The Childrens Hour

By Lillian Hellman

Synopsis:

1934, small-town America. Two young women, Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, have followed their dreams and spent all their savings converting an old farm into the Wright-Dobie School for Girls. Now, happily running a highly-regarded educational establishment, Karen and Martha’s thoughts turn to their long-term future, including Karen’s forthcoming marriage to Dr Joe Cardin.

However, neither Karen nor Martha have banked on Mary Tilford, a manipulative and vindictive 14 year-old pupil at the school. Mary is the undisputed leader of a close-knit band of teenage cronies, bound to her through fear and awe. After a reprimand from Karen, Mary’s anger boils over and she plots revenge. Weaving a web of lies and deceit, Mary indiscriminately preys on family and friends as she pursues her vendetta.

The Children’s Hour is a gripping account of how destructive lies delivered by a consummate schemer can convince the most honest and sensible individuals, poisoning their perceptions with terrifying consequences.

The play was groundbreaking in its day and has enjoyed several successful revivals, most recently with Keira Knightley in London’s West End. Talented actors from both the adult and youth Next Stage companies are delighted to bring The Children’s Hour to Bath audiences, with Poppy Harrison as the duplicitous Mary and Joanna Bowman as her grandmother, Amelia Tilford.

Imagine The Crucible crossed with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and you will see why The Children’s Hour has received such rave reviews - don’t miss it!

With grateful thanks to this show's Angels

Enjoy a delicious meal before the show in The Green Room

The Mission Theatre’s vegetarian and vegan Bistro is open from 6pm every night with a full range of mouth-watering soups, salads, hot dishes and desserts - the menu will be available on www.missiontheatre.co.uk in the week preceding the show.
Please call 01225 428600 in advance to book your table.

Dates: Tue 27 Mar - Sat 31 Mar 2012 @ 7:30pm

Location: The Mission Theatre, Bath

Tickets: £10 (£8 Concessions)

Box Office: Next Stage Box Office 01225 428600 email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / Bath Box Office 01225 463362 online at http://www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

Supper menu:

Sweet potato and chickpea tagine
or
Minted courgette, pea and goat's cheese lasagne
or
Quiche of the day
Chocolate tart with cream
or
Home-made cakes
or
Teas and coffees to finish.

Director/s | Cast:

Ann Garner

Director

Hannah Smyth

Karen Wright

Yvonne Paulley

Martha Dobie

Jane Lawson

Lily Mortar

Joanna Bowman

Mrs Amelia Tilford

Poppy Harrison

Mary Tilford

Holly Bodimeade

Rosalie Wells

Verity Ferris

Peggy Rogers

Emma Phillips

Evelyn Munn

Anna Wolf

Catherine

Malika Foster

Lois Fisher

Marion Wood

Agatha

Andrew Ellison

Dr Joe Cardin

Review/s of the childrens hour:

Review 1: Bath Chronicle review

Wow. What a great play, what a great production and performance. Stunning. Somehow The Children's Hour had previously passed me by, but it shouldn't have done. First performed in 1934 on Broadway, then in London and Dublin two years later, and as a film in 1936 as These Three and in 1961, this is not to be missed. Set in a girls' boarding school, the premise is simple; as Martha (one of the two headmistresses…click here to read the whole review.

By Philip Horton

Review 2: Guide2Bath review

Lillian Hellman’s intricate play based on the terrifying consequences of lies and deception provides an excellent carriage for the ever impressive Next Stage Theatre Company. Under the slick and creative direction of Ann Garner, the production looks and sounds immaculate. Set in 1930’s America the Head Teachers of a Girls School find themselves the focus of the manipulative, spiteful Mary Tilford…click here to read the whole review.