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~ Home ~ PAGESLINKSThe Rotary Club of Basingstoke and Deane Basingstoke Academy of Dancing
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ABOUT USChildren who had appeared as the Von Trappe family in Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society's (BATS) 2001 production of "The Sound of Music" had appealed to the chairman, Richard Cox, for BATS to have a junior company, as there was no affordable musical theatre for children in Basingstoke at that time. And so BATS Next Gen was formed in January 2002. Our ethos is to provide affordable musical theatre experience for children, using the skills of adult members of theatre companies such as BATS and BAOS (Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society). Wonderful people since our formation have volunteered to teach theatre craft to the next generation voluntarily, so keeping costs of running the company to a minimum. Our age range is 7 (first year at Junior School) to 18 (last year at 6th Form College) but sometimes we have to restrict the age-range depending on the show we are performing. Using local facilities, we rehearse weekly during term time, and try and perform twice a year, depending on the show. All children wanting to join the company have to audition, and continue to audition for each and every show, so standards are maintained and also everyone gets a chance to be a principal, as different shows need different skills. We run free pre-audition workshops, so children know what the show is about, who the characters are and work on the audition pieces before the audition, so the only people scared and nervous on the big day are the people on the audition panel! Our fees are currently £65.00 for approximately 5 months of rehearsals. For further information, or if you would like to know when the next production and pre-audition workshops are, please contact the secretary. ALUMNIHere we celebrate successes, both theatrically and academically, of current and past performers. If you are a past performer with BATS Next Gen and would like to celebrate your success and achievements with us, or let us know what you are now doing in the adult world, please contact the Secretary. We would love to hear from you! Don't forget our invites to your red carpet event!
THEATRE: Lulu Goodman (The Rumpelstiltskin Racket/ Magical Mixture/We Will Rock You) starts filming in October in the final Harry Potter film, The Deathly Hallows Jack Flower (Dick Whittington) is currently playing in Oliver in London's West End, and is understudy as Oliver. Harry Harwood (We Will Rock You/Dick Whittington/Hairspray) recently played solo at Basingstoke Live! Lydia Thomson (all shows apart from Magical Mixture and Hairspray) is a principal dancer in Cinderella, the Xmas panto at The Anvil, Basingstoke Xmas 2009 Georgie McGuigan (Dick Whittington) played the lead "Cat in the Hat" in the Seussical Junior production at The Haymarket Theatre in May 09.
ACADEMIC: Dawn Wylie (BATS Next Gen Director 2003 - 2006) gained a 2:1 Honours Degree from Central School of Speech and Drama, London July 2009. She now starts teacher training in September. Murray Thomson (Joseph, Revue-ing the Situation, Sinbad) gained a 2:2 BSc Honours Degree in Computer Games Graphic Design July 2009. Lydia Thomson gained Triple Distinction in BTEC Performing Arts and also her English A Level August 09. Nick Brannam (Three in One/Rumpelstiltskin Racket/Magical Mixture/We Will Rock You) gained Triple Distinction in BTEC Performing Arts August 09. He is currently playing characters in EuroDisney Paris and is a parade dancer. Vicci Elliot (Three in One, We Will Rock You) gained Triple Distinction in BTEC Performing Arts August 09. Jack Juniper (Sinbad, Three in One) gained Triple Distinction in BTEC Performing Arts August 09. David Payne (We Will Rock You) has been placed on the accelerated course at Winchester University, so he will complete his teaching degree in 3 years instead of 4. Abbey Cargill (We Will Rock You) has completed her first year at St George's Medical School in London where she is studying medicine.
ACHIEVEMENTS Morgan Sadler (Magical Mixture, Three Murders, We Will Rock You) retained her UK Rock & Roll Champion title at the UK National Dance Championships in Blackpool 2008 Tina Goodman (Committee member 2007-2009) and Steve Brannam (Stage Manager, Hairspray) competed at the National Dance Championships for the first time in Blackpool in 2008 and came a brilliant third in the UK. Elain Halloway (Treasurer) passed her BSc (Open) in 2008. She is currently undertaking further study for Honours. Richard Cox (Chairman and Director of Shadows/Three Murders/We Will Rock You and Dick Whittington) and Fiona Morgans (Committee member and Wardrobe mistress We Will Rock You/Dick Whittington/Hairspray) have both completed their final dissertations and are now anxiously waiting for their results of their Degree in Creative Media Studies at Winchester University. Good luck to you both!
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