KATS |
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Last production
Everybody's Talking About Shakespeare, 28th to 30th August
2025
A classy, sassy and sometimes irreverent take on the works and characters
of the immortal Bard of Avon. Bask in a collection of the finest Shakespeare
centred sketches, including classic and modern missives from the quills of
Ben Elton, Victoria Wood and Rowan Atkinson, and new, exclusive material
from KATS. Wrap it all up in a scroll full of songs from the likes of
Something Rotten, Shakespeare Revue and
Kiss Me Kate and you’ve got a show that would have Bill
chuckling in his grave. Includes a light supper.
Where
Upper Bucklebury Memorial Hall, RG7 6QH.
Box Office
www.ticketsource.co.uk/katsorguk.
Review of Everybody’s Talking about Shakespeare
28th to 30th August 2025
Review from the Newbury Weekly News.
Shakespeare’s in the pink
KATS’ latest comedy show gets everyone talking about the Bard
How well do you know your Shakespeare? KATS encouraged us all to brush up on the works of the Bard last week with their home-grown production Everybody’s Talking about Shakespeare at Bucklebury Memorial Hall – their second show there in a month.
From the opening comic tribute to amdram groups Taking Notes, delivered with pace by Ceri Lawrence, the show pulled together comic highlights from the likes of Victoria Wood, Monty Python, Ben Elton and Rowan Atkinson - not to mention original material from production assistant Karen Richardson (we particularly liked the Gen-Z sketches and Banish).
Interspersed with the comedy were some great showstoppers from Shakespeare-inspired musicals such as Something Rotten and Kiss Me Kate.
The group were in fine voice during the musical numbers. Special mention must go to Leanne Marshall, Claire Bowden, Jenny Woolf and Seb Waddington for their mellifluous solos: we particularly enjoyed Carrying a Torch, Give us a Rest and Brush up your Shakespeare.
Andy Pocock, David Richardson, Joe Rollinson, Donna Smith and Mike Cole showed their comic versatility in a great variety of roles - the memory of Andy’s pink tights will haunt us for days... David’s verbal versatility in Man who speaks in Anagrams should be commended, Mail-Show-Venice-Star-Soul was ingenious and it was great to see And How is Hamlet? again.
William and the Lost Tourist, a nostalgic gem from the annals of Richmal Crompton, offered a chance for Ali Brownfield and Janet Kilgallon-Brook to provide some comic characterisation, with Joe Rollinson suitably hapless as William and Claire Bowden capturing the tourist’s American accent perfectly.
A special mention to the costume department, not just for those pink tights (nope - still haven't managed to forget them) but for the splendid Elizabethan outfits, particularly in the rousing finale Let’s Do It.
Congratulations to directors Mandy Cole and Janet Kilgallon-Brook for reminding us just how much excellent music and comedy about Shakespeare there is to enjoy.
MARK & JENNY LILLYCROP
Previous productions
The 39 Steps, 31st July to 2nd August 2025. See the review in the archive.
Treasure Island, 20th to 22nd February 2025
Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders, 25th to 27th July 2024. See the review in the archive.
Fiddler on the Roof, 15th to 17th February 2024. See the review in the archive.
The Man in Black Presents: Tales for Halloween, 14th October 2023
Modern Time Music Hall, 14th to 16th September 2023. See the review in the archive.
Dick Whittington, 16th to 18th February 2023. See the review in the archive.
On the Way Out, 14th to 16th September 2022
I’m Sorry KATS Haven’t a Clue, 13th October 2021
Ali's Barbers and the Fawlty Sleeves, 20th to 22nd February 2020. See the review in the archive.
KATS presents a 1960s Radio Show, 12th October 2019
The Farndale Avenue Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery, 1st to 3rd August 2019. See the review in the archive.
Spamalot, 21st to 23rd February 2019. See the review in the archive.
Confusions, 26th to 28th July 2018. See the review in the archive.
Alice in Wonderland, 15th to 17th February 2018. See the review in the archive.
Chase Me Up Farndale Avenue, S’il Vous Plait!, 9th to 12th August 2017. See the review in the archive.
West End Showstoppers, 16th to 18th February 2017. See the review in the archive.
Sorry! KATS Haven't a Clue!, 8th October 2016
Alarms and Excursions, 4th to 6th August 2016
A Show To Die For, 17th to 20th February 2016
Titters and Tinsel, 5th December 2015
'Allo 'Allo, 5th to 8th August 2015. See the review in the archive.
Acorn Antiques the Musical, 19th to 21st February 2015. See the review in the archive.
Caramba's Revenge, 7th to 9th August 2014. See the review in the archive.
Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates, 20th to 22nd February 2014. See the review in the archive.
A Variety of Memories, 7th August and 9th to 10th August 2013
Aladdin, 21st to 23rd February 2013. See the review in the archive.
KATS Music Hall, 14th to 18th August 2012. See the review in
the Archive.
Panto Rules, OK!, 16th to 18 February 2012. See
the review in the Archive.
Don't Forget Your Gas Mask!, 27th to 30th July 2011. See
the review in the Archive.
Trouble in Pantoland, 24th to 26th February 2011. See the
review in the Archive.
My Fair Lady, 27th to 30th October 2010.
See the review in the Archive.
Sherlock Holmes - The Final Adventure, 3rd to 5th June 2010.
See the review in the Archive.
Cinderella 2 - After the Ball, 18th to 20th February 2010. See
the review in the Archive.
Weekend Breaks and Dinner Plans, 30th July to 1st August 2009
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 19th to 21st February 2009.
See the review in the Archive.
Moving Pictures, 31st July to 2nd August 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Babes in the Wood, Revisited, 21st to 23rd February 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Oklahoma!, 24th to 27th October 2007
Tiptoe through the Tombstones, 2nd to 4th August 2007
Wild Wild West End, 2nd to 5th May 2007
Arabian Knights the Panto! 15th to 17th February 2007. See the review in
the Archive.
A Murder Mystery, 6th October 2007 in Thatcham Parish Hall
Oklahoma! 26th to 29th July 2006. See the review in the Archive.
A Tomb with a View, 7th to 8th April 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Dick Whittington, 16th to 18th February 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Little Shop of Horrors, 26th to 29th October 2005. See the review in the Archive.
The Truth, 11th to 13th August 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Hercules The Panto, 17th to 19th February 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Little Shop of Horrors, 29th to 31st July 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Five Gold Rings, 19th to 21st February 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Pause for Applause, 19th October 2003
The Slipper and the Rose, 28th to 30th August 2003. See the review in the Archive.
Frankenstein the Panto, 27th February to 1st March 2003. See the review in the Archive.
The Shakespeare Review, 1st to 3rd August and 4th October 2002. See the review in the Archive.
Sleeping Beauty, 14th to 16th February 2002. See the review in the Archive.
Carpe Jugulum, 30th August to 1st September 2001. See the review in the Archive.
Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood, 21st to 24th February 2001. See the review in the Archive.