Rainham Theatrical Society

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Rainham Theatrical Society

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The first Oasthouse Theatre in the world, home of RaTS (Rainham Theatrical Society) We offer various type of membership starting from just £10 p.a. !!!

We're a small dramatic group that own our own theatre and put on 6 main productions a year, including our traditional family pantomime. So why not come along and have a look around? If you'd like more information please leave a comment on the wall or pop along to the theatre on a Tuesday evening from 8pm onwards (you may want to double check that there will be someone there first as occassionally rehearsals are moved)
We look forward to meeting you!! Take a look at our website: http://www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk

22/10/2026

🎄 Flint Street Nativity 🎄

It’s just 2 weeks until the opening night of Flint Street Nativity.

Mizzis Horrocks' class of seven-year-olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads - and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he's not a proper star like they have at NASA, Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes...

Tickets are available now:

☎️ 0333 666 3366
💻 www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk

Content Advice
This production contains occasional strong language, adult themes relating to childhood insecurity and parental conflict, moments of emotional distress, brief implied child‑like aggression, and sudden loud sound effects. Haze may be used.
Although based on a school nativity, this production is written for adults and is not suitable for young children.

17/10/2026

Our next improv evening will take place on Monday 19th October in the Green Room.

There’s no need to book - just turn up and join in!

At the last session Joanna led a “laughing” warm up. Then the session continued with lots of games and exercises involving different voices, characters and behaviours.

We look forward to seeing you there!

15/10/2026

🚨 Audition Notice 🚨

Auditions for our March production Lena will be held on Monday 26th October at 8pm.

Performance Dates: 4:5:6:11:12: 13 March 2027

(Potential for matinees on 6 & 13 March)

The play is being entered into the Kent Drama Full length play Festival and will be adjudicated on Friday 12 March

When we meet Lena in the play it's 1999, 25 years after her appearance on Opportunity Knocks. We discover a very different Lena, one for whom the glory days are long gone.

This play explores what happened to her over the intervening quarter of a century and reveals a startling, wholly separate story. From the age of 13, Zavaroni suffered from anorexia nervosa. While she was at stage school, her weight dropped to four stone. During the 80’s she continued to suffer with anorexia and severe depression.

As we are transported back to 1999 Lena is about to undergo a surgical procedure which she believes will turn around her troubled life. In a hospital waiting room her father, Victor, retraces the steps that have led him and his precious daughter to this critical point. His revealing journey is one filled with triumph, tragedy, tears and laughter.

Characters

HUGHIE GREEN (50s) - TV talent-show host. Our Machiavellian narrator

VICTOR ZAVARONI (50s) - Lena's father. A musician

LENA ZAVARONI (30s) - Ex-child-star. A tormented soul

HILDA ZAVARONI (40s/50s) - Lena's mother. Starstruck

DOROTHY SOLOMON (40s/50s) - Lena's personal manager. Formidable

*TOMMY SCOTT (40s) - Record producer

*DOCTOR

*These roles are played by the same actor
Audition pieces are listed in the attached image.

Anyone auditioning for Lena or Hilda will also have a singing audition. Details can be found in the attached image.

Scripts are available now behind the bar.

If you cannot make the audition date, but wish to pre- audition please leave a comment below and the Director Dean will be in touch with you.

Please make sure you have PAID your annual membership before the audition date you will not be permitted to audition unless you have paid.

08/10/2026

📕 The Flint Street Nativity 📕

It’s part 3 of our meet the cast series for our November production The Flint Street Nativity by Tim Firth

The cast and crew recall their childhood memories of nativity performances!

1. Gary Wyatt
Stage manager
Gary remembers his brief time in his Christmas nativity before he decided back stage was more his forte
“I was demoted from a king to a Shepherd for hitting another boy with my lantern because he was smelly! My mum was furious because she had already made my costume! Halcyon days!”

2. Carol Bolden has the wonderful task of creating our weird and wonderful props list!
Carol says “I was never chosen to be in a nativity because I was anxious about public speaking”

With a name like Carol we can hardly believe it!

3. Matt Micallef is tasked with lighting our wonderful actors and creating the weird and wonderful sound cues!
“I was a shepherd when I was about 7 and my tea‑towel headpiece kept sliding down over my eyes. I remember spending the whole time blindly shuffling around the stage trying not to fall into the manger”

4. Faye Wyatt directing The Flint Street players says “my first nativity we had a recipe to make Christmas pudding. My line was “we put in flour” and my costume of an apron and mop cap was of course provided by Auntie Rosina the ex Wardrobe Mistress at our very own oasthouse”

5. Fran Hind- I was in a Cinderella show, and a trumpet player. Not that I could blow anything!
I was so happy they let us wear makeup and I slept in it to keep it on!

Tickets are available online and by phone:

☎️ 0333 666 3366
💻 www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk

01/10/2026

📕 The Flint Street Nativity 📕

It’s part 2 of our meet the cast series for our November production The Flint Street Nativity by Tim Firth

The cast and crew recall their childhood memories of nativity performances!

1. Dan Harbour playing our suspicious and alluding Inkeeper remembers
“My nativity memories: I don’t particularly recall or remember any main part roles of my own, but what I do remember is being an innkeeper, just like I am now in flint street, and my son has been twice since being at school! Seems as though the innkeeper role runs in my family”

2. Alan doubling as the Star and Ass recalls
“ Sorry wasn’t in any school nativity, but I did play Dr Snodgrass in a very short play , where I kept leaving small items inside people after they had a operation, and my only line was at the end of the play, where I would come on and say to the patient excuse me has anybody seen my umbrella”

3. Sam Knight our adorable Wise Frakincense recall
One year, the nativity had a weird dream sequence which meant that I had to dress up as Batman for the nativity. I still don't understand why now.

4. Claire Feekings has created our stunning costumes both for young and old recalls “ For the nativity I wanted to be in the choir but was always in the Orchestra as no one else played the Treble recorder.
And! I still have it!”

5. Josh Webb our sports mad Herod says “Nativity mems:
I cannot recall ever being one of the mains in the Nativity. Those roles were usually for the teachers favourites, which I never was. However, I do remember one year where I was a generic shepherd complete with dressing gown and tea towel headpiece. Such lovely memories performing in a freezing cold church, not paying attention and missing cues and singing along to the pure Jesus anthems. Gotta love catholic primary schools.”

Tickets are available online and by phone:

☎️ 0333 666 3366
💻 www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk

27/09/2026

Live acoustic music at your local theatre

Tickets are already selling fast for our next Acoustics Sessions at the Oasthouse Theatre on Sat 3 October at 8pm

We've got a great lineup featuring LunaBarge , Damian Clarke and Luke Bailey.

Grab your tickets now - a bargain at just £6 each

https://www.ticketsource.com/oasthouse/the-acoustic-sessions/2026-10-03/20:00/t-vxejzpo

24/09/2026

📕 The Flint Street Nativity 📕

It’s part 1 of our meet the cast series for our November production The Flint Street Nativity by Tim Firth

The cast and crew recall their childhood memories of nativity performances!

1. Alice Tilley our animal loving and all knowing Shepherd says “ I wore the same costume as my brother two years earlier! I might have been a king? I can’t remember but I obviously wasn’t Mary material!”

2. Jan Wyatt is playing our rather aggressive Angel Gabriel.
Her memory is “ I desperately wanted to be Mary or the Angel Gabriel but was always the narrator because apparently I had a loud voice!?
A loud voice , me?
Never!”

3. Amanda Miller the lovely and down trodden Wise Gold says
“There was once a very shy three year old, who, clad in a tea-towel and clutching a cuddly lamb by the ear, wondered what Shepherd Number Two was supposed to do? She chose to pick her nose and looked longingly at the pretty crown her friend got to wear - it wasn’t fair!”

4. Linda Brown playing our glowing Angel says “I also wanted to be in the choir. I was accepted and placed auspiciously in the front row. However, that privilege came with the proviso that I only mimed because I looked so happy, sang so loudly but completely out of tune.”

5. Steve Berry playing our determined narrator remembers “I was Balthazar in our junior school nativity. My gift was myrrh. My grandma would wave at me throughout the play and announce very loudly 'that's my grandson' to anyone who would listen, much to my embarrassment. My brother was a shepherd, with a tea towel on his head, held in place by a snake belt. My mum recalled (often) that he was picking his nose when he delivered the line 'we've come to see the baby Jesus ' whilst looking at the floor!”

6. Mia Heathcote is playing Mary. Her memory of primary school nativity consisted of a very modern version. She played cleaopatra in a handmade costume by Nanny and had her first solo song!

Tickets are available online and by phone:

☎️ 0333 666 3366
💻 www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk

17/09/2026

Join us for the first of our theatre workshops.

They will take place on the 3rd Monday of every month.

The first session will be held on Monday 21st September at 8:15pm and will involve improv games!

The session is open to audience and full members - come along to join in the fun!

No booking necessary, just turn up on the day!

15/09/2026

🌱 Jack & the Beanstalk 🌱

We are pleased to announce the cast for our pantomime:

Edena. Jill Balderston
Slimeball. Jo Godman
Jack. Amy Marshall
Princess. Louise Giddings
King. Larry Davies
Trumpet. Mike Gentry
Dame. Darren Hammock
Simon. Joe Pritchett
Sarg. Andrew Manktelow
Giant. Cara Micallef

Thank you to everyone who auditioned!

10/09/2026

🎭 Opening Night 🎭

Break a leg to the cast and crew of Jane Eyre for their opening night tonight!

Here’s a sneak peak! There are still some tickets available online or by phone:

💻 www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk
☎️ 0333 666 3366

Address

Rainham
ME88AG

Website

http://www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk/

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