There’s a famous scene in the Marx Brothers’ film A Night at the Opera with an impromptu party in the cramped cabin of a transatlantic liner. More and more people gatecrash – passengers, waiters and other cabin crew – until the room becomes impossibly overfilled; or rather there’s an illusion of overfilling by the cameras rolling back to increase the real space available.

No such conjuring trick was available at the Battle Memorial Hall last week for a production of the musical comedy Me and My Girl from BatTS (Battle Theatrical Society). The already confined stage space was limited further by a backdrop screen depicting the battlements of the fictional stately home of the Hareford family. Yet it accommodated, for several song and dance numbers, a cast of up to 37 performers.

And if you think that was something of a crush, imagine the dressing rooms and corridors backstage, where most of the said 37 had multiple costumes changes, sometimes with only a short breathing space before their next entry. 

Of course only a strictly amateur company could assemble such numbers, which is what gives such productions their exuberant flavour. But BatTS also appear able to spotlight lead performers of notable talent and control.

Oli Albertella, playing the central role of Bill Snibson, a low-life Lambeth cockney identified as the heir to the Hareford estate, exuded effortless confidence. His taskwas to establish himself as acceptable family scion while retaining an indissoluble union with “my girl Sally”. Whether he was extolling her virtues, evading the advances of Lady Jacqueline (Amelia Jolley), or playfully picking the pocket of the Duchess’s admirer Sir John (David Nicholles), the audience could be sure that he would come out on top. 

Nancy Dyer, as Sally, had the more difficult role: persuading us he would have to choose between retaining her love, or the family fortune. But she also commanded the stage, setting off a sweet demeanour with powerful vocal chords, the title song, Me and My Girl, giving the game away:

Stand-out song was The Lambeth Walk, the classic showstopper before the interval drinks. To accommodate the full ensemble, leading performers spilled out to dance on past the band below and up the audience aisles – and on Wednesday night, apparently, the whole auditorium rocked to the chorus:

The programme notes stated that BatTS changed their name from BLOG (Battle Light Opera Group) a couple of years ago “to reflect our shift in focus towards more contemporary shows, plays and social events”. If this was what was meant by more contemporary, so be it.

• Opening times are from 10.00 until 17.00 daily. Free entry. All works for sale. For more information visit battleartsgroup.co.uk

Plug ‘em
The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) has set up its latest campaign Plug ‘em to raise awareness of the need to protect against tinnitus at clubs, gigs and festivals. The condition, experienced by over 7 million people in the UK alone, can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and can affect anyone of any age.

Tinnitus can be caused by many things, but tinnitus caused by over exposure to unsafe levels of sound is completely preventable.

When it comes to listening to live music safely, the BTA want people to know more about sound levels, exposure times and how to easily protect themselves with earplugs. Basic filtered plugs which turn the sound level down but don’t impact on the quality of sound heard, can be purchased for less than £5.

• To find out more about the Plug’em campaign, go to www.plugem.co.uk or @Plug_em on social media.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery needs your votes!
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has been nominated for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award 2019. This is the first time the museum has been nominated. 

Charity Kids in Museums awards the prize annually to one museum, gallery, historic home or heritage site in the UK that has made outstanding efforts to include children and families and respond to their feedback. The prestigious award is now in its 14th year.

Damian Etherington, Museum and cultural development manager, said, 

“We are delighted that our visitors have nominated us for the Family Friendly Museum Award. We love putting on new and exciting family activities, such as the Dinosaur Day and the Iguanodon restaurant last summer, the Chick Chase this Easter and our new relaxed early openings for neurodiverse children and their families. If you have enjoyed a visit with your family, we would be grateful if you could send your experience to Kids in Museums to give us the strongest possible application. 

• To nominate Hastings Museum & Art Gallery for the Family Friendly Museum Award, visit the Kids in Museums website and fill in the online form: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards
The deadline for nominations is noon on 31st May 2019.