Welcome to BArts’ new programme! Autumn approaches and yet another new season of BArts’ activities and events is here presented for your interest and pleasure, to help you through the ‘season of mists’ and the cold, dark days of winter and offer some alternatives to television and computer games. Hibernating and sticking close to the couch on winter evenings is all very cosy, but not much fun… so read on!

Local theatre gets off to a flying start in September with the opportunity to sample again the classic comedy of writers Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft with their long– running TV hit ‘Allo, ‘Allo’, transferred to the stage and presented by EHOS -  one of Broxbourne’s long established theatre companies. Hoddesdon Players present another Agatha Christie thriller ‘And Then There Were None’ in November. Two pantomimes complete the theatre season with <placew:ston>Cheshunt Dramatic Society’s ‘Santa in Space’ in December and Broxbourne Theatre Company’s ‘Cinderella’ in January.

Also in September, the first in the new series of BArts’ Let’s Do Lunch - ‘The Roaring Twenties’ - has the usual mixture of words, music and humour. Early booking is advised, as these events tend to sell out very quickly. A second performance may be scheduled if there is sufficient demand, so please ask to have your name put on a waiting list.

The launch of a new series, ‘Time For Tea’, proved very successful earlier this year so we have two more titles in this programme - ’Say It With Flowers’ in October and ‘Our Town’ in March 2010.

BArts’ exhibitions have become increasingly popular over the last two years and four are planned for the coming year from September 2009 to September 2010, the first of which is ‘A Life in a Face’ - sketches, portraits and photographs – opening on September 21st. Next Spring’s exhibition is ‘Work and Play’, which will run from March 1st to April 9th.

The WEA has two interesting courses ‘History in the Hertfordshire Landscape’ beginning in September and ‘Enjoying Drama’, which starts in January. Full details are given under each month.

Hoddesdon Music Club presents five concerts between September and March; they include a String Quartet and Piano, Brass, Clarinet and Saxophone and Violin ensembles / soloists.

In these days of e-mails and texting, good face-to-face conversation or stimulating discussions are in danger of disappearing.  The Lea Valley Literary and Discussion Society hold their meetings fortnightly in Hoddesdon and offer a wide programme of subjects for discussion. Everyone has the chance to air their point of view in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and guests or potential new members are always welcome.

We look forward to entertaining you and thank you for your support in helping BArts to keep the Arts alive in Broxbourne.

Lee Rayner, Director of Programming