Ruddigore opens next week!

Our production of Ruddigore opens next Wednesday 30th April and rehearsals are nearly over! We can't wait to show off all our hard work when we take the stage at Woodside Hall, Hitchin next week. Here is a little taster of what Gilbert and Sullivan's take on melodrama is all about:

"The Baronets of Ruddigore are cursed. Anyone who succeeds to the title has to commit a crime every day - or perish in inconceivable agony!

What the people of Rederring in Cornwall are unaware of is that the ‘honest’ farmer, Robin Oakapple, is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd in disguise. His younger brother, Despard, believing Ruthven to be dead, has assumed the title. However, the sailor Dick Dauntless, Ruthven’s rival for the love of Rose Maybud, tells Despard that his brother is alive. This forces Ruthven to assume his rightful role.

As the Baronet of Ruddigore, Robin is confronted by the ghosts of his ancestors who are most unimpressed by his pathetic attempts at wickedness. How can he win back Rose and return to his life as a good man?"

Tickets are still available for every night and our Saturday Matinee. Scan our QR code below or click here!

Trial by Jury 'Bring & Sing' and World Piano Day

PBGS had a busy day yesterday! In the afternoon we had our Trial by Jury Bring and Sing at Pirton Village Hall, and we had a fantastic time singing this piece together and celebrating its 150th Anniversary. Many thanks to everyone who joined us to sing or to listen, our wonderful cast, our MD Margaret Johnson for getting such a great performance out of us, all the helpers who served yummy tea and cake (not to mention washing up) and all from Pirton who helped us set up! What a wonderful afternoon of music making and reuniting with old friends who came to share the occasion with us.

In the morning we were in Hitchin Market Square celebrating World Piano Day, entertaining passing shoppers and raising money for the Garden House Hospice. Many Thanks to Sue Trost for organising it and playing the Old Joanna for us. We had brilliant sunshine and there was even an eclipse of the sun... 

Trial by Jury Bring and Sing

 

Exciting news! To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Trial by Jury' we are holding a Bring and Sing on Saturday 29th March.

Join us at 2pm at Pirton Village Hall, Pirton Herts SG5 3PS to learn this sparkling comic piece with us (scores provided or bring your own), or come at 3.30 for refreshments and enjoy the performance as a member of the audience. Victorian dress is optional if you want to get into the spirit of the occasion!

Tickets are available from Ticketsource or click on our booking button and select the Bring and Sing!

 

 

Beati/PBGS Concert

PBGS performers with Beati Vocal Ensemble

Fabulous joint concert with Beati Vocal Ensemble in Harlington. This is the second colaboration with Beati and it was great making music together. We had everything from sacred music to comedy, musicals, G&S and jazz! We had a very appreciative audience with lots of lovely comments afterwards including 'when words fail music speaks. Indeed it does! 

Thank you to everyone who came and supported us, to Beati - Vocal Ensemble, and to all the PBGS helpers who beavered away behind the scenes with refreshments and the raffle. What a lovely evening!

We at PBGS are really looking forward to sharing another concert with our friends at Beati, this time at Harlington Village Hall. Book here for a great evening of new pieces by our joint MD, Chris Burrett, familiar favourites and a taste of our next show, Ruddigore. Tickets also available at the door and there will also be refreshments. 

7.30pm Saturday 1 February
Harlington Village Hall

Sundon Road
Harlington
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU5 6LS

Ruddigore floor rehearsals have started!

 

Floor rehearsals for our production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore have started and Rederring’s group of Professional Bridesmaids have been practicing their moves! 

 

Ruddigore runs from the 30th April to 3rd May at The Woodside Hall, Hitchin, the same venue where we performed our production of The Sorcerer, and we promise you plenty of melodrama and ghostly goings on. And Bridesmaids.

 

A little taster from the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive:

The Baronets of Ruddigore are cursed. Anyone who succeeds to the title has to commit a crime every day — or perish in inconceivable agony.

Robin Oakapple, a young farmer loves Rose Maybud, but both are too shy to tell the other. But Robin has a secret. He is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the rightful Baronet of Ruddigore, in disguise. His younger brother, Despard, believing Ruthven to be dead, has assumed the title. Robin's foster brother, Richard, seeking Rose for himself, tells Despard of Robin's deception, and Robin is forced to accept his true position, losing Rose to Richard in the process.

Now the Baronet of Ruddigore, Robin is confronted by the he ghosts of his ancestors who step from their picture frames in the gallery of Ruddigore Castle to confront him for failing to conscientiously commit his daily crime. Robin eventually finds a way of satisfying his ancestors demands whilst continuing to live a blameless life...

 

Our next show is Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Ruddigore', their comic take on a Victorian Melodrama full of bad baronets, ghosts and a witches curse! All are welcome to our Launch Night on 5th November at Harlington Methodist Church Hall to hear our Director Jane Powell and MD Chris Burrett introduce the show.

 

New members are always welcome! Just turn up and introduce yourself, whether you want to join us onstage or help behind the scenes.

 

Auditions for Ruddigore will be on the 17th and 19th November at the hall.

Thank you!

A BIG THANK YOU to our wonderful audiences for coming and supporting us this week. From the roars of laughter, cheers and applause we know you all had a great time at Me and My Girl, as did we! Many thanks also to our talented Director Mandy Sayers and MD Chris Burrett for all their hard work and inspiration, our fabulous Band (wow!), and our dedicated stage team and Committee. There are too many behind the scenes both backstage and front of house to mention - it takes many, many people to present a show like this and we are lucky at PBGS to have so many talented members and helpers. 

Our next show will be Gilbert & Sullivan's ghost filled melodrama Ruddigore, opening on the 30th April at Woodside Hall, Hitchin! We look forward to seeing you all then.

 

Me and Me Girl takes the stage

 As you can see, we have some wonderful 'Me and My Girl' photos from Rosalind White Photography!

There is still time to buy tickets for tonight, tomorrow and for our Saturday matinee performances by clicking on the Order Tickets button wherever you see it. This really is a special show - warm, uplifting and full of toe-tapping tunes. We'll have you humming The Lambeth Walk all the way home!

NODA awards winners!

Chris and Jessica with their certificates

Many congratulations to Jessica Hallett who has won the NODA Eastern District 3 Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical for her outstanding performance as Jane Wellington-Wells in our 2023 production of 'The Sorcerer’. Congratulations too to our multi-talented 'Sorcerer' and 'Me and My Girl' MD, Chris Burrett, who won the award for 'Most Interesting New Script' for his new musical 'The Golden Days', for which he also composed the score. Well done Jess and Chris, we are proud of you both!

Quiz Night!

 

After the great success of our last Just Desserts Quiz Night we are eager to get battling again! Join us for a fun evening of brain teasers with delicious desserts to fuel those little grey cells and help raise funds and support PBGS. Tickets from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/pbgs or by scanning our QR code:

NODA nominations!

Many congratulations to Jessica Hallett who has been nominated for a Noda Eastern District 3 Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical as Jane Wellington-Wells in our 2023 production of 'The Sorcerer'. As the Sorcerer her performance really was magical!

Our multi-talented 'Sorcerer' and 'Me and My Girl' MD, Chris Burrett, has also received a commendation for 'Most Interesting New Script' for his new musical 'The Golden Days', for which he also composed the score. Congratulations Chris!

Me and My Girl Box Office Open!

Woo Hoo! The Box Office is open for our fabulous production of 'Me and My Girl'! 

Tickets are available online now from the Queen Mother Theatre here. Full of wonderful songs such as 'Leaning on a Lamppost', 'Once You Lose Your Heart', 'Love Makes the World Go Round' and, of course, 'The Lambeth Walk'. How can you resist! Book early to snag the best seats in the house.

"When the new Earl of Hareford is revealed to be Bill Snibson, a common cockney from Lambeth, the aristocratic family battle to turn him into a gentleman and separate him from his equally unsuitable girlfriend.

Featuring well known songs including The Lambeth Walk and The Sun has got his Hat On, this popular musical comedy is a heart-warming tale of love triumphing over class boundaries."

 

A Summer of Songs Concert with Beati

We're delighted to announce that PBGS has joined forces with Beati, a singing group run by our very own Chris Burrett, to put on a concert of some of our favourite music, as a fundraising initiative for both groups.

The concert is taking place on Saturday, 13th July, 7:30pm at the Methodist Church Hall in Dunstable. Tickets are just £7 and payable on the door.

Highlights from the programme include 'Don't sit under the Appletree', a medley from Rent, 'Moonlight Serenade' and 'The Second Star to the Right', alongside songs from PBGS past shows: HMS Pinafore and A Little Night Music, a number from Calamity Jane and a taster from our upcoming production of Me & My Girl.

It's going to be a really fun evening. Please do come along and support these societies!

Special fundraiser performance of Cox and Box

We are delighted to announce a special performance of Arthur Sullivan's Cox and Box, along with some G&S favourites in concert, being performed by a small group in support of PBGS. Don't miss what promises to be a great night's entertainment! Taking place at Harlington Village Hall, Sundon Road, Harlington Bedfordshire, LU5 6LR on Friday, 21st June at 7:45. Tickets £12 and include tea, coffee, juice and biscuits (feel free to bring any other refreshments). We look forward to seeing you there.

Tickets available from Ticket Source