Love going to the theatre but also enjoy a good soap opera? The team at The Bridge House Theatre, Penge, might have the answer in their latest theatrical venture, Penge West - A Continuing Drama.
A self-aware, often hilarious theatrical double-bill that blurs the lines between satire, drama and community theatre
Claiming to be ‘London’s first live soap opera for the stage’, the series is a three-week run of live performances in the soap opera genre, running in June and July. The production promises to deliver ‘eight fast-paced, emotionally charged episodes’ in ‘a never-before-seen hybrid of classic soap opera tropes, theatrical storytelling and audience interactivity’.
Few people seem to know exactly where Penge is located, beyond “somewhere in south London”. Yet it has two railway stations. This saga might put it more firmly on the map, with a storyline that delves into the secrets and relationships of a diverse group of local residents.
The structure of the production is intriguing. Writer Tim Connery and directors John Handscombe and Luke Adamson explain: “Each performance will include two shows in one evening: the main soap episode and A Continuing Drama - a meta, behind-the-scenes story chronicling the fictional creation of the very soap the audience is about to watch. The result is a self-aware, often hilarious theatrical double-bill that blurs the lines between satire, drama and community theatre.”
Performances will be script-in-hand in a format that ‘allows for spontaneity and evolution, with audience feedback actively shaping future episodes’. The episodes will be presented by a talented ensemble of actors from Good Wolf People, Stage D’or and The Bridge House Theatre, many of whom will be familiar to regular audiences.
Tickets will be sold on a Pay What You Decide basis to encourage repeat visits and the chance to follow and influence the ongoing storyline.
By that time of year, there might be some signs of summer, and The Bridge House is one of the best places to enjoy an outdoor drink and some food in the grounds. What more could you want?
