Pentabus collection

The first tour of five counties, with the company based for a week at each centre. The Magic Map, a new play for children was performed during the day and Lost in London, a melodrama, in the evening. A self-contained arena or ''environment'' was set up at each venue. [See 8872/1/3/3 and 4]

No separate records [see 8872/1/3/2 for printed programmes for Lost in London and Working Out the End and for lists of tour dates].

The Charlie Chaplin show, a new musical play, initially toured April to June 1975 followed by The Terry Bull Circus and Side Show during July and August. Then September to December 1975 The Charlie Chaplin Show continued to tour along with Bloomers

See also 8872/1/3/2 for list of spring tour dates.

Programme for The Charlie Chaplin Show and Bloomers with the Terry Bull Circus, Terry Bull Sideshow and Pentabus Touring Cinema by Pentabus Touring Theatre Company of West Midlands Arts.

Small black and white photograph of outside performance, showing performers and part of audience with ''Pentabus Theatre Side Show'' banner and jeep shown in background.

See also slides (8872/8)

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

Written by Joyce Cheeseman and directed by Sue Dunderdale.

Includes details about people involved with the show, including Joyce Cheeseman, Sue Dunderdale, Stuart Brisden (Stage Manager) and the actors Alun Bond, Jo Cameron Brown, Clare Travers-Deacon, Ken Robertson and Ian Heywood.

[Selection shown]

[Selection shown]

In 1976 the original project area was reduced from 5 counties to 3 (Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire). The company based itself at Old School Arts Centre, Kidderminster at invitation of Wyre Forest District Council.
A Cottage in the Country was a documentary about rural life taken on tour in the Autumn. [8872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years'']

Open-air show with ''Komic Kuts'' playscheme participation programme [8872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years'']

See ''Summer Programme 1977'' flyer - but this does not name the shows [see under section 8872/3].

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

Adapted by Pentabus from the original Grimm tale.

Directed by Jonathan Cross.

Assistant director Alun Bond.

The company was increased to five performers for this, the first Christmas Show [8872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years'']. The show was available from 10 December 1977 until the beginning of Febuary [see poster 8872/2/5/2].

Typescript, [60 pages] with handwritten words for closing song [photocopy].

Written on front page is ''Copyright Pentabus Theatre Company, December 1980''

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

First Pentabus Youth Club show

[Selection shown]

Open-air show

[Selection shown]

Director: Jonathan Cross

Christmas show
[see 88872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years'']

Includes list of Pentabus members with background information.

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

Pub show.

[Selection shown]

Open-air show.

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

Part of summer playscheme programme, along with ''Puppet Show and Workshop'' [88872/1/3/4]

Annotated ''Copyright Pentabus Theatre Company July 1979''

[Typescript, 32 pages]

[Selection shown]

Christmas Show.

Note on cover ''have we copyrighted this''

[Typescript, 110 pages]

Includes list of Pentabus members with background information. Also general information about Pentabus, community projects and West Midlands Arts ''The Arts in Danger'' campaign.

[Selection shown]

Writer: Andy Andrews

Director: Alun Bond

The company received a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation under their Community Theatre Writers' Scheme to enable them to engage a writer for this new play. During its second tour, in 1980, the show was filmed by ATV for a documentary on the work of the Andy Andrews.

[See show publicity and 88872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years''].

/1 Programme, including list of Pentabus members with background information.

/2 ''The Arts in Danger'' leaflet published by West Midlands Arts [inserted in programme]

[Selection shown]

Open-air show and roadshow.

Two summer playscheme programmes were also being run at this time, one performance based and one project based.

[See 88872/1/3/4 ''Pentabus: The first eight years''].

3 copies (each on different coloured paper).

Summer Show, Bromyard Gala

[Selection shown]

Typescript.

Annotated: ''Copyright Pentabus Theatre Company October 1980''

Photocopy of typescript with handrawn illustration (bird on stile)

Printed text and illustration (cart and horse).

Show available for March and April [1981].

Also publicised in Red Riding Hood programme

Including list of people involved, with background information.

[Selection shown]

Christmas pantomime.

Annotated: Copyright Pentabus Theatre Company December 1980.

Designed to be cut out to make a model Pentabus theatre.

[Selection shown]

Open-air show (Come on in, it's lovely!), summer evening show (Rhubarb), 2 playscheme programmes (Sir Enid and worshop-based circus skills session).

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”].

[Selection shown]

[Selection shown]

Directed by Andy Andrews.

Second youth club show.

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”].

[Selection shown]

Christmas show.

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”].

Typescript [79 pages].

Annotated: Copyright Pentabus Theatre Company, 15th December 1981.

[Selection shown]

See also slides (8872/8)

Written by Andy Andrews

Second new play under the Gulbenkian Scheme

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”]

Typescript [80 pages]

Copyright Andy Andrews, 1982.

Programme presented as ''Hartley Parish Magazine''.

Includes list of forthcoming events at the parish hall, advertisement for a Morris 1000 Traveller and spares wanted for a 1955 MG ZA Magnette (for Andy Peters).

Including list of people involved, with background information and introduction by Andy Andrews.

[Selection shown]

Summer open-air show (Harlequinade) and summer evening show

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”].

[Selection shown]

Part of an experiment to divide the performance group to create two shows to run simultaneously (Spring Road Safety Programme for schools and Autumn tour of ''An Evening with Travolto and Phibbs'').

[See 88872/1/3/4 “Pentabus: the first eight years”].