Blackheath Community Theatre
Drama in Blackheath
On Thursdays from September 2025 the Blackheath Community Theatre (BCT) and Blackheath Community Youth Theatre (BCYT) will be based at The Bakehouse Theatre (behind Age Exchange in The Village).
Artistic Director, Simon Geal, will be leading these companies assisted by Chris Morton (BCT) and Jasmine Ratchford (BCYT).
Simon also offers one to one teaching and preparation for LAMDA exam entry.
For more details please see below or fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
A theatre group for the community
The Blackheath Community Theatre aims to provide a creative outlet for those interested in acting and the theatre in SE London and beyond. We welcome people of all levels. Based at The Bakehouse Theatre, group sessions and classes will take place on Thursday afternoons and evenings from September 2025. Our team consists of Simon, Chris and Jas.
What we offer
Individual Tuition (BCTI)
We offer preparation for LAMDA acting exams on a one to one basis, plus help with audition speeches and work presentations. Sessions are available for both young people and adults. Prices range from £30 to £60 per session. If you would like to know more please use the enquiry form below.
from £30 - £60
Blackheath Community Theatre (adults)
Improve your confidence, self-expression and performance skills with our drama sessions. These sessions are available to adult students of all ages and levels. Working as an ensemble and using classic play scripts, the company will train together, exploring different acting techniques, from comedy to tragedy and naturalism to expressionism - modern and classical. The Autumn Term will culminate with the company performing a short performance at the Bakehouse Theatre. This will take place on a Sunday evening before the end of term.
If you have any questions please use the enquiry form below.
Price £238
Autumn Term
Thursdays 7.30pm to 9.30pm
(11 Sep - 11 Dec 2025)
Blackheath Community Youth Theatre (BCYT)
This is a course for young people aged 10 to 15 years of age who enjoy drama. Students are introduced to the core elements of theatre through storytelling, role play, physical and vocal development and simple script work. Through drama games and exercises, the group will develop their self confidence and working as an ensemble and then work on their acting and performance skills. Each term will culminate with a sharing/performance.
If you have any questions please use the enquiry form below.
Price £266.50
Autumn Term
Thursdays 5pm to 6.30pm
(11 Sep - 11 Dec 2025)
More about us...
Simon Geal
Artistic Director
Simon Geal started at the National Youth Theatre before training as an actor at the Drama Centre London. He has appeared in numerous productions in repertory theatre, the London Fringe and the National Theatre.
As a director and tutor, he has worked on many different productions for Age Exchange Theatre Trust, Shape in London, Lamda, Arts Depot, the Actors Centre, the Theatre Museum, the British Film Institute, Testbed Productions for the BBC, the Royal Festival Hall, Alchemy Reality for BBC2, Royal Holloway University, East 15 and the Ambassador Theatre Group.
Simon directed the Adult Drama company, various children's groups and prepared students for LAMDA exams at the Conservatoire for more than 25 years.
Chris Morton
Community Director
Chris Morton has worked alongside Simon for more than 10 years.
Chris worked with the Adult Drama company at the Conservatoire, scheduling performances and providing administrative support for the group.
As an art history graduate he has researched early modern Australian painting, Early Netherlandish painting and collaborated on a volume dedicated to the bookplates of Harold Nelson for the Bookplate Society published earlier this year.
Jasmine Ratchford
BCYT assistant director
Whilst studying music at Cambridge Jas directed and acted in shows at the ADC theatre, Corpus playroom and Edinburgh Fringe before touring the East Coast of the US with Cambridge American Stage Tour and running Shakespeare workshops in schools and colleges.
She then was assistant director for the National Youth Music Theatre's production of Into the Woods at the Southwark Playhouse.
Jas has enjoyed working with Simon for the last year and is excited to continue.