KATS

The KATS web site is at www.kats.org.uk.

Next production

Moving Pictures, 31st July to 2nd August
The alchemists of the Discworld have discovered the magic of the silver screen. But what is the dark secret of Holy Wood hill? It's up to Victor Tugelbend ("Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little") and Theda "Ginger" Withel ("I come from a little town you've probably never heard of") to find out with the help of the wise-cracking Gaspode the Wonder Dog ("It don’t have to bode anything, just basic bodingness is bad enough, take it from me"). KATS are proud to be staging the world premier of this hilarious Terry Pratchett story. Adapted for the stage by John Hicks and Kevin Miller, this will be KATS third Discworld play.

Where

Kennet School, Thatcham.

Box Office

Tickets are obtainable from The Family Bookshop, Thatcham. Tel: 0870 285 5287, or online at the KATS web site.

Review of Babes in the Wood, Revisited

21st to 23rd February 2008.

From the Newbury Weekly News.

KATS' cradle of comedy Pantomime makes for a good evening of family entertainment KATS: Babes in the Wood Revisited, at Trinity School, Newbury from Thursday, February 21 to Saturday, February 23 Just when you thought that panto was a distant memory, along comes another, but Kennet Amateur Theatrical Society (KATS) proved that there's no reason why pantomime shouldn't be played outside the Christmas season. Mark and Jenny Lillycrop co-wrote and directed this interpretation of the popular Babes in the Wood panto that was bursting with all the right ingredients. After a slightly long overture, the show came to life in Flora Dora's toyshop with a colourful set, excellent costumes and a well-directed, busy stage setting the standard for the evening. Dame Steve Lovell as Flora Dora looked the part, although at first he seemed a little tense, he finally relaxed to play well with Nick Prince as Prof X Perry Mental (Boff). Obviously, no panto is complete without the dastardly deeds of a villain, and Pam Wood as Ruth grasped the challenge full-on, often encouraging what was a rather sleepy audience. Together with her henchmen Bert and Gert (Hayley Shrestha and Katie Haythornthwaite), the three worked well together, producing some great comedy. Ruth and her gang made off with Boff's prize toy, Robbie the Robot (played by Rhys Swan) after some excellent robotic dancing, prompting the well-acted toys to rise up and make chase, closely followed by the Babes - an animated performance from Carrie Marsh as April May and Gemma Cole a bubbly Simon. Tagging along was Sean Blake, the hapless Billy, whose soft tenor voice contrasted nicely in duet with Gert. The chase scene utilised an excellent video presentation, filmed across most of Newbury, which proved a highlight of the evening. Packing in as much as possible, every effort was made to entertain, but there were occasions when the pace would have been more dynamic with shorter items. That said, valuable contributions from the junior chorus added to the pantomime's punch, particularly in a Barbie Girl number. The evening certainly appealed to the younger audience, and out of my three children the youngest, Caitlyn (aged four), was most taken by the spectacle. The hard work of all involved in this production was evident and made for a good evening of family fun. DANIEL MASKELL

Previous productions

Babes in the Wood, Revisited, 21st to 23rd February 2008
Oklahoma!, 24th to 27th October 2007
Tiptoe through the Tombstones, 2nd to 4th August 2007
Wild Wild West End, 2nd to 5th May 2007
Arabian Knights the Panto! 15th to 17th February 2007. See the review in the Archive.
A Murder Mystery, 6th October 2007 in Thatcham Parish Hall
Oklahoma! 26th to 29th July 2006. See the review in the Archive.
A Tomb with a View, 7th to 8th April 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Dick Whittington, 16th to 18th February 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Little Shop of Horrors, 26th to 29th October 2005. See the review in the Archive.
The Truth, 11th to 13th August 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Hercules The Panto, 17th to 19th February 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Little Shop of Horrors, 29th to 31st July 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Five Gold Rings, 19th to 21st February 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Pause for Applause, 19th October 2003
The Slipper and the Rose, 28th to 30th August 2003. See the review in the Archive.
Frankenstein the Panto, 27th February to 1st March 2003. See the review in the Archive.
The Shakespeare Review, 1st to 3rd August and 4th October 2002. See the review in the Archive.
Sleeping Beauty, 14th to 16th February 2002. See the review in the Archive.
Carpe Jugulum, 30th August to 1st September 2001. See the review in the Archive.
Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood, 21st to 24th February 2001. See the review in the Archive.