the programme here - The Quarry Theatre at St Luke`s

The
diary
Autumn
2016
Welcome
The Quarry Theatre is now one-year-old (has it gone that quickly?)! In that time we have
hosted over 100 performances, from Olivier Award winning touring productions to our very
own home-grown shows. We have even staged a couple of events in the Quarry Theatre
Garden during a very busy Creative Arts Festival, which will be back next year.
This autumn season brings a specially commissioned production. Somewhere in England
explores and celebrates the rich history of Bedford and its most famous citizens as we take a
stroll through 850 years of Bedford’s past. We are very excited to welcome back the Bedford
Film Festival when both the theatre and the studio will host a vast range of films… and
perhaps another UK premier? Let’s hope so!
We’re very pleased to be hosting Idle Motion once again with their new show Shooting With
Light, after the great sell-out success last year of That is All You Need to Know. We also have
the incredible Theatre Re with their award winning show Blind Man’s Song. Pip Utton (Playing
Maggie) returns with a final performance of his compelling multi-award winning show Adolf.
Fans of Jazz will be excited to hear that the Jacqui Dankworth concert series returns. The
opening event, Shakespeare and All That Jazz, is on Saturday 24th September.
We’ve been very lucky to be given permission from Warner Brothers & JK Rowling to adapt
some of her tales for young witches and wizards so the muggles (and magical folk) of Bedford
can enjoy them in dramatic form. The first (and only) Christmas pantomime at Hogwarts was
an adaptation of the Tales of Beedle the Bard, so it’s fitting that the Quarry Theatre’s very first
home-grown Christmas show is this contemporary classic for families. So everyone who loves
Harry Potter, Christmas and magic make sure you book early to ensure you’re part of the
family fun!
Please do take a look through our brochure and discover lots more events from September to
December . . . and remember to keep checking our website as events are added on a regular
basis!
Jules Crossley Director of Theatre James Pharaoh
Theatre Manager
Autumn 2016
WHAT’S ON
Thu 8 Sept
- Wed 14 Sept
Somewhere in England
Main Auditorium
Various
£8
(£5 concessions)
06
Fri 16 Sept Sun 18 Sept
Bedford Film Festival
Main Auditorium
Various
Various
07
Fri 16 Sept Fri 23 Dec
BAFTA Exhibition
The Quarry Theatre
Free Event
08
Mon 19 Sept
Unmasking Grotowski
Main Auditorium
4.30pm
Free Event
(Ticketed)
09
Thu 22 Sept
Shooting with light
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
10
Sat 24 Sept
Shakespeare &
All that jazz
Main Auditorium
8.00pm
£16
(£14 concessions)
11
Tue 27 Sept
Recording Bedfordians
Celebration Evening
Main Auditorium
6.00pm
Free Event
12
Thu 29 Sept
Blind man’s song
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
13
Thu 6 Oct
Great British Buildings
Main Auditorium
5.45pm
£10 (RIBA
Members £7.50,
Students £5)
14
Tue 11 Oct
The collector
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
15
Sat 15 Oct
The Piano Professors
Main Auditorium
8.00pm
£14
(£12 concessions)
16
Tue 18 Oct
Operation Crucible
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
17
Sat 22 Oct
The funny thing about . . .
Main Auditorium
2.30pm
£8
(£6 concessions)
18
Sat 29 Oct
Albee vector the sound
collector
Main Auditorium
2.30pm
£8
(£6 concessions)
19
Tue 1 Nov
This might hurt
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12.50
(£11 concessions)
20
Thu 3 Nov
Adolf
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
21
Fri 4 Nov
Key Change
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
22
Mon 14 - Tue
15, Thu 17 Nov
sweeney todd
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£8.50
(£5 concessions)
23
Wed 23, Fri 25 Sat 26 Nov
Macbeth
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£7.50
(£5 concessions)
24
Mon 5 Dec
64 squares
Main Auditorium
7.30pm
£12
(£10 concessions)
25
Thu 8 Dec
House drama competition
Main Auditorium
6.00pm
Free Event
26
Sat 10 Dec
2016 Bedford Xmas
Wingding!
Main Auditorium
8.00pm
£20
26
Sun 18 Dec
Santa in love
Main Auditorium
1.30pm
£10
(£8 concessions)
27
Wed 21 Fri 23 Dec
Tales of beedle the bard
Main Auditorium
Various
£8
(£6 concessions)
28
Main Auditorium
seating plan
29
HOUSEKEEPING
30
Finding us
31
Theatre
Film
CHILDREN’S theatre
Music
FESTIVALS
LECTURES/WORKSHOPS
The harpur trust presents
Somewhere in England
Thursday 8 - Wednesday 14 September, 7.30PM (2.30pm on 11 Sept)
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£8
(£5 concessions)
Running time
140 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Find out more
http://bit.ly/HT450-play
Join us for a specially commissioned production
exploring and celebrating the rich history of
Bedford and its most famous citizens as we take
a stroll through 850 years of Bedford’s past.
The play’s title ‘Somewhere in England’ (The
Bedford Play), is a reference to the BBC’s live
broadcasts from Bedford (and particularly
Bedford School) during the Second World War.
The town’s true identity had to remain a secret
to avoid being bombed by Hitler’s Luftwaffe and
so the broadcasts were always announced as
being live “from somewhere in England”. The
play uncovers the lives of key Bedfordians, its
connections with famous people and the stories
behind some of the town’s iconic landmarks.
Written and directed by Mark Burgess, the
play will be performed by professional actors
and will also have a live orchestra.
04
06
The play has been
commissioned by The
Harpur Trust as part of
its 450th anniversary
celebrations in 2016.
The quarry theatre presents
Bedford film festival
Friday 16 - Sunday 18 September
Now in its fourth year Bedford Film Festival
continues to bring high-quality film screenings
and events to Bedford. We’re delighted that
they have once again chosen The Quarry
Theatre as their main venue and we can’t wait
to see what they have in store for 2016.
At the time of going to print their full programme
was still being decided but we’ve been told to
expect a varied mix of feature films, documentaries
and talks from film makers the world over.
As always Bedford Film Festival won’t just be
about screenings. There’ll also be film related
activities, talks and fringe events for all ages,
including the increasingly popular shorts session
that will showcase some of the best new filmmaking talent from across the world. Don’t
forget to also look out for The Quarry Theatre at
St. Luke’s own film programme throughout the
year, in partnership with Bedford Film Festival.
Tickets will be on sale
from July onwards
with more and more
films being added to
the programme in the
coming months. For
details of films and
tickets sales, please
visit the festival website:
bedfordfilmfestival.org
Where
The Studio &
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
Various
Find out more
bedfordfilmfestival.org
The quarry theatre & the Bedford film festival PRESENT
BAFTA: bugsy malone
Friday 16 September - Friday 23 December
Where
The Quarry Theatre
Ticket price
Free
(non-ticketed
event)
Age suitability
All ages
08
40 years ago, Alan Parker’s ‘Bugsy Malone’
delighted audiences young and old with its
heart-warming take on an American gangster
story. The use of young actors and a musical
score, as well as custard pies instead of
bullets, inspired the imagination of many.
To celebrate 40 years since the release of Bugsy
Malone, and to launch this year’s Bedford
Film Festival, The Quarry Theatre is hosting a
special exhibition of behind the scenes photos
from the filming of Bugsy Malone, as well as a
collection of drawings detailing the story board
of the shots that later appeared on screen.
This fascinating exhibition gives us a glimpse
into a world rarely seen, detailing the fun and
excitement on set from a film that remains
in the hearts of generations of film fans.
The exhibition will run
from 16th September
to 23rd December
with a special
reception to be
arranged as part
of this years’
Bedford Film
Festival.
The quarry theatre presents
Unmasking grotowski:
From Poor Theatre to Rich Influences
Monday 19 September, 4.30pm
This lecture will introduce you to Polish theatre director Jerzy
Grotowski, unmasking him in the process, challenging some
assumptions and revealing his ongoing value and legacy. The
unmasking will take place in a lively lecture using films and images.
Paul Allain is Professor of Theatre and Performance and Associate Dean
for Research at the University of Kent. He has published several books,
DVDs and articles on theatre and actor training as both author and editor,
with a particular focus on contemporary Polish theatre. From 2006-2009
he led the AHRC-funded British Grotowski Project, which culminated in
an international conference and a series of books. In 2009 he received
an award for services to Polish culture from the Polish government.
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
Free event
(Ticketed)
Running time
60 minutes
Age suitability
12+
09
Idle Motion theatre company present
Shooting with light
Thursday 22 September, 7.30PM
Review
“A fitting tribute
executed with
bags of flair and
invention.”
TIMEOUT

Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
85 minutes
Age suitability
13+ (some strong
language)
Review
“A powerful piece
of theatre.”
THE STAGE

16
10
Since the invention of photography we have
collectively taken over 3.5 trillion photographs.
Total Theatre Award nominated Idle Motion
search within these snapshots to expose one of
the most remarkable untold stories of our age.
It is 1933 and a young German refugee flees to
Paris, reinventing herself as Gerda Taro. Discovering
the wonder of photography, she falls in love with
a fellow refugee who teaches her, ‘if your pictures
aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough’.
Together they venture to the Spanish Civil
War and capture the tyranny of fascism.
As pioneers of front-line photo journalism,
he would go on to receive international
recognition as the iconic war photographer
Robert Capa – she would be forgotten.
Using innovative staging, physicality and
multimedia, internationally renowned company
Idle Motion piece together the life of an
exceptional woman, glimpsed through the lost
photographs she risked her life to take.
Review
“Such an engaging and
inventive young company
[…] this show is as
heartfelt and passionate
as Taro herself.”
LYN GARDENER,
THE GUARDIAN
Review
“Idle Motion bring Gerda
Taro’s unique and
long-neglected story
to light in a brilliant and
imaginative way.”
BRITISH THEATRE
GUIDE
Jacqui Dankworth presents
Shakespeare &
all that Jazz
Saturday 24 September, 8.00PM (doors open from 7.00pm)
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£16
(£14 concessions)
Running time
120 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Find out more
jacquidankworth.
com
This year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. To mark the
occasion, jazz star Jacqui Dankworth will be joined by some special friends
to revisit the musical settings of Shakespeare’s poetry inspired by, and taken
from, the seminal album Shakespeare And All That Jazz, composed by her
late father Sir John Dankworth. The music is based on works such as Shall I
Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day, O Mistress Mine, the story of Macbeth and
a comical setting of Shakespeare’s complete works! The brilliance of the music,
the genius of Shakespeare’s poetry and world class musicians combined with
Jacqui’s emotional and virtuosic voice, will make for a very special evening.
Reviews
“Multi-faceted . .
. incomparable”
THE TIMES
“Soaring and
sonorous”
THE GUARDIAN
This material has not been performed in completion by another songstress
since Dame Cleo Laine recorded the album ‘Wordsongs’ in the 1980s.
Jacqui performed some of them at The Bear Garden Museum 30 years
ago, having been invited by Sam Wanamaker to help raise money for the
Globe Theatre; so the time is right for Jacqui to revisit the material she
grew up with and to sing these poems that are embedded in her DNA!
There will be a special guest performing in the bar before the show so make
sure you arrive early to take full advantage of all the great music on offer.
11
John Bunyan Museum and The Harpur Trust presents
Recording BedFordians
Writing Competition: A Celebration
Tuesday 27 September, 6.00PM
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
Free
(Ticketed event)
Running time
120 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Join us for the evening to celebrate the fantastic winning entries
of the ‘Recording Bedfordians’ newspaper article competition, run
as part of the Harpur Trust’s 450th Anniversary celebrations.
The competition, co-organised with John Bunyan Museum & Library, was
to write a five-hundred-word newspaper article on a famous Bedford
person. The 140 entries, across four age groups: 5-8 years, 8-11yrs, 1114yrs, and 14-18yrs, were judged by local journalists from Castle Quarter
Magazine, Beds on Sunday, Times and Citizen, and The Clanger.
The evening will be an opportunity to hear the winning entries performed
by staff and pupils from Harpur Trust schools and a few special guests!
Tickets are free and available from The Quarry Theatre box office.
John Bunyan Museum welcomes over 6,000 visitors from around the
world and tells the story of the Bedford man who wrote The Pilgrim’s
Progress, one of the greatest novels in the English language.
10
12
For 450 years The Harpur Trust has been inspiring and supporting
people within the Borough of Bedford, using the legacy of our founder
Sir William Harpur to provide and promote education,to provide
relief and help to those who are sick, in hardship or distress, and to
provide recreational facilities with a social welfare purpose.
.
Theatre re present
Blind man’s song
Thursday 29 September, 7.30pm
 THREE WEEKS
 MUMBLE THEATRE
 LONDON THEATRE
 BROADWAY BABY
 THE LIST
“The best and most beautiful things in the
world cannot be seen or even touched – they
must be felt with the heart” Helen Keller
After a sell-out run at the London International
Mime Festival 2015, Theatre Re presents a
wordless tale about the power of imagination that
blends together physical theatre, mime, sounds,
illusions and a beautifully lyrical live musical score.
While a blind man walks around his room
with unsteady steps a story of love, hope,
courage and unquenchable vision unfolds.
Blind Man’s Song is a tale about one man’s rage
against his world of darkness. Inspired by the
paintings of René Magritte, the dead-end word
of Samuel Beckett and interviews with blind and
visually impaired people, it witnesses the power
of the body to communicate without words.
Reviews
“Superb... Full of fear and
tenderness. It looks like
a Samuel Beckett play
designed by Magritte.”
THE STAGE
“Theatre Re creates an
entrancing, poignant
world, and an hour spent
in it seems all too brief.”
EDINBURGH
SPOTLIGHT
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
60 minutes
Age suitability
8+
BBC’s Highlight
of the Edinburgh
Fringe Festival 2015
“We’re not sure what
we’re watching but we
know it is unique.”
BRITISH THEATRE
GUIDE 
13
riba & foster wilson architects present
great British buildings
Where
Main Auditorium
Thursday 6 October, 5.45PM
Ticket price
£10
(RIBA members
£7.50, Students
£5) includes a free
glass of wine or
soft drink.
This year’s national and regional RIBA (Royal Institute of British
Architects) Award winners open their doors to the public in an
exclusive series of behind the scenes talks and tours.
Running time
90 minutes
You are invited to join Foster Wilson Architects who will lead a talk and
tour of this RIBA Regional Award winning new performing arts centre.
Described as giving ‘both the town and Bedford School a fantastic new
flexible performance space’. The Awards jury were impressed with the
way the ‘architects skilfully exploited the existing features of the building,
striking a balance between respect for the old and celebration of the new’.
Age suitability
All ages
Discover the story behind the building, the things that have
inspired some of the best modern architects and what it means
to have won some of the UK’s coveted architecture prizes.
OPEN MORNING
SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER
12
TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY’S VISIT,
CALL 01234 362216 OR VISIT
www.bedfordschool.org.uk
Bedford School is part
of The Harpur Trust
13
27
Kathryn barker productions presents
The collector
Tuesday 11 October, 7.30pm
Mazrat Prison, Iraq. Previously one of Saddam’s
most notorious torture houses, where more than
10,000 people died, is now under Allied command.
Nassir works here, translating for the American
interrogators. He’s local, pro-Western, determined
to bring liberal values to his country and is
about to get married to Zoya, his sweetheart.
But when he is recognised by Faisal, new
prisoner and psychotic supporter of the old
regime, his life becomes a living hell.
Born out of Henry Naylor’s own experiences
of a visit to Bagram Airbase in 2003, The
Collector is a compelling tale of murder, evil
and betrayal set in occupied Iraq. One of the
most highly-acclaimed shows at the 2014
Edinburgh Festival, it won a prestigious Scotsman
Fringe First Award, which was followed by a
sold-out run at London’s Arcola Theatre.
Review
“Outstanding new
writing… brilliantly
delivered… first class.”
THE SCOTSMAN
Review
“Coruscating drama…
strong performances.”
METRO

Review
“Hard-hitting drama”
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
75 minutes
Age suitability
12+
FRINGE FIRST
WINNER 2014
THE STAGE
15
Charlie Wood presents
The piano professors
Saturday 15 October, 8.00pm (doors open from 7.00pm)
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£14
(£12 concessions)
Running time
120 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Find out more
perdido.co.uk
Review
“The music is all
at a tip-top level”
LONDON JAZZ
NEWS REVIEWS
16
Charlie Wood presents The Piano Professors, a
freewheeling romp through the history of American
popular music. Featuring classic songs by
legendary singer/pianists like Jelly Roll Morton,
Fats Waller, Memphis Slim, Professor Longhair
and many others. The Piano Professors traces
the evolution of Jazz, Blues, R&B and Rock &
Roll through the work of these keyboard giants,
starting from their earliest beginnings in New
Orleans and the deep South, working their way up
the Mississippi River to Memphis, St. Louis, out
to Kansas City, Chicago, New York and beyond.
Veteran singer/songwriter and piano man Charlie
Wood cut his teeth gigging with New Orleans
soul/funk diva Charmaine Neville and touring the
US and Europe with blues guitar legend Albert
King before settling into a long nightly residency
at King’s Palace on Beale Street in his native
Memphis, TN. Now based in the UK, Charlie
keeps a busy schedule of touring & recording
dates, both under his own name and with his
wife, British jazz icon Jacqui Dankworth.
There will be a special
guest performing in
the bar before the
show so make sure you
arrive early to take full
advantage of all the great
music on offer.
Reviews
“I fell in love with this
man’s voice the moment
I heard it. He is the
essence of soul and
blues. I am so lucky
to have sung on the
same stage as him”
PALOMA FAITH
“Dazzling pianism
and smoky vocals”
JAZZWIZE
Folie à deux Productions and From Ground Up Theatre Company present
operation crucible
Tuesday 18 October, 7.30pm
A story of four ordinary men in
extraordinary times . . .
Set against the backdrop of the Sheffield
Blitz, Operation Crucible is the story of four
ordinary men in extraordinary times.
On the 12 December 1940, more than six
hundred people lost their lives in over seven
hours of continuous bombing by Germany’s
Luftwaffe. Their objective? Wiping Sheffield’s
world famous steel works – the heartland of
Britain’s munitions manufacturing – clean off
the map. The ruthless attack left Sheffield
in ruins – destroying families, shattering a
way of life, and changing the city forever.
At 11.44pm on the night of the raid, a single
bomb reduced the Marples Hotel, which stood
proudly in Fitzalan Square, from seven storeys
to just fifteen feet of rubble. Only one of the ten
compartments in the hotel’s cellars withstood
the blast. Within it, trapped, were four men.
This is their story, from beginning to end.
Reviews
“a play that vividly
evokes both the terrors
of wartime bombing
and Sheffield’s
capacity for survival.”
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)

THE GUARDIAN
Running time
80 minutes
“bellowing pace giving
way to moments
of silence that are
emotionally deafening.”
Age suitability
12+

TIME OUT

THE TIMES

EXUENT
17
United Talent & James Campbell PRESENT
THE FUNNY THING ABOUT...
SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER, 2.30PM
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£8
(£6 concessions)
Running time
60 minutes
Age suitability
6+
Review
“James Campbell
pioneered the
idea of stand-up
for children, and
it is still genuinely
impressive to
watch him hold
the attention of a
theatre full of six- to
11-year-olds for an
hour with nothing
but a microphone.”
THE GUARDIAN
A stand-up show for children over six,
their parents and anyone who likes
comedy without the rude words.
Hold on to your socks, take the banana out
of your ears and enjoy the best comedy
for kids from the man who invented it.
James Campbell also writes the hilarious Boyface
books, has appeared on TV programmes such as
Blue Peter, has performed at the Royal Festival Hall,
The Royal Albert Hall, on Broadway and the West
End and even a tiny tent on the back of a hamster.
James’ show will find The Funny Things about
everything including pets, couscous, spaniels,
making your own yoghurt, bees, why we have hair
and will answer questions such as: Do Sausage
Dogs eat sausages or do they just look at them and
say, “I’m not eating that – it looks like my grannie.”
This show might include stories of lollipop ladies,
giant catapults, and some of the worst drawings
in the world including this terrible picture of a
Labrador that looks more like Darth Vader.
16
18
Reviews
“My seven-year-old was
howling with laughter
and so was I.”
THE DAILY MAIL
“He belongs on the
stage.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Has achieved almost
holy status - don’t miss”
THE SUNDAY TIMES
“A hit not to be missed”
THREE WEEKS

Green Light & house Theatre present
Albee Vector the Sound
Collector
Sunday 29 October, 2.30PM
An epic tale of love, adventure and a
sound-hoover called Mustard.
Find out how Albee and his love Andromeda
survived kings, curses and cruelty on their
quest for beautiful sound in the world.
Sounds are running low so Albee will need a few
more noises to tell this particular story… Can you
help him? He’ll need you to make popping, fizzing,
hissing, clopping, whizzing, whooshing, banging,
crashing, and probably a fart a noise or two!
Greenlight Theatre was founded in 2011 by Sam
Woolf and Sadie Spencer. The company engages
with how technology opens up communication
channels and affects the way we think and behave.
Reviews
“Everything that children’s
theatre should be –
vivid, imaginative and
downright funny”
BROADWAY BABY

“A real gem.”
THE SCOTSMAN

Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£8
(£6 concessions)
Running time
55 minutes
Age suitability
4+
“The whole just leaves you
wanting more”
THE LIST

“There is nothing this
show doesn’t have”
EDFRINGE REVIEW

19
John Godber Company & Theatre Royal Wakefield PRESENT
This might hurt
Tuesday 1 November, 7.30pm
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12.50
(£11 concessions)
Running Time
90 minutes (+15
min interval)
Age suitability
16+
Review
“[John Godber]
has produced
some of the most
popular stage
plays of the last
20 years including
Bouncers,
Teechers and
Up ‘n’ Under.”
BBC HUMBER
The latest play by one of the nation’s favourite playwrights which looks at the
pressures and pains of being under the Doctor. With bleak humour and shades
of Breaking Bad, This Might Hurt is an emotional, bitter sweet and shocking
true story of one family’s experiences with an embattled Health Service.
From over-stressed consultants to over-weight home carers, Godber’s eye
for observation has never been sharper. In this cutting vision of the state of
our health, one thing’s for sure; no matter what happens, this might hurt!
20
The Pip Utton Theatre Company present
adolf
Thursday 3 November, 7.30pm
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
80 minutes
Age suitability
13+
The 20th century’s most notorious tyrant
is daringly and divisively brought to the
stage in one of the most successful and
powerful solo works ever presented.
Looking uncomfortably like the Führer, Utton
stands before a huge Nazi banner addressing
his party faithful. He furnishes his audience with
an acute anatomy of fascism; its ideological
justifications; its poisoned utopias. They are in
the presence of an utterly compelling idealist,
and are helplessly drawn in to his warped
logic. Hitler’s final performance seems over as
he settles into pre-suicidal contemplation.
We know the rest… But Utton has reserved a sting
for his tale… A sting so powerful that it pushes the
audience into looking within themselves to question
their own prejudice and intolerance. Utton doesn’t
stop in the bunker. He plumbs the very source
of racism and exposes just how near the surface
of our own lives lurks its insidious influence.
Reviews
“The sting is in the tail.
Hitler is alive in nineties
Britain… an ever
present malignancy…
Unashamedly theatre
with a message,
with a vengeance…
A tour de force..”
THE STAGE
“This is atmospheric,
emotional stuff... and a
cautionary tale to boot.
It caresses its way into
your confidence and
then chokes you on
your own laughter.”
“Terrifying, searing,
transfixing... It is
quite impossible
to be anything
other than
totally absorbed
by Utton’s
performance.
Adolf reaffirms the
need and worth of
political theatre.”
THE SCOTSMAN

THE LIST

21
House & Open Clasp theatre PRESENT
Key Change
Friday 4 November, 7.30PM
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
60 minutes
Age suitability
12+
Review
“Exquisite…
singing with an
everyday poetry
as if the devising
process had
unlocked a waterfall
of creativity”
THE GUARDIAN

What do women in prison say to a
captured audience of men?
Devised with women in Her Majesty’s Prison Low
Newton to tour to male prisons, Key Change carries
the stories of some of the UK’s most marginalised
women over the razor wire through an intense, raw
and illuminating portrayal of women in prison.
The prison van, fences high, a Magpie. One
for sorrow. Snatched the babies. The mother
fought, but it was too big, and flew too high.
Winner of the Carol Tambor Best
of Edinburgh Award 2015
16
22
Reviews
“A touching, empowering
work that hits the hat-trick
of great script, direction
and performance”
THE STAGE

“A tale told with kinetic
honesty and tightly controlled tenderness.”
THE SCOTSMAN

Winner of the Arts Council Award at
the Journal Culture Awards
THE OBSERVER
Critics’ Choice – New York Times

Bedford School & Bedford Girls’ School present
Sweeney Todd:
A Musical Thriller
Monday14, Tuesday 15 & Thursday 17 November, 7.30PM
The dark, haunting tale of the
Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
The cast of performers from Bedford School and
Bedford Girl’s School present Sondheim’s take
on this iconic story. Although set in its traditional
Victorian era, there are some modern twists. The
audience themselves will be located in Bedlam
with the tragic Johanna. Sweeney, her father, has
returned from a life sentence in Botany Bay to take
revenge on the judge who ruined his family’s life.
This exciting musical will take the audience on a
thrilling, but terrifying journey – not for the faint
hearted. Beware – the immersive nature of this
production will have you on the edge of your seat!
“There’s a hole in the world like a great black
pit and the vermin of the world inhabit it and
its morals aren’t worth what a pig could spit
and it goes by the name of London”.
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler from the adaptation by
Christopher Bond
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Reviews
“Sondheim’s Sweeney
Todd deliberately turns its
back on the sentimental
feel-good world of musical
comedy to confront
something really not
very nice - humanity’s
atavistic desire for
revenge and its gloating
fascination with murder.”
THE GUARDIAN
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£8.50
(£5 concessions)
Running time
120 minutes (+ 15
min interval)
Age suitability
12+
Performed By pupils
of Bedford School &
Bedford Girls’ School
This amateur production
is performed by
arrangement with Josef
Weinberger Ltd.
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Bedford School Drama Society presents
Macbeth
A Radical Reimagining
Wednesday 23, Friday 25 & Saturday 26 November, 7.30PM
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£7.50
(£5 concessions)
Running Time
75 minutes
Age suitability
12+
Performed
By pupils of
Bedford School
We begin at his end. In the moments before the climactic battle
of his life, Macbeth is tortured with guilt and paranoia. Is he mad,
evil or who he thinks he is . . . the rightful King of Scotland?
Join us as we place Macbeth under the microscope.
Offering an intense insight into Macbeth’s thoughts in the moments before
his death through the use of live-video feed screened on stage, Macbeth
will be under the spotlight as we explore the consequences of his desire
for power and the effect of his betrayal of those closest to him.
Using only the original text we have reordered scenes and key moments in
Macbeth’s descent into madness as his grasp on power and reality spiral
out of control, to create a new and original take on this classic text. In the
year of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, this adaptation will
emphasise how relevant his work remains to a contemporary audience.
“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.”
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Rhum and Clay Theatre Company present
64 Squares
Monday 5 December, 7.30pm
“You might have noticed there are four of me.
Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it. I have.”
On board a decadent cruise liner in 1939, the
world’s greatest chess champion is challenged to
a match by a mysterious newcomer called… B. As
B begins to play, it becomes clear that the game
is not the only thing he’s at risk of losing. Because
B is not just one person, but four. And they each
have their own version of the story they want to tell.
With a live jazz percussive score and their
signature blend of ramshackle and cinematic
performance, Rhum and Clay Theatre Company
tell a story of madness, identity and finding
a home in 64 black and white squares.
Review
“Rhum and Clay have
come of age… beautifully
put together, intelligent
and moodily atmospheric”
THE GUARDIAN

Review
“This was weird and
wonderful theatre
performed with inch
perfect precision...
the rustle of audience
awe was lovely”
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£12
(£10 concessions)
Running time
70 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
THE OBSERVER

25
Bedford Prep School Drama presents
House Drama
Competition
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
Free
(Ticketed event)
Running time
150 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Performed By
pupils of Bedford
Prep School
Review
“One of our finest
singers – regardless
of category.”
SUNDAY TIMES
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£20
Running time
120 minutes
Age suitability
All ages
Don’t forget there
will be some very
special festive
music in the bar
before the show.
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Thursday 8 December, 6.00PM
An empty space with two areas: one
for storytelling and one for listening.
Based on New York poet Shel
Silverstein’s collection of poems, Where
the Sidewalk Ends, each of the four day
houses in the Prep School will present
an ensemble scene featuring song,
dance, physical theatre and an array
of inventive props and costumes.
Come and join a celebration of the
boys own work, staged in the main
auditorium of the Quarry Theatre.
Jacqui Dankworth, Charlie Wood & Friends present
2016 Bedford Xmas
Wingding!
Saturday 10 December, 8.00PM (doors open from 7.00pm)
Join us and start celebrating
Christmas in style!
It’s becoming a bit of a tradition here
at The Quarry – Jacqui and Charlie’s
Christmas Concert. Apart from general
seasonal hilarity the concert will feature
stellar performances by artists from the
worlds of music, comedy, poetry & more.
Last year’s concert was incredibly
popular and sold out quickly so book
early to avoid disappointment.
“I will be joined by some wonderful artists and friends who will
celebrate by making music together” Jacqui Dankworth
The People’s Theatre Company presents
Santa in love
Sunday 18 December, 1.30pm
Have you ever wanted to know a secret?
A Christmas secret!
Maybe you’d like to know where the fairy on top of the
Christmas tree comes from, or why you never see a Christmas
elf, or what exactly happened to Frosty the Snowman?
Or maybe you’d like to know the greatest secret of them all… the
one about Santa Claus and the thing he secretly loves best.
Could it be presents? Could it be reindeer? Could it be snow?
You’ll never guess, so if you want to find out then join Santa
and his friends in this fun filled family musical complete with
games, giggles and all your favourite Christmas songs.
Santa will be available after the show to meet your little ones and give them
a present, so don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the smiles!
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£10
(£8 concessions)
Running time
60 minutes
Age suitability
2+
Review
“A brilliant
production that
adults will love just
as much as the
young ones.”
THE GUIDE
Review
“Thoroughly
entertaining and
brilliant fun.”
WHAT’S ON
STAGE
A magical fun filled Christmas show with sing along songs and
lots of interaction followed by a meet and greet with Santa that
includes free presents for the children and photo opportunities!
By Steven Lee
27
the quarry theatre presents
the tales of
beedle the bard
By J.K. Rowling
Wed 21 - Thu 22 December, 7.30pm, Fri 23 December, 2.30PM & 7.30pm
Where
Main Auditorium
Ticket price
£8
(£6 concessions)
Running Time
75 minutes
Age suitability
5+
Warner Bros.
Entertainment and
J.K. Rowling are
not responsible
for this event
but, subject to
conditions, they
have kindly granted
us permission to
use the HARRY
POTTER trade
mark and other
materials.
Join us this Christmas when our family and children’s show will be an
adaptation of some of J.K. Rowling’s “uniquely magical” stories. Find out the
origins of the Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility, discover why there’s no point
trying to outsmart Death and learn the secret ingredients to success, as we
explore three of these classic tales. The Fountain of Fair Fortune is particularly
appropriate for the festive season as it was the subject of “the sole attempt
to introduce a Christmas pantomime to Hogwarts’ festive celebrations!”
So don’t forget your sorting hat, your stripy tights and your wizards’
cloaks; give your owls* a good brush and get your broomsticks
ready to fly down to The Quarry Theatre this Christmas for a special
festive family treat. Muggles welcome as well as wizards and witches!
There will be some special prizes for the best fancy dress.
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* Please note any owl droppings must be cleaned up by the patron responsible
for the owl . . .
AUDITORIUM Seating
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10 F11 F12
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10 G11 E12
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9 D10 D11 D12
KEY
G10 G11 G12 G13 G14 G15 G16
Restricted view*
Suitable for wheel
chair users*
C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22
B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20 B21 B22
*please call to book
A11 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 A17 A18 A19 A20 A21 A22
C10 B10 A10
A23 B23 C23
C9
B9
A9
A24 B24 C24
C8
B8
A8
A25 B25 C25
C7
B7
A7
C6
B6
A6
C5
B5
A5
A28 B28 C28
C4
B4
A4
A29 B29 C29
C3
B3
A3
A30 B30 C30
C2
B2
A2
A31 B31 C31
C1
B1
A1
A32 B32 C32
STAGE
A26 B26 C26
A27 B27 C27
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10 E11 E12 E13 E14 E15 E16
D2
D3
F1
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17
C1
E1
C2
C3
E1
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17
B1
D1
B2
B3
D1
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17
A25 C1A26 A27 C1A28 A29 A30 A31 A32 A33 A34 A35 A36 A37 A38
CIRCLE
SEATING
E17
E1
D1
F1
A39 A40 A41 A42
A24
C1
A43
C1
A23
A44
A22
A45
A21
A46
A20
A47
A19
A48
A18
A49
A17
A50
A16
A51
A15
C2
A52
C2
A14
C1
A53
C1
A13
A54
A12
A55
A11
STAGE
Stalls
SEATING
A56
A10
C2
A57
C2
A9
C1
A58
C1
A8
A59
A7
A60
A6
C4
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A BIT OF
HOUSEKEEPING
Book online
Contact us
quarrytheatre.org.uk
We are always happy
to hear from you with
comments, suggestions
and enquiries.
By phone
01234 362337
Facilities
The box office is located
as you enter the building
from the St. Peter’s
Street entrance.
We have a spacious
ground floor bar,
opening onto the garden
of the original Moravian
chapel, which serves
pre-show and interval
drinks and snacks.
There is a ground-floor
foyer which houses art
exhibitions and displays.
30
If you’re interested in
becoming a Friend of
The Quarry Theatre or
joining our volunteer
team of ushers and
front of house staff,
please call us on one
of the numbers below:
Bookings &
information
The Quarry Theatre
at St. Luke’s
26 St. Peter’s Street
Bedford
MK40 2NN
quarrytheatre.org.uk
quarrytheatreatstlukes
@quarryatstlukes
T: 01234 362335
E: quarrytheatre@
bedfordschool.org.uk
School group
bookings
To enquire about our
special discounts for
school groups, and to
book tickets, please
call 01234 362337 or
email quarrytheatre@
bedfordschool.org.uk
The
Bro
B6
60
Ki
m
bo
lt
on
Ro
De Parys Avenue
ad
FINDING
US
St Peter’s Street
car park
adw
THE QUARRY THEATRE
AT ST. LUKE’S
ay
A4280
Goldington Road
St. Peter’s
et
Stre
Church
eter’s
St. P
A6
Lurke Street
Car Park
Finding us
Disabled access
Parking
The entrance to The
Quarry Theatre at
St. Luke’s is on St.
Peter’s Street.
The Quarry Theatre at
St. Luke’s aims to make
all its facilities accessible
to all members of the
community. The main
theatre (ground floor)
and the studio (first
floor) are wheelchair
accessible.
Apart from a limited
amount of disabled
parking (please call
ahead to book) there
is no on-site parking.
Nearby car parks are
indicated on the map
above. Please note the
Lurke Street Car Park
(MK40 3HZ) is open
24 hours and is free
after 8pm. St Peter’s
Street Car Park is also
open 24 hours and is
free after 6pm. Parking
on De Parys Avenue
is free after 6pm.
If you are travelling
by car, please use
MK40 2NN for Sat
Nav systems.
If you require wheelchair
access, please do
phone ahead so we can
make the appropriate
arrangements prior
to your arrival.
We have an assisted
listening facility for the
hearing impaired.
31
The Quarry Theatre at St. Luke’s
26 St. Peter’s Street, Bedford, MK40 2NN
The Quarry Theatre at St. Luke’s is part of Bedford School, which is part of The Harpur Trust