Welcome to the

GARDEN SUBURB THEATRE

Here you will find information about our current and past productions, about the company itself, how to join us or simply come and see one of our productions. If you have any questions, contact us.

Click HERE for a complete GST calendar of events
for the 2009-2010 season
 VENUES: For maps of how to get to our venues, click here

Search our site:
NEXT PRODUCTION:
February/March 2010
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
 Henrietta Barnett School NW11
Bookings: 020 7723 6609
Tickets £8.50/£7 concessions
 2-for-1 on Friday 26 Feb! - advanced bookings only

Coming up:

Sat 6 February, Stage Management workshop

19-21 February, set building for The Three Musketeers

26 Feb - 6 March, The Three Musketeers

Sun 14 March
Audition, The Recruiting Officer

Sat 27 March
Members only event: Rehearsed reading, The House of Bernarda Alba


Join our email mailing list if you would like regular updates about forthcoming shows etc....email me

Members: if you've got any news about other productions that you're in, email me and I'll put the details and a link up

NEWS
 13 Feb 2010. Three Musketeers coming up very soon.... LOTS of fighting practice going on; see photos HERE.
March 2010 newsletter can be downloaded HERE.
09 November: Download the latest newsletter HERE - complete with review of Our Country's Good and news about the GST Christmas Party... also a downloadable copy of the Three Musketeers audition notice HERE.

13 October: Audition details for The Three Musketeers now available on our Twelfth Night audition details now available

 28 May: News about our  Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday 6 June
MURDER WITHIN TENT A camper on holiday at a remote campsite has been found dead. Whodunnit? The remaining campers are interrogated during an evening of suspense, laughter  and thrills.
7.30 pm at Finchley Youth Theatre, 142 High Road East Finchley.
£5 admisson covers to cost of snack supper, drinks on sale.
Compere Tony Newton as "Andy Field" campsite proprietor with suspects including the Lanes, the Bergs, Mirrie, Toby, Simon, Sybil, Geoff, Tezza, Alicia and Ashley.

19 May 2009:
... in Social News: This summer's Blanket Banquet is now confirmed for Sunday 26th July. Put it in your diaries now, and start practicing your cricket!

... in Audition News: The audition notice for Our Country's Good is now available on the Audition page.

 ...in Show news: A New Venture for GST. We are moving into the heartlands of Barnet with performances of 'Our Country's Good' at the Old Bull Arts Centre after the run at Henrietta Barnet School. This will be an exciting challenge for designer, stage crew and actors to adapt from a large school hall to the more intimate theatre with a thrust stage.The Old Bull is a community theatre and we hope to attract new audiences for our shows. 

...in Other News: Heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. Members of the GST are taking taking two plays to the Edinburgh Fringe and hope that as many members as possible will make the journey north to support them.

If you haven't been to the Fringe before you don't know what you're missing! Following the rehearsed play reading of "Time Share", Terry Rogers has substantially re-written the piece which is now going to be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe at the Sweet ECA, Edinburgh College of Art.


For those who do not know the story, the plot is as follows: " Foul whisperings are abroad. Malcolm discovers the apartment next door is occupied by Macbeth, but no one believes him. What starts as a relaxing holiday in the Spanish sun escalates into a bloody battle with the neighbours from hell."

In this black comedy Malcolm and Simon work together and one of them is in line for promotion in the family firm. Simon and his wife Vicky have inherited a timeshare in Spain and invite Malcolm and his wife Judy to join them for a holiday. The men anxiously wait to hear from their boss Duncan who has got the top job. From the outset there is tension. News that Duncan has disappeared is topped when Malcolm discovers they are living next door to Macbeth and his wife. Gradually all four of them are inexorably dragged in to the Shakespearean tragedy.

Will they be able to extricate themselves or will one of them ending up having to kill Macbeth?

It previews from 6 - 8 August and runs until 31st [except 18th]

And that's not all. John Colmans is joining former members David Brown and Eugene Smith in "The Wild Goose Chase" by John Fletcher.

Collaborations with Shakespeare aside (Two Noble Kinsmen, Henry VIII) John Fletcher’s work is unjustly neglected. Here’s a rare chance to see his 1621 battle of the sexes comedy. Virtually unperformed for over 300 years, it shows that where men, women and commitment are concerned, little has changed over the centuries.

The venue is the Quaker Meeting House and it runs from August 17-29 (not 23).

Hopefully some members will make the journey north to see both shows

5 May: Further photos from our successful trip to the Isle of Man at Easter are now available on the Breaking the Code page.

22 April. Alan Ayckbourn's play Time Of My Life is THIS WEEK - book tickets now on 020 7723 6609. This is our entry into the Barnet Borough Drama Awards for 2009. Further details in the current newsletter.

Also this week: Adam Sutcliffe is appearing as Merriman in The Importance of Being Earnest at Questors Theatre Ealing.

And... calling all Tap dancers - TapHeart, an American Tap workshop, with Rusty Frank (one of the US's best known tap teachers), is taking place over the late Bank Holiday Weekend. Download a flier here.

 19 April: Isle of Man success! Our now almost annual trip to to the Manx Amateur Drama Festival resulted in our best-ever results. Breaking The Code, originally seen last December Upstairs at the Gatehouse, was voted the audience's favourite show of the week and Richard Kinder was awarded Best Actor for his performance as Alan Turing. Awards also went to Fred Griessen for Best Supporting Actor and Paula Morris for Best Supporting Actress. See photos on the MADF website.

06 April: Latest copy of newsletter available online by clicking HERE.  Also newly available, our Production Notes document - lots of tips for new and experienced directors. Go to the downloads page (link at top) or click HERE.

26 February: The Railway Children opens this Friday! Buy your tickets now!

18 February: Set building for The Railway Children is this weekend! So get yourself down to the theatre and help out - all welcome. We'll be there Sat and Sun from 10 till 5.

3 Feb: Following an extremely interesting and informative Lighting Workshop I have added a guide to using lighting gels onto the downloads page, where there are also lots of other useful techical documents as well as the current GST diary.

28 Added: a review of Breaking the Code by Leonie Stephens in the Garden Suburb News.

3 Jan. Look on our Facebook pages for pictures of the New Year's Eve party...

11 December. Click HERE to see photos of Breaking the Code.

10 December: The audition notice for Time of My Life is up on the auditions page. Also, a list of our lighting equipment, compiled by David Lane, is now available to download from our Downloads page.

9 December: Breaking the Code was an amazing show, and played to packed houses every night.

3 December: This week: Breaking the Code, Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Go to the Breaking the Code page to read GST member Jean Neal's fascinating personal account of her time at Bletchley Park.

21 October - the whole cast photo from Romeo and Juliet is now online.

17 October 2008. Photos of The Old Masters at I Tatti are now online; click HERE to go to the Old Masters page.

29 September. Pictures of the Big Birthday Bash can be seen by clicking HERE

5 September: Around the World audio CDs are now available; cost £5 plus £1.50 p&p. If you'd like to buy one, email Terry on chairman(at)gardensuburbtheatre.org.uk

28 July: Audition details for Breaking the Code are now available CLICK HERE

24 July:A reminder about our Blanket Banquet (aka GST picnic!) this Saturday; 1pm at Golders Hill Park - for full details CLICK HERE.

Plus a reminder from Vanessa that the deadline for the next newsletter is Monday 11 August - all contributions welcome, email to the usual address.
18 July: Romeo and Juliet continues to critical acclaim - there are still three more performances so do come along tonight or tomorrow.
The One Act Play Festival last weekend was a huge success. Hundreds of people watched over the two days, and it was fantastic to share drama and fun with old and new friends from around the country. Tea and cake was enjoyed on Saturday afternoon, and apparently there have been several requests for the recipe for the ginger cake, so here it is The Chairman's Low Fat Centenary Ginger Cake.
3 July: Romeo and Juliet rehearsals are reaching their final stage. There are some amazing fights, choreographed by actor Dave Lear:

2 July: Please note there will be no performance of Romeo and Juliet on Tuesday 15th July, due to licensing regulations. At the performance on Monday 14th tickets will be 2 for the price of 1.

20 June: "Mischief" now has its own page. Click here for up to date details of the schedule

9 June: Mischief in the Wood. (FREE EVENT)
 We now have confirmation of most of the plays that will form our One Act Play festival.
Three groups including ourselves have opted (independently) for one of Alan Ayckbourns five interlinked Confusions plays.
Confirmed so far:

Between Mouthfuls by Alan Ayckbourn presented by the Little Heath and Potters Bar Players
Saturday Sunday Monday by Eduardo de Filippo presented by the Incognitos
Five Blue Haired Ladies Sitting On A Green Park Bench by John A Penzotti presented by Bejou Productions
The Garden Suburb Junior School presents...
Gosforth Fete by Alan Ayckbourn presented by the Garden Suburb Theatre
A Talk In the Park by Alan Ayckbourn presented by the Martelloes
Singing In the Wilderness by David Campton, presented by the Kings Langley Players
 Plus more to be confirmed. And entry to all these performances is FREE to all!
Friday July 11 at 7.30pm
Saturday July 12 from 3pm - 9pm
Little Oak Wood
30 May: David Brown sends us news of The Wild Goose Chase, a romantic comedy by John Fletcher which he is directing for the Ealing Shakespeare Players at the Questors Theatre from 18 - 21 June. Eugene Smith stars. More info HERE.

16 May: More about An Evening with "Flanders and Swann"
 For more information about this event, click HERE to go to the Evening with Flanders and Swann page.

6 May: A Message from Vanessa:

Your Newsletter needs you

 Be a GST Newsletter Contributor. 

We are coming up to our 100th edition of the Newsletter in early June and we’d like it to be a really jam-packed issue.

We had a great response for the Centenary Souvenir brochure and would love more stories, article and pictures for the upcoming Newsletter.

If you have reviews, anecdotes, opinions, family news, bulletins, etc we would welcome them.

  The deadline for articles is 23rd May 2008

 Please send your articles Williams toVanessa (Assistant Editor) at

gstwebsite@gardensuburbtheatre.org.uk  


4 May. The "evening with Flanders and Swann" will now take place on Friday 6 June. Call 020 7723 6609 to book your tickets.  The Improvisation workshop planned for May 10 has been postponed, more details soon. Romeo and Juliet rehearsals have started. We have had a lot of interest in the One Act Play festival and I will be publishing the list of plays soon....

2 April Jon Musker will be staging the Fun Raisin cabaret, in aid of Cancer Research, on Sunday May 4th (the Sunday before Bank Holiday Monday). An evening of comedy, music and dance featuring some of the best amateur and professional talent in North London and Hertfordshire, including members of the Garden Suburb Theatre. Click HERE for more details.

27 March. Nice piece in the Ham & High today, see below

 

17 March Last night's audition for Romeo and Juliet was extremely well attended, and casting details will be available soon. Meanwhile, I have posted a picture of the audition on the Romeo and Juliet page.
12 March. DVDs of Around the World in 80 Days will be available, soon. They cost £15 each inc. postage; if you would like one, email me.

Last year's production of The Old Masters has been invited to perform at I Tutti near Florence, which is where the play is set. However not all the cast are able to go (the trip is 24-26 September) so Angela Cox, the director, will be having auditions on 17 April for the new cast members. Again, email me for further details.

The May rehearsed reading will be Six Characters in Search of an Author by Pirandello; more details soon.

Casting and Selection committee are looking for directors: Members who would be interested in directing a show during 2009 should contact Susie Ramsey, Fred Griessen or Ros Berg or, once again, email me and I will pass your details on.
11 March Around the Word in 80 Days is over after several years of hard work, having been seen by over 1000 people. Posted on the site today: A new version of our diary for 2008; acclaim for Around the World from members of the audience; some information from the director about What The Butler Saw. Coming soon: Photos of Around the World.
20 January. The final events in our Centenary Programme are being arranged and a full programme for the rest of the year will be announced in a special Centenary Newsletter whic will be published in time for Around the World in 80 Days at the end of February. Rehearsals for Around the World are going well and tickets are selling fast so order yours soon!

11 December: Photos of the Masters have been uploaded - click HERE to view them
3 December: GST member Penny Nachir is performing with the Guild Players, Finchley, this week in The Fumblings at Friars Bottom by Richard Coleman. More details here.
18 November: The audition notice for What the Butler Saw is now on the site.

28 October. Pygmalion finished last night with a very large and appreciative audience, but we're moving straight on - auditions start tonight for Around the World in 80 Days, and The Old Masters is of course already in rehearsal.
23 October. This week - Pygmalion!
Book now as tickets are selling fast.... rehearsal and cast pictures now on the Pygmalion page
1 October: Christopher Poke (Antonio in The Tempest) will be appearing in The Burial at Thebes (Seamus Heaney's take on Antigone) at the Mary Wallace Theatre in Twickenham from 20th - 27th October.

25 September. We are pleased to announce our 2007/2008 season is now complete: In April 2008 we will be performing What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, at the Henrietta Barnett School Theatre, directed by Diana Bromley.

18 September:
The audition notice for our February musical; Around the World in 80 Days by Terry Rogers, has now been posted on our auditions page.

09 August:
The audition notice for our December production, The Old Masters by Simon Gray, has now been posted on our auditions page.

29 July:
Due to a rising number of members joining the social networking website, Facebook, there has been a group set up for members of this society. This is the link for any who are interested.

Alon Witztum (most recently seen as Ariel in The Tempest) will be performing in Pericles, Prince of Tyre at The Vanbrugh Theatre on Saturday 4th August as part of the RADA Youth Group. Performances are at 2.30 and 7.30 and the theatre is located at RADA on Malet Street. Link here, and tickets can be bought on 02079084800.

23 July:
The Tempest has now completed a successful run with only one performance interrupted by the rain. Look out for a review coming soon.

The Pygmalion production has now been cast. It will be performed in October in Henrietta Barnett School Theatre.

13 June:
Dame Henrietta's Dream was a tremendous success, with several sold-out performances and gala night in the presence of our President, Sir Donald Sinden, as well as the Mayor of Barnet and various other local dignitaries. A review will be posted in due course. In the meantime we're already well into rehearsing The Tempest for which we're creating a beach and a shipwreck in Little Wood!

17 May:
Dame Henrietta's Dream, the first of our two open-air shows this year, is part of Hampstead Garden Suburb's Centenary Celebrations. Click here for more details of the celebrations: www.hgs.org.uk/centenary

13 April: Fallen Angels at Manx Amateur Drama Festival

A week of fun, frolics and fabulous weather was topped by Susan Quine winning the award for Best Supporting Actress. Mary Musker and Debbie Lane were jointly nominated for Best Comedy Award for Act II of the play, and Mary was also nominated for Best Actress.

30 March 2007: Members & guests event: Fallen Angels

We are taking Fallen Angels to the Isle of Man Amateur Drama Festival next weekend and there is a  chance to see the cast perform the play again before we go.
The performance will be at the lower school hall of King Alfred's School North End Road beginning at 7.30pm. The show runs for 2 hours.

Your support will be very welcome.

To get to the school if you don't know - go up North End Road from Golders Green and go passed the first turning Welgarth Road. The school is on the left through metal gates. The hall is across the grass and diagonally opposite on the left. There will be helpful direction signs to guide you. If you can't park in the grounds, parking is allowed in the main road or side roads.

Admission is free to Members and friends and wine and soft drinks will be on sale. See you there!

 

 

Older news can be found in the archive, here.

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Coming Soon

Feb/March 2010
The Three Musketeers

April 2010
Educating Rita

July 2010
The Recruiting Officer