News
Theatre Group trip to see Shadowlands at the Aldwych Theatre
22nd April 2026
Shadowlands is essentially a bitter/sweet love story covering the period in the life of C, S. Lewis when he met, married and faced the grief of the tragically early death of American poet and novelist Joy Davidman. Who could possibly follow the performance of Anthony Hopkins in this role? Hugh...
Theatre Group trip to see Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum
16th April 2026
Based on a true story Kinky Boots is an uplifting, sequin strewn extravaganza, so having the use of the largest stage in London for its latest outing seems quite fitting. Charlie Price (Matt Cardle) is desperately trying to leave his father’s failing shoe making business in Northampton for a new...
Relatively Speaking at Bromley Little Theatre (11th April)
14th April 2026
Relatively Speaking is one of the earlier Alan Ayckbourn plays and has the classic Ayckbourn set up – you pretty much know what to expect but you also know it will make you laugh out loud if performed well. Set in the ‘60s, two 20-somethings, Ginny and Greg, start a whirlwind romance. The...
Bromley u3a Disco
13th April 2026
The disco is still flourishing in Bromley Little Theatre rehearsal rooms, and now the builders have finished the renovations at the theatre we can use our front door again. Many health experts are now saying that dancing is good for our health, any form of dance, formal or free form, and it makes...
Life of the Tower of London
7th April 2026
Siobhan Clarke, Guide Lecturer at Historic Royal Palaces (pictured) gave us an enthralling insight into the life of the Tower of London from earliest days to today. It is Britain’s oldest palace and most visited attraction. Its success may be traced to its location and its constant adaptation to...
The Spy That Came in From the Cold at the Churchill Theatre (28th March)
2nd April 2026
Following a critically acclaimed sell-out West End Season, this stage adaption of John le Carre’s classic Cold War novel by David Eldridge embarked on a UK tour which included a week at the Churchill Theatre. Directed by Jeremy Herrin and with a brilliant cast led by Ralf Little playing Alec...
I'm Sorry Prime Minister at The Apollo Theatre
29th March 2026
A Theatre Group of over 45 members attended I’m Sorry Prime Minister on 26 March at The Apollo Theatre. This play written and directed by Jonathan Lynne, co-writer of the hit TV programmes Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. In this comedy we see Jim Hacker in older age...
The crumbling of British Politics in Turmoil - General Meeting talk on 17th March
23rd March 2026
Our guest speaker Andrew Baker delivered a devastating analysis of why British politics are in turmoil. He cited:-distrust with lightweight politicians, who have not had serious jobs. They cannot make decisions in case they alienate their followers. They display little skill in political...
Fun had by all at the Quiz
13th March 2026
Our first morning Quiz on March 10th proved very popular and most enjoyable. Fourteen teams of six answered questions on a wide range of subjects over 6 rounds. There was an additional picture round of British Birds. The winning, all female team, modestly named Shy...
Bromley Quiz Morning
10th March 2026
Bromley u3a is kicking off the new year with the first of our events, a Quiz morning, on March 10th. Our members will enjoy a morning of head-scratching fun with friends. Members can bring their own drinks and nibbles but tea and coffee will be supplied as well as the Inquisitor, the...
A Mirror by Sam Holcroft
9th March 2026
What happens when a society begins to control not only what people may say, but even how stories may be told? That intriguing question lies at the heart of A Mirror, a thoughtful and intellectually playful contemporary drama that explores the relationship between storytelling, censorship, and...
Local Studies Talk on the Woodland Trust
4th March 2026
Allan Goodison, a Volunteer with the Woodland Trust spoke about the important work the Trust does to ensure we have woods for people and wildlife to thrive in. Their work involves creating trees from seed, protecting those needing it and restoring sections of woods. We were reminded that we need...
The unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Theatre Royal Haymarket
3rd March 2026
A select group from the theatre group went to The Theatre Royal Haymarket to see this new musical. It was based on the best selling novel by Rachel Joyce who also wrote the show’s script. It stars Mark Addy as Harold and Jenna Russell as his wife Maureen who have a very monotonous life in...
LOWE visit to Rotherhithe
19th February 2026
Fortunately the Brunel Museum was open since it was half-term. A small but fascinating exhibition situated next to the access shaft to Marc Brunel’s tunnel. Lunch across the road in the historic Mayflower Pub followed by a visit to St Mary’s Church. Then a walk...
Illusion, Art and the Brain - a talk by Mike Sheehan
17th February 2026
The General Meeting on 17 February welcomed Mike Sheehan, a neuroscientist to talk about Illusion, art and the brain. Mike shared some fascinating insights into how we take in information through our eyes, how this gets processed via the back of the eye and then interpreted via...
Paddington the Musical at the Savoy Theatre (two reviews)
13th February 2026
How I was so looking forward to seeing this musical and it did not disappoint. First of all, I love musicals (providing they are not too loud) and second – I love Paddington. The sound levels were just right and miracle of miracles, no flashing lights! The acting was extremely professional by...
Woman in Mind at the Duke of York Theatre
12th February 2026
The West End play for the theatre group in February was Woman in Mind by Alan Ayckbourn starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan. This proved very popular and we could not all get tickets for one day so two groups were booked a week apart (11th and 18th February). This suited everyone as one...
Creative Writing Group
11th February 2026
Please click here to see the latest examples of work from the Creative Writing Group ...
THE WINSLOW BOY - Bromley Little Theatre
7th February 2026
Set in 1912 this Terence Rattigan play, based on a true event, is the account of what transpired when a 13 year old naval cadet from a middle-class family was dishonourably discharged from his naval school for stealing a five shilling Postal Order. Vehemently maintaining his innocence, the boy is...
Local Studies - Illustrated Lecture on the History of the Victorian Music Hall by Tom Carradine
3rd February 2026
u3a Bromley members were "down at the Old Bull and Bush" on 3 February, enjoying a fabulous musical interlude with Tom Carradine who made a return visit to tell us about the History of the Music Hall along with piano accompaniment. About 110 members sang along to various medleys of very...
Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre
2nd February 2026
40 people from the Theatre Group went to see “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim at the Bridge Theatre on Thursday 29th January 2026. The Bridge Theatre’s production is outstanding: the sets are slick, the actors’ words can be heard throughout, each character has a chance to shine and...
Talk on UK's Inland Waterways by Kirk Martin
22nd January 2026
Kirk Martin, one of our u3a Bromley members kindly gave his time and expertise to present the UK’s Inland Waterways to us during a General Meeting talk on 20 January to around 180 people. We were treated to a history of when, why and how canals came about from the late 18th Century, we learned...
Theatre Group trip to Twelfth Night at the Barbican
13th January 2026
This RSC production was glorious. Of course, every director wants to bring something new to a timeless work and in this case, it was done by enhancing the role of the Fool, Feste, who joked, pantomime fashion, with the audience across the production (with comments such as: ‘Oh well, we got a...
The Haunting at Bromley Little Theatre
12th January 2026
Whilst this was written by a modern playwright, Hugh Janes has drawn on Charles Dickens ghost stories for inspiration. I for one am pleased he did because I love a “things that go bump in the night” piece of theatre. Directed by a master of the genre, from the moment the house lights go down...
Bromley member Madhu, featured in February Prima Magazine
11th January 2026
Madhu and Bromley u3a were chosen by the Third Age Trust to feature in a three-page article entitled ‘New Year, New Challenge”. Since her childhood in India, Madhu had loved classical dancing and that carried on after she came to this country as a 23-year-old. But what had once been a...
Theatre Group Events 2025
19th December 2025
18 London Shows, 11 Bromley Little Theatre matinees,9 Theatre Group meetings at Bromley Little Theatre,8 Local theatre shows,2 coach trips to Cambridge and Canterbury,1 garden social,1 guided walk in London andOuting to canal museum with canal trip and cream tea....
Just for One Day – the Live Aid Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre
17th December 2025
Members of the Theatre Group attended a performance of this musical and what a treat it was. The first half gave us the story of the lead up to the creation of the successful charity single “Do they know it’s Christmas” and the second half continued with the story of the Live Aid concert. ...
Historic Pub Group visits
15th December 2025
We used the CAMRA 'London's Real Heritage Pubs' book to organise our visits for drinks and lunch. We met twice monthly as there was a lot of interest. Our first pub was The Salisbury in St Martins Lane. It was very comfortable with stunning interiors and etched and polished glass creating a...
U3a LOWE trip to Guildhall Christmas market
9th December 2025
See the pictures from their trip to Guildhall Christmas Market ...
Wine Enjoyment Group
7th December 2025
The December 5th Christmas meeting properly acknowledged the season with a selection of wines to suit a traditional celebratory lunch. Starting with two champagnes, ‘While the palates are fresh’, following advice from a wine specialist. Our hostess rose to the occasion with a selection of...
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night at Bromley Little Theatre
6th December 2025
Adapted for the stage from a book by Mark Haddon this is the account of a 15 year old autistic boy’s endeavour to deduce who had killed a neighbour’s dog, the story being told from the boy’s point of view. My 31 year old autistic grandson was with me at the performance so although...
Theatre Group Trip to Canterbury
2nd December 2025
The Theatre Group took a trip to Canterbury on 2 December. The weather was very kind with blue skies and the coach journey was smooth and comfortable. Members enjoyed the town and Christmas markets and some explored the cathedral and even went to an advent service in the...
Some poems for November from the Creative Writing Group
1st December 2025
Click here to read the poems with autumnal photographs. ...
Theatre Group trip to see Punch
23rd November 2025
Having directed a play in 2016 at Bromley Little Theatre about Restorative Justice, I was excited to see James Graham’s play which also covered this. Like “The Long Road”, Graham’ play was about much more – in this case the deprivation of a Nottingham council estate, one parent families...
Sweeney Todd at The Churchill Theatre
15th November 2025
A select number from the theatre group attended the matinee on Saturday 15 November of West Wickham Operatic Society’s ambitious production of Sweeney Todd. Directed by Kevin Gauntlet there were strong performances from the leads with Jamie Fillery as Sweeney Todd, Jane Werry as Mrs Lovett and...
Creative Writing Group
12th November 2025
Please click here to see the latest examples of work from the Creative Writing Group. ...
The Full Monty at Bromley Little Theatre
8th November 2025
I’m sure everyone knows the plot so I don’t think much needs to be said about that, but I must say although for the most part we, the audience, were literally crying with laughter, we were made conscious of the underlying desperation of men out of work and the dreadful consequences to their...
The Lady from the Sea at The Bridge Theatre
5th November 2025
Theatre Group members attended the Bridge Theatre on Thursday 5 November to see The Lady from the Sea by Simon Stone, a modern-day interpretation of the play of the same name by Henrik Ibsen. The Bridge Theatre is “in the round”, and the central stage was cleverly used. There was an emphasis...
Theatre Group Trip to see The Importance of Being Ernest
23rd October 2025
The Importance of Being Earnest is a farcical comedy depicting the tangled affairs of two young men who live double lives to evade unwanted social obligations, both assuming the name Ernest, while wooing the two young women of their affections. First performed 130 years ago; it was Oscar...
Top Hat at New Wimbledon Theatre
16th October 2025
A group from the theatre group ventured to Wimbledon to see the Chichester Production of Top Hat on tour. They were in for a treat as Irving Berlin’s score came to life on the stage. Numbers like Let’s face the music and dance, Top Hat, White tie and tails, Cheek to cheek were performed and...
LOWE Trip to Surrey Quays
15th October 2025
Pictures of our first trip on the Windrush line to Surrey Quays on 15th October. A beautiful walk in Southwark Park followed by a flying visit to Canada Water to admire the Library. ...
