semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital. Starring Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill, Ciaran Hinds, Catriona Balfe and Judi Dench

17 June, 7.30pm

£6 (PG13)

National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing

by William Shakespeare, directed by Simon Godwin

Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) and John Heffernan (Dracula) lead the cast in Shakespeare’s romcom of sun, sea and mistaken identity. The legendary Hotel Messina on the Italian Riveria has been visited by artists, celebrities and royalty. But when the owner’s daughter weds a dashing young soldier, not all guests are in the mood for love. A string of scandalous deceptions soon surround not only the young couple, but also the adamantly single Beatrice and Benedick.

Following the award-winning success of National Theatre Live’s Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra, director Simon Godwin returns with this irresistible comedy, broadcast live from the National Theatre stage.

8 September, 7pm

£15

National Theatre Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again

by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris, based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals

A rollicking new comedy by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) and Oliver Chris (Twelfth Night). After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish. Back on British soil, Jack’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own, very particular, terms.

Emily Burns directs this spectacularly entertaining new version of Sheridan’s The Rivals. Featuring a cast including Caroline Quentin, Laurie Davidson, Natalie Simpson and Kelvin Fletcher.

‘One of the funniest productions in the National’s history.’ Guardian on One Man, Two Guvnors

6 October

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.