Bridge House Theatre SE20 to Present IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE Radio Play, 9 December - 4 January

South London's newest fringe theatre, Bridge House Theatre SE20, will be officially launched with the UK premiere of the Christmas classic It's A Wonderful Life, performed as a live radio play in front of a studio audience.

Directed by Bridge House Theatre SE20's Artistic Director, Guy Retallack, It's A Wonderful Life will run from 9 December - 4 January.

Press night is Thursday 11 December at 7.30pm

It's A Wonderful Life, by Tony Palermo, is a loving tribute to the golden era of radio but also beautifully captures the eternal comedy of Frank Capra's iconic Hollywood feature film. It's the story of a dreamer, the idealistic George Bailey from a small American town, Bedford Falls, just after the Great Depression of the 1930s. Standing alone on a bridge on Christmas Eve, George has decided with all his dreams of escape and adventure quashed by his love of family and civic duty, that everyone would be better off without him... or would they? It falls to a guardian angel, Clarence, to try and save him, showing him what the world could have been like without him and how after all it has been a wonderful life... Not only does the triumph of humanity come effortlessly across through this amazing story, but the unique setting of the recording of a radio play in the 1940s, adds another layer of drama to this immortal classic.

Cast and creatives to be announced.

It's A Wonderful Life is produced by Bridge House Theatre Productions.

Bridge House Theatre SE20, at Bridge House, 2 High Street, Penge, London, SE20 8RZ, has joint artistic directors in Retallack and his actress wife, Rachel Tucker, who is currently starring on Broadway in the world premiere of Sting's The Last Ship. The theatre's manager and lead producer is Rob Harris.

It will run in rep from 12 - 21 December with a specially written panto - The Uglies Take Penge, a new take on the traditional panto dame. Annie and Fannie are heading to the Palace to meet their new sister Cinderella for the very first time - however en route they lose their way and end up in deepest, darkest south east London...Can you help Annie and Fannie reunite with their sister Cinderella? Oh yes you can! The Uglies Take Penge is supported by original music (ranging from

'torchsongs' to disco), an acid-witted script full of cheeky double-entendres, stunning costumes, and fabulous big hair! And in the best pantomime tradition, this show is for kids and adults alike, it's very much for the child in us all! The show garnered great reviews in Edinburgh, including an elusive 5 stars from The Scotsman.

Bridge House Theatre SE20, at Bridge House, 2 High Street, Penge, London, SE20 8RZ, has joint artistic directors in Retallack and his actress wife, Rachel Tucker, who is currently starring on Broadway in the world premiere of Sting's The Last Ship. The theatre's manager and lead producer is Rob Harris.

Local residents, Retallack and Tucker had been looking for a venue to create a theatre for Penge, Crystal Palace and the surrounding area for some time. A chance meeting with Bridge House pub owner Scott Blenkhorn and manager Sinon Kelly soon led to a commitment to create a theatre above the popular local hostelry. Cabaret nights, curated and programmed by Rachel, and comedy evenings, programmed by Laura Checkley, have already been hugely enthusiastically received by locals.

Guy says: "I knew the moment I walked into Bridge House, that this was the 'home' we'd been looking for; as soon as we went upstairs the whole atmosphere of this Victorian function room was so incredibly theatrical!" Rachel adds: "I don't think Guy and I could quite believe the original and beautiful space that was sitting waiting to happen. We are so excited about what this space has to offer the community of Penge and Crystal Palace. Not only is there no other professional theatre in or around the area, but we will be able to generate and create work and jobs for actors and directors in our part of south east London. We expect and want people to come from not just the local area, but from all over London!"

Guy Retallack and Rob Harris first worked together on the London premiere of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff, a critically and commercially a huge success nominated for 7 offies and the What's On Stage Award for Best Off West End Production, their creative partnership has created two further shows, The Last Session by Steve Schalin and Jim Brochu, and a second production of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival which was awarded a prestigious Bobby Award for Best Production in 2014.

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