Latest news from CADS
September 2019 newsletter
(September 05, 2019)Keep calm and watch Flare Path!
Tickets are already starting to sell for our Autumn production, the classic wartime drama Flare Path by Terence Rattigan, which is the CADS contribution to this year's Royston Arts Festival. Performances are at 7.30 on Friday 20, Saturday 21, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September at the recently re-named King James Academy (formerly Meridian School) in Garden Walk, Royston.
You can book online by visiting our website and following the links to our partners Positickets or by ringing our Box Office hotline on 07925 674967. Note that seating for this show will be cabaret style with tables and chairs, so there will be no numbered seats. Note also that you don't need to have a Paypal account to book online - something that sometimes confuses people. You should find a link that allows you to pay by debit or credit card; if you experience any difficulties, do please ring the Box Office.
Our Front of House Manager, Zoe Reader, could still do with volunteers to help sell drinks and run the box office, so if you're free and would like to assist in return for free admission to the show, please contact us via the Contact page or by e-mailing [email protected].
The 51st Cambridge Festival of Drama opens tonight! It has a wonderful new venue - the ADC Theatre in Park Street, Cambridge - and this year runs from Thursday 5 September to Saturday 7 September with nine one-act plays being performed by local groups in front of a professional adjudicator over the course of the three days. Evening performances on all days start at 7.45 and there is an afternoon session on the Saturday at 2.30.
Tickets cost £10 per session or £30 for a season ticket that allows you to attend all four sessions. In addition, there are two free workshops - one on improvisation and one on writing for the stage - at 11 a.m. on Saturday, also at the ADC. The full programme can be found at https://www.camdramfest.org.uk
The timing of the festival this year has precluded CADS taking part (though our Chair, Emma Daintrey, is helping backstage) but it is hoped that when the festival returns to its usual April slot in 2020 we may be in a position to submit something for that year - indeed, there are plans afoot even as we speak, so watch this space for more information!
Pantomime latest
Auditions for the 2020 Royston Town Pantomime - Jack and the Beanstalk by Tom Whalley, to be directed by Nicky Paton with Louise Atkins as Musical Director - are taking place on Thursday 3 October at King James Academy (formerly Meridian School), with chorus members (aged 12+) auditioning between 7.00 and 7.45 p.m. and principals (aged 16+) between 7.45 and 9.00. Rehearsals are likely to start the following week and will almost certainly be on Mondays and Thursdays. Performances will be on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 January, and Friday 31 January and Saturday 1 February with the usual matinees on the two Saturdays and evening shows on all four dates.
We're currently looking for someone to help with production - that's all the logistical and organisational stuff associated with a show - so if you think you'd be interested, please get in touch. You don't need any particular experience, as there will always be plenty of people around to assist.
It's also never too early to express an interest in helping out, either backstage, or front of house, or with costumes and/or make-up. The annual panto is a huge team effort (and it's also great fun!), so we're always grateful for volunteers. If you'd like to get involved, please use our Contact page or by e-mailing [email protected]...
Talent wanted
Royston's own Limitless Academy of Performing Arts are currently looking for an actor to play Mr Brownlow in their forthcoming (October) production of Oliver! (Several CADS members have already been press-ganged into the show!) If you're male, of (ahem) a certain age, have a good singing voice and fancy taking part in what sounds - from those rehearsals we've heard - to be a brilliant production, please contact the Academy directly on 0330 124 6868 or e-mail [email protected]
Evening meetings
As previously announced, CADS is reviving its programme of evening meetings, starting this Autumn. These will be at roughly six-weekly intervals and each will be hosted by a different person. They'll be taking place at the Coombes Community Centre in Royston and will run from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. Our first three meetings have already been planned and are:
- Wednesday 16 October - play reading: "My left nut", hosted by Emma Daintrey
- Wednesday 27 November - workshop: "The Meisner technique for actors", hosted by Martin Maynard
- Wednesday 8 January - illustrated talk: "Theatre on film", hosted by Michael Young
There's no need to book for any of these meetings - just turn up on the night - and they're completely FREE! If you're lucky, we might even manage to provide some refreshments...
Committee
Our next meeting is on 15 October so if there's anything you'd like us to consider or discuss, please feel free to contact any of us at any time via our Contact page!