The Haymarket and The Anvil, Basingstoke

Box office

01256 844244.
Haymarket Theatre, Wote Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW.
The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR.
A map is here. Seating plans are here.

Performances are at The Haymarket unless another location is given.

Next

Guess How Much I Love You, 9th to 11th September at The Haymarket
Much loved characters Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare leap off the page and onto the stage! Hop along to the theatre and join in the fun as this endearing pair take you on a magical journey through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Enjoy songs, games and laughter as Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram’s classic Guess How Much I Love You tales are brought to life by David Wood OBE, the UK’s leading writer and director of children’s theatre. His many successes include The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Gingerbread Man, The Witches and Babe The Sheep Pig. With something for everyone, Guess How Much I Love You is the perfect entertainment for the young and not-so-young! For children aged 3 and above.

The Madness of George III, 14th to 18th September at The Haymarket
By Alan Bennett. The year is 1786. George III is King. King of England. He has a loving wife, a nation of subjects, a loyal parliament, and the world kneels at his feet... But he’s a little odd. The king’s behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic, and word has it he’s addressed an oak tree as the King of Prussia! Doctors are called in, Parliament falters, and the Prince Regent manoeuvres himself into power. The Madness of George III is a brilliant exploration of duty and kingship, an epic play about the ties that bind us together as family, as a society and as a nation. Gripping drama, dangerous politics and irreverent comedy collide in a rollercoaster ride where the health of the nation is at the mercy of the mental health of one man.

Murdered to Death, 28th September to 2nd October at The Haymarket
By Peter Gordon. A hilarious homage to Agatha Christie traditions, this whodunit twists and turns with side-splitting antics and ever-increasing merriment and confusion. Set in a country manor house in the glorious 1930s, the colourful cast of characters includes Bunting the Butler, Charles Craddock with the prerequisite stiff upper lip, the bumbling local inspector and his Constable, and a well meaning local sleuth Miss Maple who seems to attract murder wherever she goes. Add to this a high society debutante, a shady French art dealer and his moll, and supporting cast, and you have the perfect recipe for uproarious fun and hysterical happenings. But following the mysterious death of the house’s owner, will the murderer be unmasked before every one else has met their doom, or will the audience die laughing first?

Basingstoke Variety Show, 2nd October, 19:30 at The Anvil
Basingstoke's Annual Variety Show returns to The Anvil. This fun-filled show unites a fantastic mix of talent from across the borough and will encompass music, dance and theatre, appealing to both the young and old. Featuring over 200 local performers in a one night only show - this really is a superb evening in the autumn calendar and should not be missed.

Oh What a Lovely War, 14th to 23rd October at The Haymarket
A chronicle of the First World War told through songs and documents of the time, Oh What A Lovely War’s perfectly judged mixture of humour, poignancy and chilling fact remains an overwhelming experience. A troupe of seaside entertainers sing, play music and act multiple roles, ranks and nationalities to show patriotic fervour at home giving way to grim reality at the front as the War To End All Wars consumes the men of Europe. Ranging freely from Christmas football in no-man’s land to the massacre of The Somme, from hospital wards to the comfortable quarters of a blinkered High Command, the play highlights the humanity behind the statistics and remains as telling today as it was in Joan Littlewood’s original production.

Beauty and the Beast, 3rd to 13th November at The Haymarket
It’s one of the most popular and enchantingly romantic stories ever told. Join Belle, the Beast, Gaston, Lumiere, Mrs Potts and a host of magical Disney characters for this “Tale As Old As Time” – where only true love can break a witch’s spell. A must-see show for all the family, early booking is recommended for this magical, musical extravaganza! By Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society.

Cranford, 16th to 20th November at The Haymarket
By Elizabeth Gaskell. Lose yourself in this witty and poignant comedy of early Victorian life in a genteel English country market town. Inhabited largely by women, the community thrives on co-operation and gossip. Domestic peace is constantly threatened by financial disaster, long-lost relatives, imagined burglaries, births and marriages. Made popular by the BBC’s adaptation the non-stop liveliness of the irresistible characters and their small adventures, absurdities and major tragedies will not only provide endless entertainment but also capture your heart.

Stick Man - Live on Stage, 22nd to 23rd November at The Haymarket
‘Stick Man lives in the family tree, With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three...’ But the world is a dangerous place for Stick Man. A dog wants to play with him. A swan builds a nest with him. He even ends up on a fire! Will he ever get back to the family tree? Touching, funny and utterly original, this brand new show is a sure-fire hit. Suitable for children aged 4 and over, their friends and families.

The Wind in the Willows, 3rd December to 2nd January at The Haymarket
By Kenneth Grahame adapted and directed by Richard Williams. Follow the adventures of good natured Mole, friendly Ratty, their loyal friend Badger and the jovial but conceited Toad.

Sleeping Beauty, 9th December to 2nd January at The Anvil
This year’s family pantomime at The Anvil is Sleeping Beauty. Never before performed at the venue, Sleeping Beauty is a wonderful story which contains everything required for a truly traditional family pantomime. This spectacular new production features not only lavish sets and costumes, but also dazzling special effects including flying sequences and computer generated animation. See the Prince fly through time, the enchanted castle grow before your very eyes, only to be covered in thorns, and the wicked Fairy transform herself into an enormous fire breathing dragon.

Reviews of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

4th December 2009 to 2nd January 2010.

From the Newbury Weekly News.

Wintery alternative to panto The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, at The Haymarket, Basingstoke, on Saturday, December 12 This was the ideal solution for any parents becoming weary of the usual round of (over?)-familiar pantomimes. A Christmas show with all the trimmings; a strong children's story, goodies and baddies, lots of brilliant lighting effects, glinting snowflakes falling though a colourful backdrop, animal characters and even a brief snapshot appearance by Father Christmas. Hang about though, surely there is no Christmas in CS Lewis' Narnia, just permanent winter decreed by the wicked White Witch. Ah, but that is before our band of four young heroes, two male, two female, arrive on the scene, fresh from the wardrobe transport system and raring to link up with the goodies, to restore Christmas and peace and harmony to the region. Of course, good prevails and the righteous triumph but not before coming up against a series of setbacks and near disasters. The story, adapted for the stage by Glyn Robbins, had good acting all round from the young heroes, Howard Sadler who doubled as the Professor and Aslan and Caroline Corrie who took on Mrs Macready and the White Witch. Full marks to designer David Collis, lighting designer Stephen Holroyd and director Richard Williams, who secured good performances and also choreographed several short dance routines in the action sequences. It all moved at a fairly brisk pace and was visually a pleasure to watch. My co-reviewer Elliott writes: When I found out I was going to see The Lion The Witch &The Wardrobe, I was very excited. It was always one of my favourite stories as a younger child. I remember being engrossed in a magical tale of an icebound land, full of wonderful creatures and a wicked queen of ice and snow. I thought it was spectacular. The beavers especially make it very funny and clever and at other points, such as the battle, it becomes deadly serious. It has moments of urgency, such as when the wolves come, and as far as I'm concerned if a play can do all that it's a runaway success. I just really enjoyed it. It is definitely a family treat because there were children there from as young as four years old, laughing their little socks off. A sensational evening's entertainment. DEREK ANSELL AND ELLIOTT LELAURE, AGED 11

There is a review by The Stage here: "intriguingly staged production... there are moments when the different levels gel somewhat incongruously due to the use of diverse techniques... for a children’s Christmas show, the terrible consequences of the White Witch’s actions also seem like gratuitous violence for the sake of effect".

Review of Cinderella

10th December 2009 to 3rd January 2010.

From the Newbury Weekly News.

It's hiss and boo time Chav-ulous ugly sisters whip up some good old-fashioned audience participation Cinderella, at The Anvil, Basingstoke, until Sunday, January 3 Cinderella is perhaps one of the best-loved and well-known pantos. It is a magical story of rags to riches. Anvil Arts have once again joined forces with UK Productions to produce this year's Anvil pantomime and it's great family entertainment, with something for everyone, although some of the jokes are perhaps a touch risqué. Anna Williamson as Cinderella gave a confident, exuberant performance, despite having an injured ankle, and Jamie Rickers was the buoyant Buttons, although suffering from a throat infection, but in true showbiz tradition the show went on. And didn't they do well?... Oh yes they did. There was a lovely rapport between them from their years working together in ITV and CITV's Toonattik. The plot followed the traditional story. Baron Hardup (David Oakley) had remarried and Cinders now had two stepsisters who forced her to work hard both day and night. Byron Mondahl (Lily) and David Ball (Daisy) were splendid as the spiteful 'chav' ugly sisters who made Cinders' life a total misery Their costumes were outlandish and they quickly worked up the audience to demonstrate their disapproval with their 'boos and jeers'. There were bags of good old-fashioned audience participation throughout. However, help is on hand when Cinders meets her Fairy Godmother, the singing star Sonia, who has been promoted from being on 'the top of the tree' - lots of reasons for singalong songs. Sam Cassidy was the handsome Prince Charming who swapped places with his servant Dandini (Gavin Lee Rees) in order to search for his love, Cinders. The transformation scene when the Fairy Godmother turned the pumpkin into a coach was a delightful moment that included two real Shetland ponies. The excellent chorus of villagers and courtiers were from the Basingstoke Academy of Dance and Kelly Hopkins Theatre Arts, slickly choreographed by Graeme Henderson. Beautifully-costumed and with lovely sets, director Ian Good's Cinderella was great fun and thoroughly enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. ROBIN STRAPP

For more details

See The Anvil and Haymarket web site at www.anvilarts.org.uk.

Reviews of previous productions

See the Archive for these reviews:
Aladdin (December 2008)
A Christmas Carol (December 2008)
The Wizard of Oz (December 2007)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (December 2007)
The Borrowers (December 2006)
Private Lives (July 2006)
Whatever Happened to Bette and Joan? (February 2006)
The Wind in the Willows (December 2005)
The Canterville Ghost (December 2004)
The Playboy of the Western World (September 2004)
Thérèrse Raquin (January 2004)
The Three Musketeers (December 2003)
Mack and Mabel (November 2003)
Tartuffe (October 2003)
April in Paris (September 2003)
Perfect Pitch (June 2003)
The Daughter-in-Law (April 2003)
East (March 2003)
Relatively Speaking (March 2003)
Othello (February 2003)
Alice the Musical (December 2002)
Ghosts (April 2002)
Pickwick The Musical (December 2001)
The Sound of Music (November 2001)