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

Basingstoke Gang Show 2012, 9th to 18th February at The Haymarket
The 2012 Basingstoke Gang Show promises to present another dazzling array of electrifying entertainment. Call the Cops as they promise to keep you up all night with a little Tradition, a taste of Hollywood and much much more. From The Carpenters to Queen, Westlife to Motorhead, or Wicked to Fiddler on the Roof, there is something for everyone to enjoy in a show that is highly entertaining, and has a reputation of being the leading Gang Show in the UK. So raise your voices and lose control while we take you on a musical voyage over the rainbow and beyond! Enjoy the highly talented cast made up of Basingstoke Scouts and Guides who are performing the 20th Basingstoke Gang Show at The Haymarket. Over 60 Scouts and Guides aged between 8 years and 24 years old will give you this spectacular show! So if you’re looking for an evening of fun, music, laughter and dance, come and see the Basingstoke Gang Show - who will take you on a diverse journey of variety.

Little Princess - Live on Stage, 14th to 15th February at The Anvil
Come and join in the celebration with Little Princess in the theatrical première of the hit children’s book and favourite TV character. The Kingdom is brimming with excitement as it seems everyone has something to celebrate on a very special day. King & Queen, Admiral & General and even Chef & Maid have all invited Little Princess to tea and Little Princes has said yes to everyone! Oh no - how can she be at three parties at once? Be part of the action and songs as Little Princess, Puss & Scruff and all her friends discover the best way to celebrate.

Haunted, 23rd to 25th February at The Haymarket
An all star cast in Ron Aldridge’s Haunted, a psychological, supernatural, erotic thriller, with comedy – a nightmare journey through the mind of a double murderer. He has convinced the courts that both were accidents, and has been found ‘not guilty’… twice! The only way now for justice to be done is for the guilty party to confess to both murders. But how to make him confess? Take delight in the ’roasting of the cad‘ as his two avengers ensure that he gets his just deserts, whilst also exploring the intriguing question, ”do romantic relationships develop after death?“ Funny, sexy and ‘supernatural’.

Nicholas Nickleby, 8th March, 19:30 at The Haymarket
Enter the world of Charles Dickens in the company of his great great grandson Gerald Dickens as this remarkable actor performs Dickens’ masterpiece Nicholas Nickleby, playing every character himself. Gerald will also give a unique insight into the fascinating world of Charles Dickens. Experience this timeless romantic tale of passion, intrigue and revenge, brilliantly acted. This stunning virtuoso performance is a theatrical experience full of drama, variety and excitement that has had audiences cheering across the world.

Oliver!, 19th to 24th March at The Haymarket
“Please sir, I want some more.” Come and join BAOS as they celebrate 90 years of quality musical entertainment in Basingstoke with one of the most famous and loved British musicals. Based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart's musical follows the story of young Oliver. After he finds himself in trouble at the workhouse, Oliver is sent to live at the local undertaker. Running away, Oliver sets out on an exciting adventure that finds him meeting the Artful Dodger, Fagin and his gang. With classic songs such as Consider Yourself, Food Glorious Food, You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two and Where is Love,, you'll definitely be asking for more!

The Hound of the Baskervilles, 28th to 31st March at The Haymarket
A bloodcurdling howl is heard across a cold, moonlit moor; the spectral hound has claimed another victim. Sir Hugo Baskerville was the picture of aristocratic excess, drunkenness and debauchery until he was struck down by a demonic hound sent to punish his wickedness – or so the legend tells. Two hundred years later his descendant Sir Charles apparently meets a similar fate, dying of fright in the grounds of Baskerville Hall. Can Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson solve the mystery of the Hound of the Baskervilles before Sir Charles’ heir comes to an equally gruesome end?

The Gruffalo, 3rd to 5th May at The Haymarket
Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the Blue Peter award-winning picture book by Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined? Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults… Let your imagination run wild!

Reviews of Beauty and the Beast

9th to 31st December 2011.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

In the eye of the beholder Beauty and the Beast, at The Haymarket, Basingstoke, until December 31 If you are looking for an alternative to the plethora of pantomimes in the area, The Haymarket's Beauty and the Beast may well fit the bill. This is not the saccharine-coated Disney version that most of the very young audience will have seen but a much darker slower and more sinister production. Steve Hawes adaption is perhaps a little wordy to capture the concentration of the little ones and Stephen Solloway's music, recorded by the Brodowski Quartet, is melodic but repetitive. The set design is simple, using a revolve stage to reveal the Beast's castle and the hovel that the family lives in but it disappointingly lacked attention to detail and was ponderously slow and used to excess, turning at every possible occasion. The two puppet deers were a nice touch and acted as narrators and the kids loved them. The vain Prince has been cursed and turned into a Beast for refusing to marry the Empress of the forest and has to remain as a beast until he finds someone who truly loves him in spite of his appearance. Oliver Stoney had the dual role of playing the Prince and the Beast wearing a huge horned head mask that was more beautifully groomed than scary but he did manage to rouse the audience's sympathy towards the end. Maurice, the father, gets lost in the wood and picks the perpetual rose from the Beast's garden that he was saving for his love and is imprisoned by the Beast who eventually agrees to release him if one of his daughters is substituted. The father (Mark Rawlings) returns home where his two selfish petulant daughters Matilda (Dani McCallum) and Harriet (Jo Castleton) are desperate to find husbands. Their caterwauling provides the comic contrast that was needed to balance the darkness of the Beast. But it is Beauty, the delightful Anne-Marie Piazza, who gives a sincere and captivating performance, that agrees to go and stay with the Beast. Nick Underwood was impressive as the sympathetic Crow and gave a super cameo performance as the Italian tailor. Beauty slowly falls in love with Beast despite her sisters' efforts to keep her from him. There were touches of magic when Beauty persuades the Beast to free the butterflies with some delightful animation projected onto the backcloth. Beauty and the Beast can be a most enchanting show but unfortunately director Paul Chamberlain's Beauty was a disappointingly lacklustre production. ROBIN STRAPP

There is a review in the Basingstoke Gazette ("Anne-Marie Piazza proves she has a stunning voice to match the rest of her accomplishments").

Reviews of Peter Pan

8th December 2011 to 2nd January 2012.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

Hooked on Peter Pan Inspired casting of Waterloo Road actor as the boy who never grew up Peter Pan, at The Anvil, Basingstoke, until January 2 Peter Pan, at The Anvil, Basingstoke, is a lavish, spectacular pantomime that had the audience 'hooked' from the very start. It is a vibrant swashbuckling entertainment for all the family and the enthusiastic audience absolutely loved it. This classic story of the boy who was determined not to grow up and lived with his gang of Lost Boys in Neverland is given a modern twist in director Pete Hillier's vivacious high-energy production. There were oodles of audience participation, stunning sets and costumes, great special effects with pyrotechnics, and some dashing sword fights in this high-quality production. Amanda Salmon was terrific as the rollerskating chav Tinkerbell who was always causing mischief and Pete Hillier kept the momentum going as the cheerful Smee who quickly established a warm rapport with the audience. The Darling family live in a large house in London, with the children looked after by their Nana, a loveable dog (Freddie Mason). The young children, confidently played by Reuben Overton as John and Benjamin Macken as Michael, are preparing for bed. Zara Warren was the delightful Wendy who had trapped Peter's shadow in the window and eventually travels to Neverland to be the Lost Boys' mother. There was some inspirational casting of Ben-Ryan Davies as Peter, who many will know from his appearance in Waterloo Road. He perfectly captured the playfulness and the 'spirit of adventure' of the character in an enthusiastic convincing performance. The flying sequences were truly magic as the children soared over the London skyline and Peter glided above the audience to the back of the theatre. Gary Turner was very impressive as the evil Captain Hook, who deliciously deserved all the boos from the audience as he sought revenge on poor Peter for losing his hand to the crocodile. He was ably assisted by his motley pirate crew (Andy Rothwell, Paul Cox and Freddie Mason) who also gave an outstanding knockabout acrobatic display. Shireen Jordan was convincing as Tiger Lily, with her band of Indian squaws but she is captured by Hook and tied up in Mermaids Lagoon to wait for the tide to rise and drown her. Peter rescues her with the help of the Welsh Mermaid, a lovely cameo performance by Julia J Jordan who also plays Mrs Darling. There was some sterling choreography (Sarah Louise Day) with good support from The Basingstoke Academy of Dancing arid Kelly Hopkins Theatre Arts and The Lost Boys, too many to mention by name, were having great fun in their roles. With some lively well-chosen music under the direction of Martyn Cooper, this spirited Peter Pan is not to be missed. Highly recommended. ROBIN STRAPP

There is a review in the Basingstoke Gazette ("a brilliant show for all the family... the standard of performance is exceptional... all the big star names in the world couldn’t have done a better job").

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:
The Wind in the Willows (December 2010)
Sleeping Beauty (December 2010)
Cinderella (December 2009)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (December 2009)
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)