Well Done to everyone involved in our production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast which played at the the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill from Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd October 2010.

A big thank you to everyone who helped to stage the production and to our audiences for coming and supporting us.

Production Photos

An update from our Producers...

We are well into rehearsals now, for this fabulous show. We only have a few more rehearsals before the tech and it’s looking good. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves with the right amount of fun yet dedication that we have come to expect of Opera Club casts.

We have decided to make the show less pantomimic and tried to explore the darker, deeper side of the characters and make them more real – as real as an enchanted spoon can be, that is! Seriously, all the principals have taken on the challenge of making their characters as real and sympathetic (or otherwise) as we have asked and are doing magnificently. We defy anyone not to have tears in their eyes on more than one occasion during this show.

We last directed a show over twenty years ago, but  preferring to perform, have not taken on anything since. However, it was so tempting to rise to this challenge, having seen the show in the West End and on Broadway, and fallen in love with the score, which, in the Disney fashion, is a belter. You will come away not knowing which tune to hum and the ‘feelgood’ factor just buzzing through your body.

The chorus are spectacular; the sound is everything you know Opera Club can produce and with such a lovely score, it can’t fail to hit the right note with our audiences. We are enjoying it so much that, when we went to see the costumes, we were tempted to slip into the Be Our Guest number disguised as a cake slice or cheese grater, just to be part of this spectacular show.

We would like to express our thanks to all the cast for making this such a pleasurable, happy and memorable time and, on their behalf, invite you to ‘Be our Guests’ at this wonderful musical. Please book your place at the table, pull up a chair as we proudly present Beauty and the Beast.

Kevin & Jane

Cast List

A few words from our directors...

"Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Sir Tim Rice. Based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name, 7 new musical numbers were written for the stage musical which opened in 1994. We saw the original West End production in 1997 - twice - and then again on a snowy day in New York - it was a wonderful experience each time. There is plenty for everybody to be more than just a chorus member. Apart from the 7 principal roles & 9 smaller parts, there are 24 enchanted objects. The script is beautifully written, as you would expect from 2 great writers and offers some great acting challenges. The characters are not cartoons. They are real people with real emotions and human flaws. We know The Opera Club will be more than capable of rising to the challenge of bringing Beauty and the Beast to life - and to the people of Reigate and Redhill. We can't wait"

Kevin and Jane Hogg

And from our musical director...

"Although Beauty and the Beast has been around for quite a while, its release to us and other similar groups will be new and it is always exciting to be part of new ventures. Led by an orchestra of (probably) nine players, you will find the music readily acceptable. Alan Menken is the composer who also wrote the scores for Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and that wonderful Christmas film - Home Alone, to name but a few. So with those titles, one must surely have great respect.

There are plenty of principal and subordinate parts; some of them great fun to perform, plus other small singing and speaking parts. So if you fancy being an egg timer or a wardrobe, here is an opportunity to think about and there is enough chorus work to keep you happy. So all in all you will undoubtedly enjoy the bright score and Beauty and the Beast is an exciting prospect.

Angela Barker