MEET US
MEET OUR COMMITTEE
As well as acting, working backstage and greeting our audience members front of house; some of our members also form our committee that makes all of the "day to day" decisions that keep the society running throughout the year.
JOSH
Chair | Business Manager
EMMA
Vice Chair
KAYLEIGH
Secretary
RITCHIE
Treasurer
CHARLEY
Publicity Manager
JUDITH
Box Office Manager
JADE
Social Secretary
ELLIE
Committee Member
GRAHAM
Committee Member
THE HISTORY OF BATS
Est. 1932
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.