Latest news from CADS
January 2021 newsletter
(January 06, 2021)Making a drama out of a lockdown
As part of our continued efforts to provide drama, fun and excitement in lockdown, and using the magic of Zoom, we're planning to perform a virtual rehearsed reading of The Staycation, a one-act comedy written by Claire Hogan. A rehearsed reading is a blend of reading and performance and involves, as you might imagine, a degree of rehearsal (with props!). The play will be directed by Emma Daintrey, who helped Claire co-direct a similar successful venture with the Settlement Players in December.
There are 2 male and 2 female roles, plus a very small cameo; the running time is approximately 45 minutes; and the plot is as follows:
Wendy and Rob couldn’t afford a honeymoon when they got married and have decided to push the boat out to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. It feels like déjà vu, however, as their dream holiday of a Caribbean cruise is snatched away due to coronavirus. Their holiday time booked, they are faced with two weeks at home. All is not well as we join them at the start of their staycation. Despite Wendy’s attempts to spice things up by recreating a Caribbean experience at home, it would seem that no amount of Amazon deliveries can lift the mood. However, when an irate Rob goes to answer the door, it is not a package he finds on the doorstep but Portia and Marcus, suitcases in tow and ready for their weekend away.
Not only did Rob not tell Wendy that he had put their house on Airbnb for a bit of holiday money, but when things changed, he forgot to cancel the booking. Portia and Marcus are tired, bemused and have no intention of leaving. With apparently little in common, they look to make the best of a bad situation. As the evening progresses, we are left wondering if this will turn into Wish you were here or Holidays from Hell?
If you would like to be considered for the cast please e-mail [email protected] before 13 January. Casting will be at the director’s discretion. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays between 7.30 and 9 p.m. with the first Zoom read-through on 19 January. Four rehearsals are scheduled for 26 January, 2 February, 9 February and 16 February with a technical/dress rehearsal on 23 February and two live performances to an invited audience on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 February.
If you have any questions please e-mail as above, or call Emma on 07811 160814. Together we can ensure that the show will go on!
Quizzy Wednesday
Before that, though, there's another chance to show off your knowledge at the latest of our online quizzes. This one has been put together by Michael Young and Pauline Rowe and is all about the movies, with picture rounds, cryptic clues and general knowledge questions. It takes place at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 17 February via Zoom (of course) and if you'd like to take part, you'll need to e-mail [email protected], preferably before 13 February so that we can send you the relevant link and password.
Previous quizzes have been a great success, and despite Michael's reputation for obscure films, the organisers promise that the emphasis will definitely be on mainstream movies!
It's Caddy time!
Well, it's been a funny old year and a frustrating one for the group in as much as we've been unable to do what we most love and perform live. However, as you know, that doesn't mean that drama in one form or another hasn't happened during lockdown - we had the panto at the start of the year, of course; we very nearly had what we think would have been an award-winning one-act play (and a world premiere) with Strangers on a Film; and we've tried to entertain you all with play readings, quizzes and guest speakers; plus we put on two CADaret! shows online during 2020. So we plan to go ahead and award at least one of our customary drama awards (or "Caddies" as we like to think of them).
We've decided that it would be difficult to award the Lizzie Houghton youth award this year, but we are going to present the Fred Sillence award in recognition of someone who has made a significant contribution to drama during this challenging time. If you'd like to nominate someone to receive this award, please e-mail [email protected] before 13 January, giving your own name, the name of the person you'd like to nominate, and a sentence or two saying why you think they should receive the award.
We'll be announcing the winner in our next newsletter and on the website at the beginning of next month.
Window dressing
Creative Royston - the people behind the Arts Festival - have recently announced that they are planning, if possible, to go ahead with the Festival in 2021 (the theme this year will be - appropriately enough - "Renewal"), but in the interim they've organised a "Window Walk", aimed principally at families and inspired by the Pumpkin Parade at Hallowe'en and the earlier Teddy Bear Walk.
The idea is for local residents to put up displays in their windows which can include absolutely anything you can think of that's family friendly. You could use tissue paper, fairy lights, disco lights, candles (if supervised), even Christmas decorations, or perhaps create some shadow puppets and put on a performance - anything at all that can be viewed from outside.
You can find some ideas on the the Pumpkin Parade Facebook page, on the Window Wanderland website or, for shadow puppet ideas, on YouTube. We think this would be a brilliant opportunity for CADS members to be creative, while reminding people that we're still out there and doing our best to keep drama alive in Royston
The organisers are proposing Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 February as the dates on which Window Walks would take place and recommend between 4.30 and 8.30 p.m. as optimal times for viewing, but of course you can create your display earlier if you wish. They'll create a street map showing all the registered displays so that people can organise their own Window Walk around Royston and possibly neighbouring villages if they get sufficient numbers.
To register your window display, you just need to fill in a simple form (which doesn't even require your name). Creative Royston will then allocate your display a number and provide a template poster for you to use if you wish. Just click HERE to register.
If you have any questions please check their FAQs first and if that doesn't help please email [email protected].
Evening meetings
Our semi-regular online evening meetings continue (see above, plus we hope soon to hold a play reading of some of Claire Hogan's short sketches) but we could really do with some suggestions about what you'd like to see at future events. More play readings? More quizzes? Guest speakers? If you have any ideas - or if you'd like to host a meeting yourself - , please contact [email protected]. Our meetings are open to all, are completely FREE, and are generally a good old laugh!
Committee
Our next (online) meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 3 March; if there's anything you'd like us to consider or discuss, please feel free to contact any of us at any time via the Contact page of this website!