“A non-professional theatre company founded in Bath in 1994 with a reputation for delivering challenging and innovative productions to a professional standard.”
TUESDAY 26th - Saturday 30th november a monster calls by patrick ness will be performed by Next Stage Theatre Company at The Mission Theatre.
Next Stage is one of the UK’s most innovative and adventurous non-professional theatre companies. Based in Bath, a World Heritage city located in the West of England, Next Stage Theatre Company and Next Stage Youth were founded in 1994 and have established a reputation for their award-winning productions of 20th and 21st century plays.
Next Stage Theatre Company is the resident company at The Mission Theatre and Burdall’s Yard, Bath and frequently meets in both spaces to rehearse, teach and socialise. The company is ever-changing, welcoming newcomers of all ages, and sending members off with the skills and experience they need to pursue careers in the arts.
On May 18th 2024 Next Stage Theatre Company celebrated it’s 30th Birthday - you can read more about it here.
Our Location - The Mission Theatre
We are thrilled to announce that The Mission Theatre - Bath’s very own independent theatre belonging to Next Stage Theatre Company - had its future assured in 2021 for the following 99 years by a Community Asset Transfer. This means that we can continue to bring immersive modern productions to the people of Bath from this historical location at the heart of the city.
We hope you will pay a visit to this remarkable venue to see one of our shows and help spread the word about the range of fantastic shows, festivals and events programmed there.
Please click here to find out more about the Community Asset Transfer.
Click here to go to the mission’s website
Ann Ellison pictured with company patron, alan ayckbourn
Ann Ellison BEM - Artistic Director of Next Stage Theatre Company
It was at school in London in the 1960’s that Ann started directing. She moved to Bath in 1967 and, after graduating from Bristol University, she directed plays and musicals in local secondary schools and drama groups. She also ran workshops for school children at the Merlin Theatre, Frome and the Theatre Royal, Bath. After raising her 3 children, Ann set up Next Stage Theatre Company in 1994 and, along with her partner (now husband) Andrew Ellison, she converted a derelict chapel into The Mission Theatre in 2005. Ann was awarded the British Empire Medal for Services to Theatre in 2015.
Ann says: “I had no idea when we set up Next Stage in 1994 what an amazing journey Andrew and I were starting out on. Thanks to the company we have made many friends, travelled the world, performed in some amazing venues, introduced thousands of teenagers to the delights of drama, taken plays and workshops out to schools and into the community, met famous and talented practitioners and opened our own theatre with a bespoke space to produce theatre-in-the-round in Bath.”
”The company has produced over 200 plays, won awards and accolades and now has an enviable reputation for excellence and innovation not only in Bath, but throughout the South West and beyond. Next Stage has seen many youngsters and adults go on to train in the professional world of theatre and since May 2012 has run a bursary scheme to provide financial help for members of Next Stage Youth who wish to embark on training and courses to further their performance skills. In all it has been the best 30 years I can imagine and it is still a delight for me to go into the theatre every day knowing that I will be working with talented and passionate people who understand and celebrate the transformative power of theatre. Why not come along and join us?”
Click HERE to see all of our past productions.
Check out Next Stage and Next Stage Youth’s most recent productions below:
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The new General Data Protection Regulation which came into effect in May 2018 ensures your data will be securely protected by Next Stage Theatre Company which also runs The Mission Theatre and Burdall’s Yard.
Our full Data Protection Policy can be read HERE.
