The Mission Theatre and Burdall’s Yard’s joint Spring 2025 brochure has officially launched and will be distributed across Bath and the local area in the coming weeks.
Spring 2025 will be a particularly special season for The Mission Theatre as we celebrate our 20th birthday.
Go ahead and pick up a copy in either of our venues, an outlet near you, or read online using the button below.
We are delighted to say that Bath Life Magazine were kind enough to give Next Stage Theatre Company a double-page spread of happy memories from the last 30 years of our operation. Have a read here!
Pictured left to right: Ann Ellison BEM, Becky Hunter, Maggie O’Farrell and Nic Bottomley.
On Wednesday 8th November we were delighted to welcome Bath’s local independent bookshop - Mr B’s Emporium - to The Mission Theatre. After a surge in ticket sales Mr B’s asked if they could bring their event with the award-winning author Maggie O’Farrell to our stage, where a sell-out audience listened intently to this popular and eloquent novelist.
Known best for works such as Hamnet, I am I am I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death and After You’d Gone, Maggie discussed her latest novel: The Marriage Portrait in conversation with novelist Becky Hunter.
An appreciative audience heard Maggie speak movingly and with great insight about the writing process, the development of ideas and themes and how she often finds that she amends a first draft as the storyline and characters take on an independent voice and identity of their own. She explained that it is often the over-looked and marginalised historical figures that catch her imagination and stand centre stage in her novels.
Maggie spoke of why she delayed for a number of years writing Hamnet and how she had felt when she heard it was to be turned in to a play. She said that she found it interesting that The Marriage Portrait - written during the pandemic - features in it’s narrative a real sense of lock-down and isolation despite being set in sixteenth century Florence.
Answering a wide range of questions Maggie delighted everyone present with her witty and entertaining replies and then stayed on for an hour meeting the public, signing books and chatting about her novels.
Hunter tweeted today:
“A very wonderful - and completely surreal - night last night interviewing the complete legend that is Maggie O’Farrell for @mrbsemporium at the atmospheric @mission_theatre. Maggie is and was a complete dream, obviously. A proper career highlight!”
It’s that time of year again! Our 2023 Autumn Brochure can officially be found in a community centre, cafe or pub near you! Failing that, why not pop in and pick one up so that you can get booking for what is to be a season jam-packed with talent, music and theatrical favorites.
We were also fortunate enough to also have our Autumn Brochure feature in the Bath Chronicle this week, granting our roster of acts for this season a much-deserved local spotlight. Take a look down below!
Not a fan of paper? Fear not! You can also read and download a digital copy here.
On the 15th February 2023 The Mission Theatre was delighted to welcome The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Bath, Cllr Rob Appleyard and The Mayoress, Amanda Appleyard for an opportunity to watch our Next Stage Youthers in action during a rehearsal of Next Stage’s upcoming production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾.
Met on arrival by Artistic Director, Ann Ellison BEM, The Mayor and the Mayoress were introduced to Christine Anderson, Musical Director and to the youth cast members and asked them about their interests, their involvement in Next Stage Youth, and The Mayor explained to the company about how, amongst other things, he has chosen “children and their voice” as the focus of his Mayoral term.
The Youthers then took to the stage for their rehearsal and absolutely wowed the The Mayor and the Mayoress with their singing and acting. It turns out that The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ was a favorite book of the Mayoress, who could still remember the storyline almost word-for-word! By the end of the session everyone joined in the scene in the disco with the Mayor and Mayoress looking forward to seeing the actual show when Next Stage produces it: March 21st – 25th 2023
It was great to see our young actors giving their all at this rehearsal and they deserved the wonderfully enthusiastic and positive feedback they received from the Mayor and Mayoress.
Visits such as these are always appreciated, especially during such a busy half-term week for all concerned. Thank you to the Mayor and the Mayoress for their time and encouragement.
The Mission Theatre celebrated its 18th Birthday last week by staging Florian Zeller’s compelling play: The Father. Next Stage Theatre Company received two great reviews after opening night, see here, and His Right Worshipful the Mayor of Bath: Councillor Rob Appleyard attended the last night on Saturday 28th January. The Mayor enjoyed this powerful production and expressed his admiration and congratulations to all concerned. He took the time to talk to each member of the cast and crew after the final curtain and then posed for a photograph on set.
Standing: Kes Joffe - sound and light operative, Joshua Tenn - Man, Ann Ellison - Director, The Mayor, Andrew Ellison - Stage Manager, Callum Marshall - Pierre, Tiana James - Laura Sitting: Lydia Cook - Anne, John Matthews - André, Hayley Fitton-Cook - Woman
At each production of The Father Next Stage raised money for a Bath-based charity RICE: Research Institute for the Care of Older People collecting over £256.00 in donations. RICE is dedicated to improving the lives of people diagnosed with neuro degenerative conditions through diagnosis, treatment and care. They carry out research studies to help improve understanding of diseases and conditions of aging and ultimately to help find a cure. As a small independent charity, they rely on donations to continue this vital work and appreciate any support. More information about RICE can be found here.
Next Stage also received lovely comments about The Father from audience members writing in our Foyer Comments Book. It’s safe to say that this show will last in everyone’s minds for a long time. Check out what was said below…
The kindness and generosity of our FONS (Friends of Next Stage) has always been invaluable, but especially over the last few years as the future of live theatre hung in the balance. Our Friends have been instrumental in the maintenance and running of Next Stage and The Mission, including our Raise the Roof! appeal which could not have been done without them.
Next Stage actors are currently preparing scenes and excerpts from forthcoming shows to display at our Autumn FONS social. These invitation-only socials, hosted by our Artistic Director Ann Ellison BEM are just one of the privileges you get as a Friend of Next Stage.
Also included in the Friend of Next Stage membership, is priority booking throughout the year for all Next Stage and Next Stage Youth Productions and a reserved seat included in the booking. Friends of Next Stage are also entitled to a free programme for any Next Stage or Next Stage Youth productions.
If you would like to join our Friends of Next Stage scheme, follow this link to find out more.
Each year, the Next Stage Youth tutors nominate youth members for this prestigious award from which one individual is selected. Inaugurated in 2010, in memory of a talented Next Stage actress - Bridget Cassé - who had also been a Youth tutor.
The trophy is given to somebody who has shown theatrical talent, enthusiasm, a willingness to help out and a positive attitude towards fellow members. The Bridget Cassé trophy was awarded for the first time in 2010 to Philip Davies and the winners of the prestigious 2022 Bridget Casse Award for Excellence are Fin Hancorn and Miranda Webb.
Both young actors have shown outstanding flare onstage whilst also being friendly and helpful to other members of the company. They are both always happy to work in a team and enjoy new acting challenges.
Miranda’s credits include Lily in Living with Lady Macbeth in 2022 and Young Esme in Arrivals and Departures working alongside the adult company in 2022.
Fin’s credits include Callum in Noughts and Crosses in 2021 and Nick in Four Minutes Twelve Seconds working alongside the adult company in 2022
Runner up, Sophia Punt, was a very close contender for the trophy this year due to her excellence in acting and her contribution to the youth theatre. A friendly and popular member of the group Sophia gave a memorable performance as Monica in the youth production of Living with Lady Macbeth
Dara Tiernan deserves the highly commended certificate as someone who has been a friendly and talented member of the company. In the 2022 production of Living with Lady Macbeth, Dara played Gail and she showed her brilliant acting skills when performing her skydiving scene.
Today we have officially launched The Mission Theatre's Autumn 2022 brochure, which is now available to pick up at The Mission, Burdall's Yard, and very soon from outlets across the city.
With the forthcoming season packed with interesting shows, from both returning companies and new faces, there's something for everyone this autumn at The Mission Theatre.
If you would like to view the brochure online, please click here.
We are delighted to announce that Next Stage Theatre Company has been shortlisted in four categories at the Creative Bath Awards 2022! These highly coveted awards recognise exceptional creative talent and achievements made by companies and individuals in the city of Bath.
Our nominations are:
CREATIVE ARTS ORGANISATION for Next Stage Theatre Company
CREATIVE SPACE for Burdall’s Yard
PERFORMANCE: DANCE, MUSIC & THEATRE for Next Stage and Next Stage Youth’s Performances in 2021/22
INSPIRATIONAL PERSON for our Artistic Director, Ann Ellison BEM
Our nominations covered the truly extraordinary year that we have had including: The Mission Theatre’s grand reopening post-lockdown; the successful Community Asset Transfer of The Mission Theatre to Next Stage, Burdall’s Yard’s triumphant launch as Bath’s newest community centre and Arts’ hub, the incredible feat of raising £110,000 for Raise the Roof!, the highly-acclaimed Next Stage productions throughout the last year, and the tireless work of our Artistic Director Ann Ellison BEM. To be recognised for these accomplishments is a great honour in itself and we hope you’ll all cross your fingers for us when the winners are announced at The Creative Bath Awards Ceremony on July 22nd.
We are absolutely overjoyed to announce that last weekend we received a top-up donation from one of The Mission's dear friends, which means our Raise the Roof! Appeal has finally reached it's target of £110,000.
This incredible feat has been made a reality by the tireless work of The Mission Theatre team and the endless generosity of you: our patrons, friends, company members and supporters. THANK YOU.
Over the last fourteen months, we have been thrilled and humbled by the support and encouragement we have received from so many quarters. You have all been with us on this journey every step of the way - from our Book Bazaar and Quiz Night, to our Sponsor a Slate drive and our Raffle. You, our fantastic theatre community, have helped to secure The Mission Theatre's future beneath it's beautiful, new and water-tight roof.
We are delighted to be bringing you The Mission Theatre and Burdall's Yard's first joint Brochure. As always, it is good to have returning companies, whilst also welcoming new faces to both venues. You can pick up a brochure from The Mission Theatre, Burdall's Yard, or many outlets in and around the city centre. You can also download your digital copy here.
On January 15th 2022, our Artistic Director Ann Ellison was interviewed for BBC Radio Wiltshire, and BBC Radio Bristol, to speak about our Raise the Roof! Appeal.
After almost a year of fund-raising we are now within £10,000 of our goal, the once unimaginable £110,000. The support we have received from the community allowed us to go ahead with the required works in November 2021, securing the building ahead of the rainy winter months. However, as bills come due, we are asking for another push to raise the last few hundreds and get us over the finish line.
To listen to Ann’s interview with BBC Radio Bristol, click below.
We are delighted to announce that acclaimed American singer-songwriter, Dean Friedman, will be performing at The Mission Theatre on Sunday 15th May 2022. Following Friedman's sold-out, 40th Anniversary Tour, Friedman returns to the stage armed with a stunning collection of his insightful and compelling, true-to-life ‘story songs’ - songs of pathos and humour that deal with family, friends, neighbours, work and the seemingly trivial, yet ultimately essential stuff of everyday life.
After having to postpone his 2020 tour, we are so excited to finally be welcoming this legendary pop-icon back to our stage.
Hailed by critics and fans alike as a one of the finest songwriters of his generation, he has achieved legendary status for chart-topping hits, such as Ariel, Lucky Stars, Lydia, McDonald’s Girl and more.
A consummate entertainer, Friedman will be performing solo, on guitar and keyboard, featuring songs from throughout his four-decade career, including familiar, radio hits and fan favourites, drawn from his eight studio albums. Invite family and friends and join Friedman for an evening of powerful, poignant and hilarious songs about the ordinary and extraordinary lives we share.
For more information, and booking details, see our what’s on page HERE.
In March 2021, we set ourselves the huge goal of raising £110,000 to save the roof of our beautiful Grade II listed ex-chapel and our Raise the Roof Appeal was launched.
Today I am thrilled to announce that we have reached £98,000! Next Stage now only has £12,000 more to raise and, from a long-time patron, we have a pledge of matched funding of £6,000. This means that if we can raise another £6,000 before Christmas, making £12,000 in all, we will have reached our target!
Please, please please, if you are a company, an individual or a group who have already helped but feel you could manage to give just a little bit more, could you consider donating this week? Or, if you have not as yet contributed please can I appeal to you to do so? The renovation of the roof is complete after an exceptional 6 weeks of work by D.R. Vowles and Sons Ltd and his fantastic roofers. The final bills are coming in and to be able to conclude this huge endeavour by Christmas would be fantastic.
When The Mission Theatre had been left empty and cold for 18 months through lockdowns and closure, its roof had seriously deteriorated resulting in significant damage that required urgent repair. The roof had begun to leak, causing alarming cracks to appear inside the building, and failings in the theatre’s electrics.
When the roofers arrived and started to strip back the cracked slates and damaged lead work, we were horrified to learn that the deterioration of The Mission Theatre's roof far exceeded our expectations, with over 50 major issues identified beyond that which we had anticipated. It was clear that the work had begun just in the nick of time.
Photographs of decaying wooden beams in The Mission Theatre's Roof, before and after being repaired and reinforced.
A photograph of the completed repair of the leadwork and guttering on the building's north side.
Photographs of lead guttering, before and after being repaired.
Photographs of Slates from our Sponsor-a-Slate campaign being tiled in to the building's roof.
As we celebrate our brand new roof that will protect our theatre for many, many years to come, I should like to take time to thank the great number of people who have helped us get this far - from all of our wonderful supporters who have donated to our campaign, to visiting companies who’ve kindly offered to collect at the end of shows; from our generous patrons, to our tremendously supportive neighbours, E. Hooper and Sons Funeral Directors and The Gainsborough Hotel, who have been so accommodating whilst we have had scaffolding around the building. We could not have done this without your kindness, understanding, appreciation of our work and, above all, your generosity.
A photograph of the roof, completed.
After 6 months of intense fundraising we are absolutely thrilled to announce that our end goal is within sight! The break through has come in the last few weeks when we have been blessed with generous donations from Wessex Water and from our actor friends in America. Their contributions took our total to £46,000. Then came a miracle: an extremely kind and significant patron and friend of Next Stage offered us matched funding! Thanks to this amazingly generous gift the Raise the Roof! Appeal has shot up to £92,000.
Now, with just £18,000 left to raise we feel confident to start the essential roof repairs and anticipate the scaffolding going up around the theatre at the start of October, with all the works scheduled to be finished before Christmas.
Whilst the large donations to our Appeal have been the game changers, we would not have attracted these without ALL the contributions and efforts so many of you have made. The fact that literally hundreds of people have supported our attempts to restore and cherish a beautiful heritage building in Bath is what has won the hearts and minds of our patrons.
It has been a long haul at a very difficult time; here are just some of the memorable milestones along the way:
Six months later, all of us here at the Mission Theatre and everyone in Next Stage Theatre Company wants to thank you for your kindness, generosity, support and encouragement.
It has been such a long journey and we are so relieved and grateful to be nearly at the finish line. We are waiting to hear from 2 more patrons and hope that, with their contributions, we will get over the £100,000 by the end of this month.
So we now have a final push to reach our goal. To achieve this we are reinstating ALL fund raising options during October: Sponsor a Slate; Become a Friend of Next Stage; Buy some books, Make a donation; Offer matched funding. All details can be found here.
Please help us across the finish line!
At the end of this month our Theatre Manager, Hannah, will be leaving us. Hannah says:
It has been a privilege to be able to contribute to this theatre, and to work with all the brilliant front of house volunteers, Next Stagers, visiting companies and audience members who I've met along the way. I'm now looking forward to moving on to new challenges - safe in the knowledge that I'm leaving The Mission in very capable hands.
We are excited to announce new additions to the Next Stage Team! We welcome Rebecca (Becca) Jefferis in the newly created full-time post of Youth and Schools’ Co-ordinator, as well as Francesca McBride and Rosie Walker as two new part-time Office Assistants. Congratulations to Olivia Stiles on increasing her office hours and becoming the new Deputy Theatre Manager.
From left to right: Rebecca Jefferis - Youth and Schools’ Co-ordinator, Olivia Stiles - Theatre Manager, Rosie Walker - Office Assistant, Francesca McBride - Office Assistant.
We look forward to working with Rebecca, Olivia, Francesca and Rosie, and to their contributions to The Mission Theatre and Next Stage.
The Main Auditorium set up with Slate Signing Stations
As part of our Raise the Roof! fundraising campaign we offered the chance to Sponsor a Slate for £30 per slate, giving sponsors the unique opportunity to literally leave a mark on The Mission Theatre.
Last week, The Mission Theatre welcomed people into the Main Auditorium to inscribe new roof slates with their messages of support for the theatre.
People have not only been leaving their messages on the roof slates, but also in our Heritage Book which will become a permanent feature of the theatre for generations to come. It was wonderful to see all the messages, and to have a reminder of how much The Mission Theatre means to so many.
We are so grateful to everyone who has taken part in this campaign.
If you would like to get involved in helping us to Raise the Roof! you can find out more about how to donate here.
Councillor Romero, Artistic Director Ann Ellison, and Councillor Kumar outside The Mission Theatre.
Ann Ellison BEM, Artistic Director of Next Stage Theatre Company and The Mission Theatre, was delighted to welcome Deputy Mayor, Councillor Dr Yukteshwar Kumar and Councillor Dine Romero, Councillor for Southdown, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture to The Mission Theatre on Wednesday 23rd June. The councillors were meeting with Ann following Next Stage’s successful Community Asset Transfer (CAT) bid for The Mission Theatre. The CAT was awarded to Next Stage at the Council call-In meeting on June 14th when any objections to the CAT were overturned. Next Stage has been awarded a 99 year lease at a peppercorn which enables the company to continue its care and refurbishment of the 250 year old Grade II listed building in which the theatre is housed and will also see the company expanding its community work in BANES.
Councillor Kumar had been interested when, as a member of the call-in scrutiny panel, he had heard Ann speak at the meeting describing the cultural links Next Stage has established over the years through tours to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, QEH Theatre in Bristol, the Minack Theatre in Cornwall, the Jermyn Street Theatre in London’s West End and the Workshop Theatre in New York. Dr Kumar is particularly passionate in his beliefs that cultural exchanges can break down barriers and open up international friendships and collaborations. He wanted to discuss with Ann an initiative which could see Next Stage Theatre Company touring to India and China. Councillor Romero welcomed this initiative and was anxious to know in what ways she could promote and celebrate Next Stage’s work, not only internationally, but most importantly within BANES, its schools and student population and how best this city’s flagship amateur company and its home at The Mission Theatre can be used as a resource within the educational community.
The councillors watching the work of the ASE students.
Whilst visiting the theatre, Councillor Kumar and Councillor Romero were invited by Ann to watch a short piece of theatre performed by American students from the Bath-based Advanced Studies in England (ASE). This institution has liaised for the last seven years with Ann, Next Stage and The Mission Theatre using The Mission’s lovely auditorium for a period of 5 weeks each June and July when Summer School students from America enjoy drama workshops and theatre training, delivered by local practitioners. Most years the students have also watched the Next Stage summer production and taken part in Page-to-Stage workshops with Ann and some of the Next Stage actors. Principal Jonathan Hope said in support of Next Stage’s CAT bid:
Our ongoing collaboration with Ann Ellison and with Next Stage, and our regular use of the performance space at The Mission Theatre, have been crucial in enabling us to offer a raft of acting classes and learning experiences for theatre students who otherwise would not have considered studying with ASE in Bath.
Since 2014, for instance, we have run a 5-week summer school based at The Mission which draws aspiring thespians from across the Pond, and includes valuable interactive talks (and intercultural exchange) with the Next Stage company actors and directors. Our students and visiting faculty have thus been given invaluable insight into the workings of a community theatre, and shared fresh international perspectives with the Bath youngsters with whom they’ve met and collaborated. It is almost impossible to see how these courses could have been developed – and these talented US visitors brought to Bath – without the help of the dedicated team at The Mission.
Ann Ellison with Councillor Romero, Councillor Kumar, Mandy Horlock and the ASE students at The Mission Theatre.
Councillor Kumar and Councillor Romero were impressed with the quality of work delivered by the ASE students under the directorship of Mandy Horlock and enjoyed chatting to them and finding out more about their backgrounds and interests.
At the end of the two hour meeting, both councillors could well understand why Ann in her statement in support of the CAT made to the Council on June 14th had said:
On most days at The Mission, I know that members of the public who come through the doors to see a show will very often be transported by what they see and hear, frequently taking away with them memories, life-changing ideas and images that will stay with them forever. And all of this amazing creativity encapsulated and delivered in a small modest chapel building that has been lovingly turned into a thrilling place of theatre and performing arts.
