News
1536 (Kings don’t kill their wives, right?) at the Ambassadors Theatre
30th May 2026
I think many theatre group members were reluctant to travel to the theatre in the West End in the middle of a blistering heatwave but we are a stoic bunch and were well rewarded for our efforts on this occasion. The Ambassadors Theatre is quite small and the intimate atmosphere ideally...
All Hands Garden Group visit to Gatton Park, Surrey by coach
29th May 2026
Luckily, it was the day after the hottest Bank Holiday May temperatures that we set off for the historic Gatton Park. We were welcomed with a hot drink and homemade cake in the magnificent Gatton Hall tea room before splitting into two groups for our guided tour of the grounds, starting with its...
Creative Writing Group
23rd May 2026
Please click here to read the latest offerings from the Creative Writing Group. ...
Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre Haymarket
20th May 2026
Several theatre group members attended the matinee performance of Phantom of the Opera and here are some comments below Wow! I cannot believe I have waited so long to see this show. It has everything - fantastic music, spectacular scenes, romance, heart break, danger and comedy. The...
LOWE visit to Whitechapel
18th May 2026
...
The Son (by Florian Zeller) at Bromley Little Theatre
9th May 2026
This was this month’s Saturday matinee trip for 40 theatre group members. With such a deep pool of talent to draw from it is no surprise that it was possible to find appropriate actors to play the lead parts in this highly emotional play about a deeply disturbed and depressed adolescent...
A Mirrored Monet the musical at Charing Cross Theatre
9th May 2026
A group of 16 from the theatre group went to the little theatre under the arches at Charing Cross on 6th May. It was a first visit here for many of the group. A new musical about the life of artist Claude Monet was being performed. It features two Monet’s. An older Monet in his 70s during...
How the Green Belt has supported and protected much of Bromley’s rich natural and building heritage
7th May 2026
One of our members, Peter Martin who is Vice Chair of Bromley Civic Society explained how the Green Belt has supported and protected much of Bromley’s rich natural and building heritage to date. This green girdle around London has made Bromley one of the greenest...
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...
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...
