Taking Kings and Queens to Germany

Banbury Operatic Society stage performance in their twinned town

 

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) has a long history of staging performances for our twin town, and our most recent trip to Hennef, Germany, to perform our concert, Kings and Queens, was another fantastic chapter in this tradition.

Hennef is one of Banbury’s two twin towns - alongside Ermont, France - and we have been twinned with Hennef since 1981. BOS has been part of the twinning association since its inception. Over the years, we have taken a range of performances to our German friends, from full-scale musicals to concerts. Given the rising costs of transporting large sets, this time we opted for a concert-style production, which proved to be an excellent choice.

Our latest visit came about when the Banbury & District Twinning Association invited us to bring another show to Hennef, given how warmly received our previous performances had been. The production team behind Kings and Queens saw this as a perfect opportunity and planned the concert with the trip in mind. Featuring a variety of well-known musical numbers with a royal theme, the show ensured there was something for everyone, with plenty of songs familiar to our German audience.

Organising an international performance is no small feat and this trip was a huge logistical challenge. A dedicated team coordinated transport, equipment and accommodation. While many of us travelled by coach, others made their own way by plane or car. This led to one worrying and (now) humorous incident, where one of our cast members' train unexpectedly came to a halt, forcing him to disembark in the middle of a quaint German town where he found himself completely lost for an hour. Not speaking the language and with no clear idea of how to reach his destination, he frantically messaged the cast WhatsApp group, leading to a series of amusing but unhelpful suggestions! Thankfully, he soon realised that Uber still operated in the area and was able to get a ride to rejoin the group. The ordeal sparked much laughter among the cast and a firm personal resolution to learn at least a few basic German phrases before the next trip!

The Banbury & District Twinning Association and its Hennef counterpart, Verein für Europäische Städte-Partnerschaft, played a crucial role in arranging host families for many of our members, ensuring a true cultural exchange experience. Given that some of our cast were under 18, we also had to research child protection and licensing regulations in Germany—thankfully, one of our members, a native German speaker, was instrumental in navigating these requirements.

Performing in a new venue added another layer of complexity. While BOS had performed in Hennef before, this theatre was a new and unfamiliar space, meaning our technical team had to plan everything remotely through photos and conversations with the German crew—sometimes overcoming language barriers in the process! Our technical manager, Graham Simons, dedicated extensive time in the theatre, meticulously ensuring that the lighting was rigged and ready within an exceptionally tight schedule. Once on site, our tech team worked tirelessly under strict venue time slots, showcasing their dedication, problem-solving abilities and sheer expertise in overcoming the challenges of an unfamiliar performance space.

Another challenge was adapting the show for the trip. Some cast members from our Banbury performance couldn't make the journey, so certain roles had to be reassigned and some choreography had to be reworked. Our fantastic production team, led by Director, Amanda Anderson and Choreographer, Sophie Worrall, had anticipated these adjustments during the initial casting and rehearsals. However, as with any production, unforeseen changes arose along the way. Amanda and Sophie worked tirelessly while in Hennef, refining the staging to ensure the cast felt confident and that the show retained its intended impact, just as it did in Banbury. The cast also rose to the challenge, adapting their blocking to compensate for the smaller ensemble and ensuring that vocal harmonies remained strong—particularly in the absence of our wonderful MD, Chloe Cardin, who was unable to make the trip. The costume team also had a significant task, sourcing multiple versions of the same costumes to accommodate cast changes. This resulted in even more quick changes for some cast members who had taken on additional roles. In Hennef, this was expertly managed by our Wardrobe Mistress, Janet Bishop, whose extensive experience in directing previous BOS productions and trips to Hennef proved invaluable. As always, BOS demonstrated its adaptability and professionalism, ensuring the show remained polished, engaging and a true reflection of the society's talent and dedication.

We were treated like VIPs, not just by our wonderful hosts, but by many people in the town. Word quickly spread of the group from England who had come to perform. This became evident when a group of us went out for dinner and found ourselves in deep conversation with the waitresses about the show and the logistics of bringing it to Hennef. Young children from the town would also ride past the theatre windows on their bikes whilst we were rehearsing, hoping, as one of our German hosts put it, "to get a glimpse of the performers from England." We’re not sure these young people had quite realised that we were not, in fact, Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, but rather a random mixture of business people, teachers and office workers who love to sing and perform in our free time (but then again, isn’t that what makes amateur theatre great!?). Despite this, it created a real buzz around the town and, over the course of the few days we were there, anticipation built for the concert. This undeniably added some pressure to us all but also fuelled our enthusiasm and excitement to perform for the people of Hennef after it had been so warmly received in Banbury.

One of our youngest members, Milo, discovers the Banbury sign unveiled at the start of the twinning process—an event some BOS members were part of in 2011!

The audience’s reaction to the performance itself was nothing short of phenomenal. They laughed, clapped and even sang along to familiar songs - ’Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ was a particular hit! They also appreciated hearing new songs they hadn't encountered before such as ‘Ex-Wives’ from Six the Musical, which was new to German audiences but incredibly well received. The warmth and enthusiasm in the theatre made all the effort worthwhile and the post-show celebration was filled with shared joy and camaraderie. We were also thrilled that our performance was featured in the local Hennef press, further showcasing the strength of our cultural exchange.

The trip wasn’t just about performing; it was about cultural exchange. One of the most memorable aspects of the trip was the incredible hospitality we received. For those staying with host families, the generosity was overwhelming, meals were plentiful and we were treated as part of the family. On our first evening, our hosts took us to a local restaurant where the portion sizes were nothing short of legendary! Those staying in hotels were equally well cared for, with hosts checking in regularly and offering lifts to and from the theatre. Another highlight was a group excursion to Cologne with our host families, where we explored the city with our German friends and enjoyed a meal at a traditional German restaurant. These moments outside the theatre strengthened the bonds between us and our hosts, reinforcing why these trips are so special. Many of us formed lasting friendships with our hosts, a testament to the spirit of the twinning association.

Bringing a show to Hennef is always a rewarding experience, and while the logistics mean it can't be an annual occurrence, we know we’ll be back. The warm reception from our German friends reminds us why these exchanges are so valuable. We also look forward to hosting our Hennef counterparts in Banbury soon, where we hope to match the exceptional hospitality they showed us. This trip was a testament to the power of amateur theatre—not just in entertaining audiences but in fostering connections across borders. BOS once again proved that music and theatre are universal languages, bringing people together regardless of nationality. Until next time, Hennef!

Ben Coleman