Doris Day (The Girl Next Door?)

5.30pm - Sunday 4th October

It’s 1975 and Doris has an hour before she gets ready to meet Barry. Barry, her new …. beau? boyfriend? She’s not sure yet and she’s certainly very wary this time. She is having a clear out. She’s been looking through her vast wardrobe and some of those old gowns from her Hollywood years will fetch a pretty price at auction; her dog charity needs all the funds it can get. She comes across an old photo album. Personal photos taken with her old Kodak. Terry, Mom, Les Brown, George, Marty. There are blanks where she ripped out those early photos of Al. Maybe she’ll forgive him and fix them back in. Maybe she’ll just throw them away. Water under the bridge. Que Sera Sera. Barry’s different though….isn’t he? 

Yes, Doris Day was good at everything… everything except picking husbands! Featuring some of Doris Day's biggest hits sung live, follow Doris's life from teen dancer to worldwide icon. Is she the girl next door or something more? 

A one hour, fifteen-minute roller coaster of song and Drama.

“An absolute triumph!”

Following a sell-out run last year, The Ministry of Entertainment return to their favourite small-scale touring venue, The Alma Tavern Theatre with their second show dedicated to a once world-famous singer, Doris Day. (The previous production of this type was Tony Staveacre’s The Very Thought of You about ‘20s crooner Al Bowlly.)

Twenty six years after their first production, Keep Smiling Through, The Ministry, as it is affectionately known in its hometown, Bristol, has toured theatres, arts centres and village halls in the Southwest. 600 shows and thirteen productions later, they are now back with their unique style in this high-energy mixture of the hopes, heartaches, husbands and songs from the era. Written by Bruce Fellows, Doris Day (The Girl Next Door?) features actress/singer Kate McNab, still with "the voice of a ship’s siren" (Guardian review from Up The Feeder, Down The Mouth) and joined this time by actor/writer/dramaturg Mike Akers who was last seen with The Ministry back in the days of Goodbye Mrs. Chips.

As with all The Ministry of Entertainment’s productions, expect to be entertained! Ever-popular, The Ministry usually sells out quickly so book early!

Approx running time: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval)
All tickets include a £1 admin charge

All purchases for show at the Alma now have a suggested donation to the theatre and inhouse company of £3.00

You can remove this donation by changing the amount to £0.00, but please do consider offering your generosity to help us continue to offer great theatre at affordable prices.

The Alma Theatre has been serving the community for 25 years and has never been the recipient of ACE or other funding and were unable to secure the Covid Arts Recovery Fund. We have been offering reduced rates, preferential box office splits and extended promo support to aid the recovery from the past year and a half. Your help will enable us to continue bringing fantastic stories to your local theatre. 50% of your donation will go to the Alma Theatre, and 50% to our inhouse company, Schoolhouse Productions.