PAST SHOWS
Details of all of BROC's previous shows can be found below.
LA BELLE HELENE
1st-2nd November 2019
St Barnabas Church, Erdington
In this brand new translation of Offenbach’s satirical re-imagining of the events leading up to the Trojan War, Helene is trapped in a loveless marriage to Menelas, King of Sparta. On meeting Paris, Prince of Troy, she is torn between following her desires and not wanting to be the puppet of the Gods, while all around her, incompetent and idiotic Kings bumble about and the corrupt High Priest will do anything for money. Is Helene’s future already decided by fate, or is she free to follow her heart’s desire?
THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD
18th May 2019
St Barnabas Church, Erdington
A WWII re-imagining of Gilbert & Sullivan's darkest operetta, inspired by 1940s cinema and wartime entertainment. When Colonel Fairfax is wrongly imprisoned in the Tower of London as a Nazi spy, it is up to his old comrade Sergeant Meryll and his daughter Phoebe to stage an elaborate plot to come to his rescue, while avoiding their respective unwanted admirers. Meanwhile, American comic Jack Point and his assistant Elsie Maynard arrive and become entangled in a complex web of love, lies and death...
CARMEN
22nd-23rd June 2018
St Barnabas Church, Erdington
BROC's biggest challenge yet as they staged their first full opera. Jessica Dalton's unflinching modern take on Bizet's Spanish-set show shifted the action to a 21st century housing estate, where a teenaged Carmen and her friends are abused and exploited by drug dealers, pimps and the very people who should keep them safe- the police.
This hard-hitting and relevant adaptation highlights the female working class experience and the corruption that pervades state institutions, as well as exploring how circumstance and environment oppresses aspiration and the development of self.
THE GONDOLIERS
21st October 2017
Streetly Methodist Church
A concert performance of this Gilbert & Sullivan classic, directed by Jessica Dalton, in which two newly married Venetian Gondoliers must reconcile their love lives and political leanings with the fact that one of them is, in fact, the King of Barataria - but nobody knows which - and that he (whichever it is) is engaged to be married to the beautiful daughter of a Spanish Duke.
THE BEGGAR'S OPERA
2nd-3rd June 2017
Erdington Methodist Church
John Gay's Opera with revised text by John Oxenford & Ellie Goodall & Sam Noakes and Music arranged by Christoher Pepusch & J.L Hatton & Sam Noakes.
A group of young people waiting at a bus stop are cajoled by a young poet ("The Beggar") to be in his new opera. Set in 1700s London, the unlikely players use whatever they can get their hands on to perform this story of women and highwaymen, marriage and scheming parents, prison and narrow escapes set to music based on popular folk tunes of the time.
DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat)
28th-29th Oct 2016
St Barnabas Church, Erdington
A BROC production of Die Fledermaus reimagined in 21st century Britain amongst the mega rich, where lavish parties and limitless expenditure have not bought stability to Eisenstein and Rosalinda’s marriage, or happiness to Orlovsky’s mid-life crisis. A great many disguises, lies and copious amounts of champagne accompany Strauss’ glorious music with the quick and snappy dialogue of the Sadlers Wells production.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (In Concert) - 23rd Apr 2016
St Barnabas' Church
A semi-staged, semi-costumed but fully enjoyable performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan Favourite. A chance for every member of the company to shine!
THE COALITION KINGS - June 2015
The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham
A completely original work, composed by Ethan Cruxton with libretto by Ben Powell - In the wake of a rebellion, two Emperors are chosen to govern an
ailing Rome, but when one falls in love with a slave
girl and the other orders a brutal massacre of the underclass, a rivalry ensues that must end in blood. This ambitious and exciting new production weaves a darkly satirical tale of politics, conspiracy, war, assassination and the many dangers that come with both power and love.'
THE MIKADO IN CONCERT - April 2015
St Barnabas Church, Erdington
A semi-staged performance of the Gilbert and
Sullivan favourite with all the fun and songs of the original (and a couple of jokes of our own!)
THE RUDDIGORE AFFAIR - October 2014
Erdington Methodist Church
A modern take on Gilbert & Sullivan's classic gothic operetta 'Ruddigore', with the cursed Baronets of Ruddigore redefined for a 21st century audience as a dynasty of media moguls.
THE CARDINAL AND COX & BOX - April 2014
The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
An original work set in a Catholic girl's school, written and composed by our composer-in-residence Ethan Cruxton, alongside a jazzy spin on Sullivan and Burnand's classic farce.
