Break a leg six times a year

Bangkok Community Theatre, Thailand’s oldest English speaking theatrical organisation, will have staged six delightfully varied productions by the end of 2017, and local theatre lovers still have a chance to be involved with three of them.

BCT’s 45th season has already delivered Eve Ensler’s provocative staged reading of The Vagina Monologues in February, an inventive small ensemble production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in March and a two night Fringe Festival of short plays and musical numbers in May with 8 different directors and a cast of 30 strong performers.

Onstage in September and October, BCT will entertain Bangkok audiences with the American hit musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This quirky show revolves around an eclectic group of sixth grade contestants who have all entered the contest for very different reasons. The production features an engaging, tuneful score and a sweet, funny book which will cause audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and the “perspicacias,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers. The cast of 9 features several BCT regulars and new faces alike. Tickets are on sale now at the BCT website and avid theatregoers won’t want to miss this delightful production.

Now in rehearsal, and soon to be staged at M Theatre’s Blue Box theatre in November, is Annie Baker’s award winning play Circle Mirror Transformation. An absorbingly natural yet outrageously funny play, Circle Mirror Transformation will prompt audience members to question what they really know about the noble art of acting. Tickets for Circle Mirror Transformation may be purchased on the BCT website and front-of-house and backstage volunteers are very much welcome.

The sixth and final production which completes Bangkok Community Theatre’s 2017 season is an inventive ensemble version of the heartwarming Dickens story A Christmas Carol. This untraditional rendition of the traditional tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey on Christmas Eve to find out the true meaning of Christmas. Visited by three ghosts, Scrooge travels through time to see how life was, is and will be. Auditions for A Christmas Carol will be held on October 3 and are open to English speaking men and women aged 16+. This is your last chance to get on stage with BCT in 2017 so why not audition?

BCT is constantly looking for new talent to get involved with productions both in front of and behind the scenes; with expats in Thailand moving to and from Bangkok at all times, the organisation is ever evolving. BCT welcomes actors, musicians, artists, graphic designers, ticket sellers, seamstresses and so much more. Some theatre tasks need to be filled by experienced thespians but most are open to people willing to pitch in and learn on the job.

Formed in 1972 when The Amateur Community Theatre (mostly Americans) and British Bangkok Dramatic Society joined forces to shape the current theatre organisation, BCT is the largest and longest running English language theatre group in Thailand. With voluntary support from all over the globe, BCT continues to provide theatrical productions of almost every variety and style. Members range in age from 16 to 80 with a broad mix of nationalities including Thai, Indian, American, English, Australian, South African, Israeli, Malaysian, Filipino …. to name but a few! Some like to tread the boards onstage, others like to help out behind the scenes, and some choose to extend their support as audience members. The defining trait amongst BCT members is a love of theatre and a willingness to pitch in.

Kellie Abley, a Bangkok veteran of 9 months and 3 shows, is a perfect example of the BCT mentality. Originally from the north of England, Kellie moved to Bangkok in July 2016 and volunteered her services as props mistress for BCT’s December panto, Aladdin, as a way to meet new people outside of her workplace.

As chance would have it, the production was also in need of a performer to play “Panda”, a non speaking, adorable, furry mascot beloved by all. Stifling her fears of being onstage, Kellie volunteered and found herself not only learning how to make a giant panda costume but also became a celebrity overnight! The panda head looked fabulous but was a little difficult to see through and Kellie almost broke her leg, literally, on more than one occasion. Not to be put off, she went on to perform in The Vagina Monologues in February and is now taking her first crack at producing our November show: Circle Mirror Transformation. She is delighted to be part of the BCT community and continues to benefit from learning new skills, embracing new experiences and making new friends.

To add to the many opportunities on offer, BCT also hosts monthly club nights on the first Thursday of each month where members and friends can get together to hone their craft and try out new things. Recent club nights have included play readings, stage combats and audition techniques.

Tickets to all BCT productions may be purchased on the

BCT website at www.bangkokcommunitytheatre.com. Upcoming shows and dates:

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  September 29, 30, October 6 & 7, M Theatre’s Creative Industries on Petchaburi Road.
• Circle Mirror Transformation November 2, 3, 4, 9,
  10 & 11, M Theatre’s Blue Box Theatre, Petchaburi Road
• A Christmas Carol auditions October 3 with
  performances set for December 1, 2, 8 & 9, M Theatre’s Creative Industries on Petchaburi Road.

For more information about BCT, the shows or auditions, please email [email protected] or visit our

website at www.bangkokcommunitytheatre.com or like our Facebook page at Facebook/Bangkok Community Theatre.