Yes, it's true that we all now have to doff our caps to Rusty (known to some as Simon Russel) as the BHMTS committee
have quite rightly offered him an Honorary Life Membership for the bogglingly huge amount he's done over the last couple
of decades. Frankly, a society like ours simply doesn't exist without people like Rusty doing all the stuff in the
background that audiences never see as well as being a stalwart on stage - and a great teller of jokes in the wings!
He's not the youngest BHMTS HLM (although technically he's the first since we changed name from BHOS!), but is he the
first child of a previous HLM to be bestowed with the honour?
[Don't forget that great BHMTS tradition that new HLMs have to buy all members a drink...
so, if you're not yet a member, join now!]
25/08/08.
Huge congratulations to Catherine and Rupert Graham-Evans on on birth of their new baby daughter Esme Rose born 2nd July weighing in at 7lb 12oz.
Your webmaster can confirm that Mum and baby are well, having bumped into them in a local Cafe Rouge! (Esme managed to sleep most of the time, despite
the best 'efforts' of the two junior Bumbles a couple of tables away!)
25/08/08.
"High School" - extra performance!
Tickets for this hugely popular show have been selling faster than the proverbial speeding haddock and there are only a handfull of tickets left for the originally scheduled performances.
To meet the huge demand, an additional matiee performance has been added @2:30pm on Thursday 10th April.
Tickets available from the Box Office on 01444 242888 or in person (next to the library).
29/03/08.
BHMTS on Myspace and Facebook!
Yes, BHMTS is entering the world of 'social networks' on the Web.
Check us out at www.myspace.com/bhmts or use the Facebook links on the main Home page and
the "From Worlds End to West End" page to let your friends know about your favourite
musical theatre society!
31/08/07.
Update: There's now also a "Burgess Hill Musical Theatre Society" Group on Facebook - come 'along' and join the fun!
"Worlds End to West End" tickets on sale!
Tickets are now on sale for our forthcoming production "From Worlds End to West End".
With performances in Plumpton Green, Wivelsfield Green and Hassocks, tickets are sure to sell
quickly, so get your quickly. See "Shows" for more info.
20/08/07.
If you haven't already heard, Dunk and Minnie managed to surprise almost everyone on Saturday.
Their immediate family and friends gathered in the afternoon for a children's party suddenly found themselves at a wedding!
And then in the evening, what was alegedly a surprise 40th birthday bash for Dunk became their evening reception.
There were a lot of slightly bemused people that day!!
21/02/07.
Isabelle Collier gave birth to baby Maya, on 16th November at 7.55am and weighing 7lb 7oz.
Then on 30th November at 10.24am Di Lane had her second daughter, Keira, weighing a very healthy 8lb 9oz.
Di hopes to back in theatrical action again this year.
26/01/07.
Joshua Joseph was born at 23:40 on Saturday 14th Oct weighing-in at 8lbs 7oz - just a little lighter than his sister, Sarah.
Joshua (aka "Josh" or "JJ") was nearly a fantastic birthday present for Angie's dad the following day, but she obviously couldn't
keep her legs crossed for another 20 miutes!!
The labour was about as smooth as it could have been and Angie & Joshua came home just over 12 hours after the birth!
Sarah was a bit cautious of the new arrival, but seems to be adjusting to having a little brother.
Angie & Bumble are "well chuffed".
17/10/06.
Many of you will know David Tingley, aka "Charlie Lights" - brother of
"Charlie Sound"! Huge congratulations to David & Emma on the arrival of a
little sister for Georgina and Ella - Jessica (Jess) Mary weighed in at 8lb 2oz. She
was born yesterday (12th Sep) at 9:56am by cesarean section - reports are that
everyone's doing well. (Although whether David will still be able to say the same when the three girls hit their teenage years will have to remain to be seen!!)
You'd never guess that David is a graphic designer!
13/09/06.
As many of you will have heard by now, Bob died peacefully on 27th June after a period of illness. Given Bob's love of Gilbert & Sullivan shows, a dozen BHOS men (and a few tenors!) provided a fitting finale to his funeral with a rousing rendition of When a Foeman Bears his Steel from The Pirates of Penzance.
Bob had been a member of BHOS for years (decades!) appearing in the chorus and in principal roles - most recently as Mr Brownlow in Oliver last year. Bob was also a stalwart of the Plumpton Pantos (oh, yes he was!) as well as 'straight' plays with the Plumpton Players.
At the packed funeral, we heard not just about Bob the thespian, but also Bob the science teacher, Bob the deputy head of a special needs school, Bob the rock climber, Bob the drummer for the Knots of May Morris team, Bob the grower of fantastic vegetables, Bob the Dad (and soon to be Grandad), and Bob the Husband.
Our thoughts are with Cindy and the family.
06/07/06.
The 50-strong youth section of BHOS presented their very own version of The 'X' Factor at a packed Plumpton Village Hall on Saturday 15th July.
Our young members, in four groups of about 12, performed numbers they have rehearsed, choreographed, and costumed almost entirely by themselves! Each group was mentored by senior members of the society:
The Rock 'n Roll Monkeys - mentored by Neil Barton and Paul Bryant
Boys Outnumbered - mentored by Rusty and Cherry Woodhouse
The Carrott Crew - mentored by Duncan Taylor-Jones and Kate Taylor
Legs 11 - mentored by Sally Kirwan and Cieran Kiely
Each team performed two songs with feedback after each one from the esteemed group of judges: Pete Redfearn, Julia Peckham, Rick Peckham, Janice Mclean & Sim Goodsell. All the songs were excellent, with some very inventive choreography and the kids (and audience!) were obviously having a great time.
Awards were given in the following categories:
Visual impact - won by Rock 'n Roll Monkeys for We Will Rock You from the Queen musical We Will Rock You
Vocal Ability - won by Legs 11 for When Children Rule the World from Whistle Down the Wind
Movement and Choreography - won by Boys Outnumbered for Razzle Dazzle from Chicago
Enjoyment and Presentation - won by Carrot Crew for Flash Bang Wallop from Half a Sixpence
The overall award for best song went to the Rock'n Roll Monkeys' highly original version of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music, which started traditionally and then changed into a hip-hop groove with updated lyrics! The judges praised the clarity of the vocals (particularly important with unfamliar lyrics), the childrens' characterisations and the overall setting.
A great evening - see here for photos.
17/07/06.
"Chess". With music by the guys from Abba, words by Sir Tim Rice and featuring chart hits "I know him so well" and "One night in Bangkok", this West End hit musical is not to be missed. Don't risk being disappointed - get your tickets today!
Visit or phone the Martlets Hall Box Office
(01444 242888)
Click here for all the show
details.
15/05/06.
The "master plan" for the redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre was adopted by Mid Sussex District Council in early Nov'06 and suggests the following in relation to the Martlets Hall...
"Martlets Hall provides Burgess Hill with a performance venue. However it is not fit for purpose due to its limited range of facilities which do not satisfy contemporary entertainment requirements. It also does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and would be difficult to adapt to make compliant. The proposed expansion of Burgess Hill would require an expansion of entertainment facilities in addition to the immediate need for upgrading, therefore a new performance venue is sought for the town centre. [Page 50 / Section 3.45]"
It's also worth noting that the master plan also suggests that the redevelopment of this part of the town centre would be the earliest phase of development - within the next 1-5 years.
Now that this planning guidance has been adopted, it will be down to the various landowners to bring forward specific planning proposals for the various parts of the town centre.
More details available at the Mid Sussex District Council website Look under "Town Centre Revitalisation", and then "Burgess Hill".)
18/11/06.
Pirates - Rollicking Ticket Sales!
Tickets for this ever-popular show are selling faster than a Major-General's silly song!
They can be purchased over the phone on 01444 242888 or in person at the Martlets Hall Box Office.
For more info, select "Shows" from the main menu.
06/10/05.
Neil &
Rachel's 1st Co-production!
Huge congratulations to Neil and Rachel on the birth of Oliver Richard. He was born on Wednesday 15th June and weighed in at 7lbs 15oz - a vey healthy size!
No reports yet on whether his name is due to Neil spending much of the pregnancy as Musical Director for our production of "Oliver!" - perhaps the little chap should be very grateful his dad didn't MD our previous show "Sugar"!!!
PS. As if they didn't have enough to occupy their time, they've also moved South to Keymer!
27/06/05.
Oh, no they haven't!
Oh, yes they have!!!
GINORMOUS
congratulations to Dunk and Minnie on the birth of a little sister for
Jay. Amelie Jo was born on Friday 18th March weighing 7lbs 7oz - no reports yet
whether she's cute but, considering her parentage, the outcome is fairly
predictable!!
According to our records, Amelie is the 15th BHOS baby
born since the start of 2001 - and there were quite a lot before then as well!
We're talking nearly a whole cast, now!!
23/03/05.
More
details, supplied by Uncle Del...
10.00pm. Dunk phones hospital -
contractions started.
10.45pm. Dunk phones Mum asking them to come over and
sit with Jay, no rush.
11.15pm. Mum and Dad arrive. Dunk and Minnie rushing
- it's happening fast! Leave home. Go past Kings Head pub @ Chailey - Minnie's
in labour. Get along A272 somewhere between Scaynes Hill and H.Heath - Minnie
tells Dunk to stop and phone for ambulance... it's coming! Dunk phones and
talks to co-ordinator about what to do. Can you see the head? Dunk replies yes,
etc. Luckily they are both relieved to see blue flashing lights - baby born in
back of ambulance at 11.45pm - only 2nd delivery by lady paramedic! All back to
H.Heath and all OK.
Wow! Well, that's just typical of the Taylor-Joneses
- everything has to be rediculously over-dramatic!!
25/03/05.
Latest reports are that tickets for "Oliver!" are going faster than a
giraffe on roller-skates, so if you want to see this fantastic show, don't risk
being disappointed - get your tickets today!
Click
here for all the show
details, including special deals and a new way of ordering tickets through the
post.
05/03/05.
Update:
The tickets for "Oliver!" have now nearly all gone. If you want to buy one of
the few remaining tickets, please visit or phone the Martlets Hall Box Office
(01444 242888) very soon to avoid disappointment.
28/03/05.
On Thursday 9th at about 12:30, A-M and Guy gave Daisy & Luke a
little brother, Harry Jacob - weight unknown. [Harry's weight hasn't reached
your 'umble webmaster yet, but presumably someone out there
knows?!]
Reports are that Harry is very cute, and all are doing
fine. HUGE congratulations to all of you!
18/12/04.
Many of you will know David Tingley, aka "Charlie Lights" - brother of
"Charlie Sound"! Huge congratulations to David & Emma on the arrival of a
little sister for Georgina - Ella Charlotte weighed in at 9lb 4oz.
She
was born yesterday (13th Dec) at 10.03pm (roughly!) - reports are that
everyone's doing well.
More info at:
www.visualeclipse.co.uk
No doubt, they'll be having
a very "Nappy Christmas"!!
14/12/04.
Bumble & Flange became the proud parents of little baby Sarah at
9:17pm last Thursday (11th). Actually, at 8lbs 13oz, she wasn't all that
little!! Pictures & stuff over on
BHOS
Interactive.
Huge congratulations to all three.
14/11/04.
Belated [sorry... webmaster has had a growing distraction!]
felicitations to Rob & Bethan who tied the knot in August.
Huge
congratulations to both of you.
16/09/04.
Well, it's true - Neil & Rachel tied the knot on Saturday (it's too
late to back-out now, Neil!!)
Huge congratulations to both of
you.
08/06/04.