[All photos © RondoTheatreCompany]
Every year, The Rondo Theatre – based at Larkhall in Bath – chooses a local charity to benefit from a fund-raising production.
This June, the company presents Bullshot Crummond, a gloriously silly parody of 1930s adventure stories, all in aid of Man Down. – a Wiltshire-based charity which provides peer support groups and raises awareness around men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
Running from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th June 2026, this fast-paced comedy follows the dashing (and deeply ridiculous) hero Bullshot Crummond as he races to thwart the evil Otto Van Brunno and his beautiful but deadly accomplice Lenya, who have kidnapped a Professor for their own nefarious ends. What follows is a whirlwind of outrageous antics, quick-fire costume changes and theatrical mayhem
A loving send-up of stiff-upper-lip heroics, the production leans into the exaggerated tropes of a bygone era, think Indiana Jones meets The 39 Steps with a dash of Blackadder. Audiences can expect car chases, sword fights, swooning heroines, hapless henchmen and deliciously over-the-top villains, all delivered at breakneck speed and firmly tongue-in-cheek.
Bullshot Crummond began life as a stage comedy in the 1970s before being adapted into the 1983 cult film Bullshot. A loving parody of early pulp-fiction heroes, it has built a loyal following for its gleeful satire of classic British adventure stories.
But beneath the farce, the choice of charity brings a more thoughtful edge. By pairing this parody of hyper-masculine heroics with support for Man Down (a Wiltshire-based charity dedicated to improving men’s mental health through peer support and community) the production gently pokes fun at outdated ideas of masculinity while supporting vital, real-world conversations.
“We wanted to do something that was pure fun, a real escape, this is what the world needs right now” says director Charlotte Howard. “Bullshot Crummond is completely ridiculous, and that’s exactly the point. But by linking it with Man Down, we’re also acknowledging that some of those old ideas about what it means to ‘be a man’ still linger. If we can make people laugh and support a brilliant cause at the same time, we hope that feels like a good balance.”
Audiences are actively encouraged to join in the spirit of the show, with dressing up very much part of the experience. Whether it’s 1930s glamour, daring adventurers or dastardly villains, the more flamboyant the better.
This is The Rondo Theatre Company’s annual charity production, known for its lively, inventive shows and strong local support.
Listings Information
Venue: Rondo Theatre
Dates: Wednesday 17th June – Saturday 20th June 2026 7:30pm
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours
Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.com/rondotheatre/bullshot-crummond/e-loqmyj
Tickets: £13/ £15 (booking fees apply)
Audience: Dressing up encouraged
