BCP has now been part of the local amateur dramatic scene for 80 years. The society began life in 1945 when an enthusiastic group of people who had been getting together for play reading evenings decided that it might be fun to perform a play and, as they say, the rest is history. BCP have been entertaining audiences with a wide range of productions ever since.
BCP – Early Days
The first production by BCP was Hay Fever, performed in April 1945.
Unfortunately, no hall could be found in war time Banbury, but the then headmaster at Bloxham School generously offered their Great Hall to the society. Despite petrol restrictions support from the public exceeded all expectations – people travelled to the production by train, bus and bicycle. Some even walked!
Much encouraged, the society then looked for a Banbury venue in which to perform. First came Christ Church Hall and then, in 1947, Blithe Spirit, was performed at Banbury Grammar School.
After this, the next thirteen productions were housed in Banbury Town Hall until 1952 when BCP moved into the old Church House where they continued to stage productions until 1961.
The Fifties
During the early fifties a successful production of Little Red Riding Hood showed that there was an enthusiasm for an annual pantomime in Banbury. In January 1954, 2,500 people came to see Cinderella. This was not a mass produced show but was truly ‘made in Banbury’ with the script and music written specially for BCP, and everyone involved – choreography, scenery, production and, of course, the cast and crew all coming from the Banbury area. Each year until 1961 two full length plays, and a Christmas pantomime or play were produced at Church House.
BCP at the North Oxfordshire Technical College
In 1961 the Society staged Ring Around the Moon at the recently opened North Oxfordshire Technical College which, with its large stage and modern facilities, provided the opportunity for BCP to put on larger and more adventurous productions. Such things as a live horse (more of a pony really) drawn carriage, a steam train, cars, flying equipment and a revolving stage were all introduced as BCP continued to develop its skill and expertise.
In October 1970 the Society put on two productions – Live Like Pigs and On Approval – in the same week. They were performed on alternate nights with a complete set change carried out by members of the society after the audience went home. Any member of the audience who found themselves booked in on the wrong night might have found they were staggered by the absolute realism of one, when they had hoped to enjoy the sophisticated 1920’s comedy of the other.
The Mill Arts Centre
The Mill Arts Centre has been BCP’s home since October 1990 when they performed Our Day Out. The Society currently produces three full length plays here each year. Over the years Banbury audiences have seen BCP performing classic productions such as Hay Fever, An Inspector Calls, The Crucible, and Ghosts; modern plays such as Lovesong, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Dracula, The 39 Steps, The Thrill of Love, Nell Gwynn, Things I Know to be True, Home I’m Darling; comedies from Shakespeare to Alan Ayckbourn; thrillers; historical dramas; pantomimes; children’s plays; as well as venturing into the world of musicals with productions of Cabaret and Chicago.
BCP on the road
In recent years BCP have also found themselves performing in a range of venues – an excerpt of their production of Wyrd Sisters was performed on stage at the RSC, they ventured outdoors once again to perform Twelfth Night at Sulgrave Manor following its performance inside at the Mill.
Bite Size, another BCP venture also performed in a variety of community venues – a cafe, a brewery, care homes etc. BCP have also successfully involved themselves in local One Act Play Festivals at Lighthorne, Abingdon, and Wallingford. A win at Lighthorne Festival in July 2019 with the play Contractions saw the production team then go on to pick up the Adjudicator’s and Backstage awards at the 2019 NDFA British All-Winners Festival at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking.
COVID brought the country to a halt and left BCP unable to perform but not to be beaten a number of members involved themselves performing via Zoom in their own homes, but still with props, costumes and set – A Christmas Carol, Cider with Rosie and a scene from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime for a local school A-level drama group. Performing via Zoom was fun but everyone agreed that it was fantastic when BCP were able to perform to a live audience once again when they finally took to the Mill stage again with The Woman Who Cooked her Husband in November 2021 – having begun rehearsals for this in a garden (to maintain safe distance) in early 2020.
Communications and Social
Communication over the last 80 years has seen many changes for BCP. Originally information was circulated by paper with a range of newsletter styles and other publications such as On Cue, Prompt Please and Noises Off. Membership applications were filled in by hand and posted to the society secretary; publicity was hand drawn and then printed; local shops acted as the BCP box office; there were regular slots in the Banbury Guardian publicising productions and the weekly meetings.
BCP now has a website – created several years ago – but which has been regularly upgraded and improved. All information about the society past and present can be found there; BCP are active on Facebook and Instagram; membership is dealt with electronically, and within the society WhatsApp groups and email are used regularly to communicate to all members; Noises Off continues to be produced monthly but is now created and distributed electronically to all members.
Conclusion
For 80 years BCP have been contributing to the rich diversity of entertainment in North Oxfordshire. In the early days the Society quickly earned a reputation for the fact that there was nothing ‘amateur’ about their productions. BCP has grown and developed over the years but continues to maintain the highest dramatic standards set by their founders. Their desire is to continue entertaining local audiences for many years to come.
Over the years, as well as producing many plays, BCP has held weekly meetings for all members. These enable members to get together socially for play readings, workshops, discussion groups, Play Selection evenings, auditions and guest speakers introducing a range of theatrical related topics and they remain a key part of our membership deal.