Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2012 13:00:22 GMT
www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-Hippodrome-Thanks-Memories-9-10-Martin/story-16477247-detail/story.html
Bristol Hippodrome, Thanks for the Memories, 9/10, Martin Booth
OME would call it a trip down memory lane, others a live history lesson, but most would have learned something new about the Bristol Hippodrome last night.
In Thanks for the Memories, the show that helped to celebrate the theatre's 100th anniversary, we were taken on a musical jaunt through the last century of Bristol's own West End theatre with the help of the 150-strong cast, from Bristol Light Opera Club and Bristol Musical Youth Productions.
From opening night in 1912, when Oswald Stoll's vision of building the biggest theatre outside of London was realised, through the war years, protests and campaigns to keep the theatre alive, we saw it all through the stories of those who were there.
An extra special treat for the audience was the removal of the circular roof as part of the fire scenes, recalling the devastating conflagration of 1948.
Producer Vicki Klein listened to hundreds of people's memories of the Hippodrome to put the show together and this was a testament to the great and the good that have worked in the theatre or had fond memories of going to see a show.
Through the eyes of theatre cleaners Doreen and Ethel, played by Sue Donovan and Alison Sutton, we watched the twice nightly variety acts of the 30s, and learned about the big names performing at the theatre. The young Archie Leach lookalike was a particularly nice reminder that Horfield-born Cary Grant once worked at the Hippodrome as a cast call-boy.
The cleaners keep us up to date through the war years and beyond where Emma Watkins, as the usherette, has great difficulty in getting to terms with wearing trousers for work and the fact that the little tray she carries had during the war years precious little to offer to the customers.
One of the many strange incidents depicted in the show was the birth of a baby during a performance of The Sound of Music. Georgina Bond plays this lady, and one of the Suffragettes who disrupted a performance by the Legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt.
The songs of the era are also reflected in the show with music from the shows on at the Hippodrome through the years. Numbers from Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, Hair and Joseph all kept the storyline going along The night ended with a suitably fitting performance of There's No Business Like Showbusiness. See you for the 200-year-old party in 2112.
www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Tull-fantastic/story-16500776-detail/story.html
Tull put on a fantastic show
Sunday, July 08, 2012
REGARDING your article about memories from the Hippodrome.
I remember seeing Jethro Tull back in the early nineties. What a fantastic show that was.
Early in my life, my sister and brother saw stars like Max Bygraves, Tommy Steele, Frankie Vaughan.
They used to come out and wave at the back of the theatre after the show. I think it was Denmark Street.
Owen Turner
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol Hippodrome, Thanks for the Memories, 9/10, Martin Booth
OME would call it a trip down memory lane, others a live history lesson, but most would have learned something new about the Bristol Hippodrome last night.
In Thanks for the Memories, the show that helped to celebrate the theatre's 100th anniversary, we were taken on a musical jaunt through the last century of Bristol's own West End theatre with the help of the 150-strong cast, from Bristol Light Opera Club and Bristol Musical Youth Productions.
From opening night in 1912, when Oswald Stoll's vision of building the biggest theatre outside of London was realised, through the war years, protests and campaigns to keep the theatre alive, we saw it all through the stories of those who were there.
An extra special treat for the audience was the removal of the circular roof as part of the fire scenes, recalling the devastating conflagration of 1948.
Producer Vicki Klein listened to hundreds of people's memories of the Hippodrome to put the show together and this was a testament to the great and the good that have worked in the theatre or had fond memories of going to see a show.
Through the eyes of theatre cleaners Doreen and Ethel, played by Sue Donovan and Alison Sutton, we watched the twice nightly variety acts of the 30s, and learned about the big names performing at the theatre. The young Archie Leach lookalike was a particularly nice reminder that Horfield-born Cary Grant once worked at the Hippodrome as a cast call-boy.
The cleaners keep us up to date through the war years and beyond where Emma Watkins, as the usherette, has great difficulty in getting to terms with wearing trousers for work and the fact that the little tray she carries had during the war years precious little to offer to the customers.
One of the many strange incidents depicted in the show was the birth of a baby during a performance of The Sound of Music. Georgina Bond plays this lady, and one of the Suffragettes who disrupted a performance by the Legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt.
The songs of the era are also reflected in the show with music from the shows on at the Hippodrome through the years. Numbers from Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, Hair and Joseph all kept the storyline going along The night ended with a suitably fitting performance of There's No Business Like Showbusiness. See you for the 200-year-old party in 2112.
www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Tull-fantastic/story-16500776-detail/story.html
Tull put on a fantastic show
Sunday, July 08, 2012
REGARDING your article about memories from the Hippodrome.
I remember seeing Jethro Tull back in the early nineties. What a fantastic show that was.
Early in my life, my sister and brother saw stars like Max Bygraves, Tommy Steele, Frankie Vaughan.
They used to come out and wave at the back of the theatre after the show. I think it was Denmark Street.
Owen Turner
Westbury-on-Trym