Director, Carly Thompson Makes her BATS Christmas Debut

It's been Christmas since July, as we’ve been busy rehearsing Nativity! the Musical, coming to the Haymarket in November, under the guidance of a brand new director, Carly Thompson.

"I love Christmas, and I love working with children, so this is the perfect show for me!" says Carly.

Based on the hit film, Nativity! follows the pupils and teachers at St. Bernadette’s Primary School as they stage their very own musical Nativity, with plenty of hilarity along the way.

Director, Carly Thomson makes her BATS debut with Nativity! The Musical

"It's a beautiful story - wondrous, heartfelt and moving, with fantastic singing and dancing. Every night you'll see our cast of 20 children and 18 adults all fully embracing the festive spirit."

Carly comes to BATS with extensive experience of performing and directing at Oxted in Surrey. Not long after moving to Newbury to 2018, a tumour was found in Carly's spine.

"It was removed safely but there was still a risk of paralysis," she says. "So it took me a couple of years to get involved in theatre again. Then I saw the ad looking for a director for Nativity, and here I am!"

"BATS is a lovely welcoming group, and there's so much talent in the company, it was very hard to choose at the auditions. But now we're well into rehearsals and they're full of laughter, fun and hard work of course!"

The presence of 40 children in the rehearsal room (forming two alternate casts of 20) brings a real energy to proceedings.

"To have the energy and wonder from the kids is a real boost to the adult cast who might arrive stressed from work," laughs Carly, "and of course the discipline of the adults can help manage the exuberance of the small people!"

"It's going to be an experience they'll always remember."

Nativity! the Musical runs at the Haymarket, Basingstoke from 26th-30th November 2024. View show information and book tickets.

Adrien Embraces his Crazy and Childish Side as Mr. Poppy

"He's wild, childish and fabulous!"

Adrien Nortier is talking about Mr. Poppy, the teaching assistant he plays in Nativity! The Musical. If you've seen the film you'll know he's one of the most memorable characters in the feelgood family comedy.

"The way he sees the world through the eyes of a child is so refreshing." says Adrien. "Everything makes sense in his head but it can come across as complete nonsense!"

Adrien as Mr Poppy - Performing at the Basingstoke Variety Show, 6 October 2024

Mr. Poppy is Adrien's first main leading role for BATS. He joined the Society 15 years ago after growing up in France. That meant he wasn't familiar with some of the cultural references in Nativity! The Musical. Such as?

"I had to ask who Keith Chegwin was, he wasn't part of my upbringing!"

The kids of St Bernadette's school love Mr. Poppy's unusual ways. But they infuriate grumpy teacher Mr. Maddens, who's been tasked with staging the school's first ever musical nativity.

"Mr. Poppy is the nephew of the headteacher and he's sort of thrown at Mr. Maddens, who feels like he's got another child to look after. But then they become friends and Mr. Poppy makes him realise he can open his heart and have faith in the children."

The perfect message for Christmas then! But what's it been like rehearsing a Christmas show in the height of summer? "A bit surreal, even disturbing at times," laughs Adrien, "But now the nights have drawn in and it's feeling colder, it's a lot easier to conjure up the festive spirit!"

Two teams of twenty children play the loveable pupils of St Bernadette's. "Working with the kids is so much fun. It's lovely watching them do what they do. They're oblivious to how good they actually are. They just make me want to work really hard so I don't let them down."

So - the big question - is Adrien anything like Mr. Poppy? "No! I think I'm quite collected and grown up, not crazy at all! Mr. Poppy is ‘up’ all the time - there's no ‘down’ button! But I'm really enjoying playing this part that is the complete opposite to me!"

Join Adrien and the cast of Nativity! The Musical at the Haymarket, Basingstoke from 26-30 November 2024. View show information and book tickets.

Nativity! The Musical adult auditions - Information for pre-audition workshops, audition dates and registration

If you are an adult aged 18+ and would like to join us to perform in our production of Nativity! The Musical, here is the information you need about auditions.

The show will be performed at The Haymarket in Basingstoke from Tues 26 – Sat 30 November.

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ACCESS AUDITION RESOURCES ONLINE: MEMBERS AREA

You must be a paid-up member to be able to access audition materials and the online audition form.

Access these resources by logging into your member account on the BATS website. If you are a new member, pay your membership online with a debit or credit card to gain instant access your account. Annual membership runs from 1 July - 30 June.

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Welcome talk

It is not mandatory to attend in order to audition:
Date: Mon 10 June: 8.00pm – 10.00pm
Venue: Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT

8.00pm - 8.30pm - Welcome Talk
8.30pm - 9.15pm - Adults Movement(Director/Choreographer)
9.15pm - 10.00pm - Dancers dance (Director/Choreographer)

This is a chance to meet the creatives who will go through the expectations and their vision for the show i.e. characters, how auditions will go etc. This will go into a pre-audition workshop to learn a bit of singing and dance so please wear suitable clothing to dance in. 

Pre-audition workshops

You'll need to attend at least one pre-audition workshop to practise singing with the musical director and be taught the audition dance for ensemble or dancers. You do not need to register to attend a pre-audition workshop. Though you’ll need to pre-book for an individual singing slot with the MD (one per person). Book via the Show Manager at the first session on 10 June or at other sessions

Date: Wed 12 June
7.30pm - 7.45pm - Ensemble singing (MD)
7.45pm - 10.00pm - Individual singing 10 min slots (MD)
8.00pm - 9.00pm - Adults Movement (Director/Choreographer)
9.00pm - 10.00pm - Dancers dance (Director/Choreographer)

Date: Mon 17 June
7.30pm - 7.45pm - Ensemble singing (MD)
7.45pm - 10.00pm - Individual singing 10 min slots (MD)
8.00pm - 9.00pm - Adults Movement (Director/Choreographer)
9.00pm - 10.00pm - Dancers dance (Director/Choreographer)

Date: Wed 19 June
7.30pm - 7.45pm - Final Ensemble singing (MD)
7.45pm - 8.50pm - Individual singing 10 min slots (MD)
7.45pm - 8.50pm - Final Dance/Movement recap
9.00pm - 9.30pm - Dance/Movement Audition
9.30pm - 10.00pm - Ensemble Audition

Venue: Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT

Auditions

The online audition form must be submitted by 11.59pm on Monday 17 June.

Date: Sun 23 June: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Venue: Market Chambers, Performers Together, Church Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7QE

Performance Fee

If you are successfully cast in the show, a performance fee of £100 is payable no later than 26 October. You can pay in instalments - just talk to us to request this.

Outline rehearal Schedule

Cast will generally be called for rehearsal every Monday and Wednesday evening and on some Sundays.  All cast will be called for the first four rehearsals to set the show with the Director. We will also be using the Sundays to stage the large Junior orientated scenes (The Main Nativity show). View the outline rehearsal schedule.

Nativity! The Musical children’s auditions - Information and registration for audition workshop

If you are a parent/guardian of a child and would like them to join us to perform in our production of Nativity! The Musical, here is the information you need about the audition workshop. To be eligible to audition, your child must be at least 7 years old by the audition date and have a playing age of a Primary school student (7-11 years old) - they can be older than this in real life.

Six shows will be performed at The Haymarket in Basingstoke from Tues 26 – Sat 30 November. We will cast two teams of 20 children (40 in total), performing three shows each.

We rehearse every Monday and Wednesday evening and on some Sundays. Children will be required to attend the Sunday rehearsals and Monday and Wednesday evenings (from 7.00pm - 8.30pm. It may be a little later closer to the opening of the show as we do more ‘runs’).

View the outline rehearsal schedule to get an idea of the rehearsal commitment. Children must be available for all rehearsals the week before the show, 18 - 24 November.

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AUDITION Workshop INFORMATION

Our fun and informal audition workshops will be run by our Creative Team: Carly Thompson (Director) and Simon Eastwood (Musical Director), Leigh Young (Choreographer) and Sally Manning (Children’s Assistant Director).

The audition workshop will include singing, dance/movement and speaking. Your child should wear comfortable clothing that they are able to dance in and soft shoes/trainers. No advance preparation is required and we will email you an information pack ahead of the day (using the email you provide when you register/pay for the workshop). Your child will need to bring a printed headshot to the workshop.

The Creative Team will cast children for the show based on the audition workshop.

Welcome Talk (it is not mandatory to attend this)
Date: Mon 10 June
Time: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Venue: Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT

Audition Workshop 1
Date: Sat 15 June
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Audition Workshop 2
Date: Sat 15 June
Time: 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Audition Workshop 3
Date: Sun 16 June
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Venue (all audition workshops): Market Chambers, Church Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7QE

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How to register and pay

Please register your child for the workshop by completing the following by 11.59pm on Wed 12 June:

1. Register and pay (£10) online to attend one audition workshop.
2. Complete the online workshop audition form.

 
COSTS INVOLVED

We want you to be aware of the costs involved, so that you can make an informed decision before you commit your child to an audition.

Audition workshop: £10 - Covers the cost of the audition workshop and Junior Membership for your child
Performance fee: £75 - Only payable if your child is cast in the show (can be paid in instalments)
Additional expenditure: You will be required to provide suitable shoes for the performance (full details will be provided with costume requirements once the show has been cast)