Brixham Arts and Theatre Society Ltd (BATS)
Supporting the Arts in Brixham

Mission: To support and encourage artistic endeavour in the Brixham peninsula

Aims:
Encouraging existing artistic groups
Supporting new artistic ventures
Promoting artistic aspirations
Developing artistic opportunities for all generations

Brixham Arts & Theatre Society is not just about Brixham Theatre. The brief is far wider, with BATS acting as an umbrella for arts development in Brixham and surrounding areas.

We would be pleased to show you what has been achieved so far, and explain what we plan to do for the future. We can arrange a tour of the Theatre, talk on its history and a tea for groups.

On BATS own professional events, we offer a discount for group bookings and welcome visits from local societies. We have some wheelchair spaces and disability support and access is our priority.

The Theatre is available for hire, for approved arts events, conferences and presentations, rehearsals and even wrestling! The hire fees raised in the year pay the overhead costs of running the Theatre and the contracting of two local young people as Technical and Marketing Managers.

There is an individual membership, open to everyone. Anyone with an interest in their local theatre is invited to join and receive regular newsletter information on events and copies of the programme. They can also become an active volunteer stewarding on shows or get involved with all the other aspects of running the Theatre, and take part in the social events the Members hold, making new friends as well.

The Brixham Folk Club, a subsidiary group within BATS, has been running for several years and has proved to be very popular. The Folk Club contributes back to the main BATS company from its door entry and supports a series of professional productions to bring the best of traditional and modern folk to the Theatre.

Plans are in hand to start a Film Club, utilising the rear part of the auditorium, and negotiations are underway to buy the necessary equipment and obtain a licence.

BATS runs a drop-in cafe on Saturday mornings, from 10 – 12 am, where anyone is welcome to pop in for good company, to enjoy a decent cuppa with friends, browse the BATS Shop and find out what’s on at the theatre or buy tickets.

Situated in the heart of historic Brixham, the current building was built on the site of a former naval reservoir from which pipes would have lead down to the Kings Quay in the Harbour and was used for watering naval ships. The building always leant to the right, because of subsidence into the mud.

The building was always called Brixham Town Hall and was designed by George Bridgman, the same local architect who designed the Palace Theatre, Paignton, The building opened on 1st October 1886, at a build cost of £3,000.

The current Function Room used to be the Magistrate's Court and the original Pannier Market was where Brixham Does Care offices and shop are, with the old entrance now restored and updated. The Scala Hall was a silent cinema until 1934.

Over the Magistrate’s room and offices for the Harbour Commissioners, was a large upper hall for use as a Drill Hall and for public meetings, concerts and theatre gang shows, as well as BOADS pantos and musicals.

It used to have stackable canvas chairs, with iron frames, which were removed to hold dances and use as a hall. Extra pillars had to be added in the Scala Hall below to strengthen the floor to take the dances. Originally the Theatre was said to seat 800!

BOADS (Brixham Operatic and Amateur Dramatic Society) started using the theatre in the 1920's and staged 'Pearl, the Fishermaiden' as their first show in 1922. Plays and musicals, and later pantos, were added to the repertoire from the 1980's

Renowned poet and novelist, Malcom Lowry, visited Brixham Theatre in the summer of 1933 to see a production, ‘The Belle of New York’ performed by the Brixham Operatic and Dramatic Society, who performed plays during the summer season at the Brixham Theatre.

A musical comedy in two acts, with book and lyrics by Hugh Morton and music by Gustave Kerker, ‘The Belle of New York ‘is about a Salvation Army girl who reforms a spendthrift, makes a great sacrifice and finds true love.

In a letter to Jan Gabrial in August 1933, written at the Vernon Court Hotel, Torquay, Lowry tells Jan that he went to see a "dilapidated musical comedy called ‘The Belle of New York’ just so as I could think about the title”..

The Theatre also has strong associations with the late John Slater. Slater narrated the documentary series, and was known on television for his presenter role opposite popular children's puppets "Pinky and Perky" during the 1960s, as a story-teller on Jackanory and as Det. Sgt. Stone in Z from 1967 to 1974. He also appeared in the notorious 1958 stage production of “The Birthday Party “ by Harold Pinter as Nat Goldberg.

Slater sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of an air crash in France in 1946 and sporadic
bouts of ill health hampered his career. He featured on Roy Plomley's Desert Island Discs in 1961.

John Slater took over the Theatre after the refurbishment in 1973 and ran two summer seasons
there. His company performed Whitehall Farces 3 days a week in 1973 and 1974.

John Slater died in 1975, aged only 58. Brixham Theatre was one of the last venues that Slater entertained an audience at. Now his spirit is said to have returned to haunt the location. His ghost, wearing the costume of his final show, has been spotted several times throughout the theatre.

Judicious use was made of such reports prior to the death of his widow in March 2014.

A blue plaque commemorating the actor was erected on the front of the building in 2008 by Brixham Town Council.

BATS, in conjunction with Matthew Clarke from Torbay Bookshop, helped stage the launch of the book ‘Memories of John Slater’ by his son Roger, in discussion with Bob Curtis, at Brixham Theatre on Monday.14 June 2010.

A photograph of John, that had hung in her hall, was left to Brixham Theatre by Betty Slater, his widow, and is now hung on the landing outside the Theatre, alongside a relief bust of the famous actor. He was back in the theatre he loved so much, and that his wife believed cost him his life.

Brixham Arts & Theatre Society are continuing to attract even more professional shows, companies and agencies who are wanting to work with BATS – Roger Collet, the promoter for Sean Cannon, is interested in setting up a Jazz Club, and has the contacts with high quality artists that is needed for a specialist arts area.

The Budapest Cafe Orchestra, who were booked last year and rocked the building with their Gypsy Jazz and Folk music, enjoyed themselves so much with the Brixham audiences that they are returning specifically to tour back to Brixham and BATS.

For further information and inquiries please contact : Box Office 01803 882717

View my website http://www.batsweb.co.uk/