WELCOME TO THE SPRING/SUMMER SEASON 2008

A MESSAGE FROM JOHN KELLY - CHAIRMAN, BARNSLEY THEATRE TRUST LTD.

I am delighted to intorduce another season of 
variety and entertainment at Barnsley's Lamproom 
Theatre.

2008 promises to ba a year of great change in our 
town.  The Civic Hall project is due for completion 
during the summer and will, I have no doubt, provide 
the community with a new and exciting layer to the 
area's burgeoning arts activities.  The space 
provided for design and arts innovation will be a 
most welcome addition to our artistic infrastructure 
and everyone at The Lamproom is looking forward to 
participating in the development of the building's 
performance area.

Nearer to home, The Gateway Plaza is sprouting from 
the ground and its completion promises to place the 
two hundred and sixteen year old Lamproom building 
at the heart of the town's most modern and 
salubrious location.

We are privileged to have the opportunity of 
providing a warm artistic heartbeat amidst the cold 
glass and concrete towers that surround us and we 
are indebted to the kind patronage and support of 
theatregoers like yourself for our continued 
existence.  I'm sure that you, like us, enjoy 
witnessing the ever-changing face of Westgate and, 
equally, I hope that you continue to take pleasure 
from the busy and varied programme of events offered 
by the performers who tread our boards.

Some years ago, I was privileged to see an hilarious 
production of 'Nunsense' and was thrilled to learn 
that The Lamproom Theatre Company will open their 
season with this superb musical.  The acclaimed 
Irish playwright, Martin McDonagh, has gained 
international recognition with his 
incredible 'Leenane Trilogy' and 'The Lonesome 
West' - the third play - is without doubt the 
funniest Irish work to hit the stage for 
decades.  'Father Ted meets Quentin Tarantino' just 
about sums it up!  The LTC round off their season 
with 'Studs', a new play from the Hull Truck 
stable.  The highly acclaimed Reduced Shakespeare 
Company will present the entire works of The Bard in 
one evening, and The Lamproom Youth Theatre Ensemble 
will present his best bits in what promises to be 
great fun for those who adore Shakepeare's greatest 
speeches.  The Lamplyters add to their adverterous 
repertoire with a reworking of 'The Little Mermaid' 
and a splash of 'Romeo and Juliet' in 'Once on This 
Island' whilst The Lamproom Musical Theatre Company 
step back a century to the pre-Soviet Union setting 
of 'Fiddler of the Roof'.  Barnsley Gilbert and 
Sullivan Society return with 'Ruddigore' and 'Seat 
of the Pants' present Alan Ayckbourn's Olivier Award 
winning play 'A Chorus of Disapproval'.  Barnsley's 
Secret Theatre Company are planning a foray into the 
Edinburgh Festival later in the year.  (Maybe 
something new from 'Yours Truly!)  A pre-Edfest run 
at The Lamproom may be on the cards!

Remember, several productions don't make this 
programme's print deadline so it's advisable to keep 
an eye on our weekly advertisement in the Barnsley 
Chronicle.

We look forward to your company.

JOHN KELLY - Chairman - Barnsley Theatre Trust 
(1998) Limited