New director Louise will take you on a sparkly sleigh ride!

"I said 'Come on this sleigh ride with me!' - and whatever I've thrown at them, they've totally embraced it and gone along with it!"

Louise Travis is paying tribute to the cast and crew of Elf the Musical, which is she is directing and choreographing for BATS at the Haymarket in November.

"We lost a few weeks at the start because covid restrictions were still in place," she explains. "But when we could get together, we became a tight team very quickly. Everyone was so excited to get out of their homes and into a rehearsal space and be with people again, singing and performing. Every change I make, every time I suddenly announce there's a tap dance in this scene, they don't question it, they just get on with it!"

Elf is the first show Louise has directed for BATS and she brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Louise Travis

"I was very lucky to start assisting a director at the age of 15, at the Crucible Youth Theatre in Sheffield. They could probably see how bossy I was! I had some incredible directors to work alongside and look up to. I then directed my first professional show at the age of 19."

That launched Louise's career in the entertainment industry which has taken her around the world. Among the highlights are performing Off-Broadway, modelling in Hong Kong, and touring the UK in the show Stepping Out. "It was an exciting life! I've juggled lots of different jobs and mixed in a lot of directing and choreographing too."

After taking a break for family reasons, Louise had been looking forward to performing again - she was due to play Velma Kelly in BATS' production of Chicago last year, which sadly had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.

But after that 18 month hiatus, she's loving being at the helm for Elf, which she believes is the perfect musical to show BATS are back with a bang.

It's the story of a young orphan, Buddy, who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware he's actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities make it obvious. He then travels to New York to try to find his birth family - and sprinkle some festive magic on the city via some spectacular song and dance numbers.

"It's such a beautiful and happy story," says Louise. "If you love Christmas and sparkle, and you like to put up your Christmas tree as early as Hallowe'en, then you need to come and see it! And if you don't, you still need to come and see it so we can change your mind!"

"We defy you not to be smiling at the end."

Elf - The Musical runs at the Haymarket from 9-13 November. Buy tickets online.

Anna says it's "It's wonderful to be back... who doesn't love Christmas?!"

"It was my life - and not being able to perform for 18 months was a real downer." Anna Neary is reflecting on the personal impact of the pandemic. "It was my hobby, but it was also my social life - most of my friends were involved in amateur theatre."

Indeed, over the past few years Anna has appeared in productions in Andover and Newbury, as well as Basingstoke.

"But suddenly all that was taken away. It was awful, I hated it! In lockdown you thought, 'will we ever get that back again'?"

Anna Neary

Now though, happier times have returned, with Anna currently rehearsing the female lead role of Jovie in Elf - the Musical, heading to the Haymarket Theatre in November.

"It's wonderful to be with people who've missed theatre as much as you have. It's made me even more passionate about performing. BATS was one of the first groups to get the ball rolling again, and Elf is an amazing show to come back with."

Elf - The Musical is based on the hugely popular Christmas film starring Will Ferrell as Santa's oversized, incompetent elf Buddy, who's unaware he's actually a human.

The stage show adds some spectacularly festive song and dance numbers which bring together Buddy, played by Craig Saunders, with Anna's character Jovie.

"She's a girl who hasn't had the best time in life, and hasn't had her chance with romance. I've acted with Craig before and it's been fun to bounce off each other. Jovie is more of a 'real' character while Buddy is quite over the top!"

Rhianon Mone

At Thursday night's performance, the roles of Buddy and Jovie will be played by James Young and Rhianon Mone. BATS took the decision to double cast the lead roles as a contingency plan in case Covid hit the cast, but also to give two other talented performers the chance to lead the show.

“I’ve taken a lot of time out of performing due to completing my degree,” says Rhiannon, “so it’s been great to get such a fantastic opportunity and challenge in such a jolly show!”

Anna agrees. “It's an iconic film - and now it's a show for all the family! We've put in a lot of hard work and it's going to be a treat for everyone.

"After all, who doesn't love Christmas?"

You can see Anna and Rhianon as Jovie in Elf - The Musical at the Haymarket from 9-13 November. Buy tickets online.

"It's like Christmas has come early!" Craig Saunders talks about playing Buddy the Elf

"It's like Christmas has come early!" In that joyful phrase, Craig Saunders sums up the mood of his fellow actors as Elf - The Musical heads to the Haymarket Theatre in November.

But he's not just talking about putting on a festive show six weeks before the big day itself.

It's the fact that BATS members are back in the rehearsal room, doing what they love, 18 months after the pandemic forced the cancellation of their previous production, Chicago.

"Everyone's super excited about it," says Craig. "It's been such a long period away, and I feel really lucky to be going on stage with such a talented cast and crew. And this is SUCH a fun show!"

You'll probably know Elf from the hugely popular Christmas film starring Will Ferrell as Buddy. It's the one about the young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.

"I hadn't seen the film until about four years ago, but I absolutely loved it," says Craig.

So apart from the addition of some fantastically festive song and dance numbers, how does the musical differ from the movie?

"Buddy's a bit more childlike in the stage version, but we've tried to blend in some aspects of the Will Ferrell performance, as he's just so funny. There are also lots of extra characters and cameo roles which is keeping everyone in the cast really busy!"

Craig won't be playing Buddy at every performance. On Thursday, James Young takes on the role, while the role of the female lead, Jovie, will be played by Rhianon Mone, rather than Anna Neary who's playing the part at the other performances opposite Craig. BATS took the decision to double cast the lead roles as a Covid contingency plan, but also to give two other talented performers the opportunity to lead the show.

“It’s an honour to be given this opportunity!” says James. “After being part of BATS for nearly 10 years, it’s proven to be a mountain of fun!”

Craig Saunders

James Young

But Craig won't get a night off - instead, the Thursday performance will see him play the various roles that James plays on the other nights. So, a double challenge for both actors!

“It has meant that rehearsals have been full on and really kept me on my toes!”, says James. “It’s been a massive learning opportunity, and I think I have really shown myself just how much I am capable of.”

“It is a lot of work,” admits Craig. "But I am looking forward to it - it means I get to do exactly the same show, but from a different point of view. I'm most worried I'm going to spoil a scene by singing one of Buddy's lines by mistake!"

"But it's great that others are getting the chance to play the lead roles. We are one team - and that's been the mentality all the way through rehearsals. And we all agree we can't wait for that first night buzz from the audience!"

You can see Craig and James as Buddy in Elf - The Musical at the Haymarket from 9-13 November. Buy tickets online.

Violet Shakes up the Office!

“I’m on a women’s rights ride at the moment!” laughs Nicola Morrin, as we catch up during a break in rehearsals for 9 to 5 – the Musical. I’ve just played another very strong female character, Rita in Made in Dagenham, who led the fight for equal pay at the Ford car factory in the ‘60s. Now I’ve been cast as Violet, another hard working mum.”

“She’s a victim of office politics and teams up with her colleagues Judy and Doralee to teach the boss a lesson!”

Nicola Morrin

The relationship between the three female characters is at the heart of 9 to 5.

“Violet takes a chance on Judy. She sees she’s very inexperienced in the workplace, so needs her strength and protection. But Judy teaches Violet a lesson too, not to be judgemental of Doralee, based on how she looks.”

“It’s clear we all need each other – and together we’re stronger.”

Events manager Nicola has performed with a range of amateur societies across Hampshire and Berkshire, notably Reading Operatic Society, but took a five year break when her own children came along. They’re now aged 7 and 10, and Nicola is enjoying her return to the stage in 9 to 5.

“It’s quite unusual for an amateur company to be allowed to perform a show while it’s still running in the West End, so this is a great opportunity for BATS!”

The powerhouse vocals of Nicola and her fellow performers bring Dolly Parton’s music to the stage in sensational style, including the classics 9 to 5, Backwoods Barbie and songs specially written for the musical.

So why pay West End prices when there’s talent like this on your doorstep?

See Nicola in 9 to 5 – The Dolly Parton Musical at the Haymarket, from 19 - 23 November. Buy tickets online.

Meet our Dolly - aka Millie Clucas

Millie Clucas is getting used to telling people she’s playing the Dolly Parton role in 9 to 5, the Dolly Parton musical.

“When I got cast, I really felt the pressure because it’s such a big role, vocally and emotionally, and I want to do the character justice,” she explains.

Millie Clucas plays the role of Doraleee Rhodes

Millie plays Doralee, a buxom secretary whom everyone presumes is having an affair with her horrible boss, but is actually the victim of his sexual harassment.

“She wants to be liked for who she is, not for what she looks like,” says Millie. “I’m quite often cast in roles like this, but I’m not that person in real life. For two hours on stage though, it’s fun to embody that role.”

That includes acting opposite BATS veteran Steve Westwood, who plays the boss, Franklin Hart. “He plays the part so well, the audience will really want him to get what’s coming to him!”

Doralee teams up with colleagues Violet and Judy to sort out the boss in an unconventional way… you’ll have to watch the show to find out how!

Like her fellow leading ladies Nicola Morrin, who plays Violet, and Jade Nicholas and Laura Burrell, who share the role of Judy, Millie is making her BATS debut with this show.

“I guess the theme of the show is, ‘Together, We’re Stronger’,” says Millie, “and the four of us get on really well. We back each other up, and that’s helped us develop the friendship between the three main characters - it’s coming really naturally now.”

Attending the weeknight rehearsals means an 80 mile round trip for Millie, from her home near the South Coast. “But the moment I listened to the full soundtrack of 9 to 5, I thought ‘I have to be in this show!’ The songs are fantastic – of course they are, they’re by Dolly Parton! So you make the time!”

See Millie in 9 to 5 – The Dolly Parton Musical at the Haymarket, from 19 - 23 November. Buy tickets online.