The
History
Of
BATS
Founded as a play reading group in 1932 and meeting in one another's houses, the group started to perform shows a few years later in the Jubilee Hall (now the Masonic Hall) and called themselves The Little Theatre Club. The inaugural meeting of The Little Theatre Club was in 1939 but shortly after had to close for the duration of The Second World War.
After the war, the group reformed and began to produce two plays a year and this has continued to this day.
In 1968, the Jubilee Hall closed and LTC's new venue was to be Bishop Auckland Technical College on Woodhouse Lane. Plays were performed there until 1977 when King James I School had a new complex built that would include a stage and auditorium. It was felt that this would be a better venue for LTC as it was closer to the town.
In 1994, Bishop Auckland Town Hall was renovated and a theatre was part of the reconstruction. LTC made the move to the Town Hall and we are still performing there today!
Over the years, as well as two plays a year, the club has frequently done pantomime, these have been both enjoyable and successful. We have even performed a "pantocrime" at Bishop Auckland Police Station!
In 1993, 60 years after the club first met, it was decided that the LTC would change its name. It was changed to Bishop Auckland Theatre Society - BATS.
We are a small, friendly society and over the years have had a very enjoyable social aspect to the club, many of us making lasting friendships.
Our Previous Productions
2020 | Original Works
Sleeping Beauty
2019 | Original Works
Death & The Departed
The Lady Varnishes
Murder With In-Tent
Robin Hood
2018 | Original Works
The Final Curtain
Put That Light Out!
Beauty & The Beast
2017 | Original Works
After Eleanor Died
Aladdin
2017
Robinson Crusoe
2015 | Original Pantomime
What I Did at School Today
Cinderella
2014
The Cat's Away
Sleeping Beauty
2013
A Fish Out Of Water
Smalls Talk
Singing In The Wilderness
Goldilocks & The Three Bears
2012
Alter Ego
2011
Hello, Is There Anybody There?
2010
Out Of Focus
The Adventures Of Robin Hood
2009
Fairway To Heaven
Wait Until The Ghost Is Clear
2008
RolePlay
I'll Get My Man
2007
Love Begins At 50
A Tomb With A View
2006
Flying Feathers
There Goes The Bride
2005
Inspector Drake & The Time Machine
Pardon Me, Prime Minister
2004
Inspector Drake & The Perfekt Crime
Fly Me To The Moon
2003
CounterCrime
Sleepers Awake
2002
The Cat & The Fiddle
Secondary Cause Of Death
2001
Something To Hide
Out Of Focus
2000
A Fish Out Of Water
Relatively Speaking
1999
The Dancing Princess
One For The Pot
Table Manners
1998
Chase Me Up Farndale Avenue S'il Vous Plait
The Edge Of Darkness
1997
Robinson Crusoe
Murdered To Death
Uproar In The House
1996
Cinderella
Cat's Cradle
Living Together
1995
The Wizard Of Oz
And This Was Odd...
Blithe Spirit
1994
Jack & The Beanstalk
We Found Love & An Exquisite Set Of Porcelain Figurines Aboard The S.S. Farndale Avenue
Aladdin
1993
Who Says Murder?
Let's Kill Agatha Christie!
Dick Whittington
1991
Look Who's Talking
Frankenstein
Aladdin
1990
Intent To Murder
Wanted: One Body
1989
Mankind
Pen Friends
1988
Pardon Me, Prime Minister
Beyond A Joke
1987
Cats Cradle
My Friend Miss Flint
1986
Table Manners
A Tomb With A View
1985
I'll Get My Man
House Guest
1984
Post Horn Gallop
Boeing, Boeing
1983
Every Other Evening
Murder At The Vicarage
1982
Hobson's Choice
When We Were Married
1981
The Edge Of Darkness
1980
On Monday, Next
1979
Driven To Murder
Doctor In Love
1978
Sailor, Beware
The Irregular Verb To Love
1977
Hans, The Witch & The Gobbin
1976
The House On The Cliff
1975
Big, Bad Mouse
Intent To Murder
1974
Wild Goose Chase
1973
The Militants
Candied Peel
1972
The Shop At Sly Corner
An Evening With The LTC
1971
Running Riot
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
1970
Spring & Port Wine
As Black As She's Painted
1969
Winter Sunshine
An Evening's Entertainment
1968
The Woman In White
Wanted: One Body
1967
Love's A Luxury
1962
The Blue Goose
1956
Waggon Load O' Monkeys
1953
A Play For Ronnie
