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5 years

Next Stage celebrates the mission's 5th birthday

1 / 2010

5 years ago, Next Stage Theatre Company opened The Mission Theatre with a production of Comic Potential by the company's patron, Sir Alan Ayckbourn. It seemed fitting therefore for the company to return to another of Ayckbourn's hilarious and astutely observant plays for the celebration of the theatre's 5th Birthday. On January 25th 2010, The Mission hosted a special Gala Night performance of Ayckbourn's Time Of My Life, in the presence of The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Andrew Furse and the Deputy Mayoress Mrs Mei-Ling Chou Furse, and the Chairman of B&NES Council, Cllr Bryan Chalker. Next Stage were also delighted to welcome members of B&NES Council, private funders, several Bath businesses, the Editor and Arts team from The Bath Chronicle and local performers, producers and promoters who have also made The Mission their home. Family, friends, volunteers and Next Stagers all joined in to celebrate this exciting occasion.

At the end of the evening Ann Garner, Artistic Director of Next Stage, made a special announcement to the assembled audience. In the last three months, she and Andrew Ellison have had meetings with the Head of Property Services for B&NES and one of the Senior Estate Managers. The Council has indicated that they are willing to negotiate the grant of a secure tenancy to replace the theatre's current lease which expires in 5 years’ time. This positive development should now ensure that this lovely venue has a long term future in Bath.

Christopher Hansford, Arts Editor for The Bath Chronicle, reviewed the play and reported the exciting news - click here to read the whole article.

Below are a selection of photos from the end of the evening, when guests were invited by Ann Garner and Andrew Ellison (Director, Next Stage) to share a drink and some Birthday cake with the cast and crew of Time of My Life.

 

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