Meetings

 

As well as putting on productions, CADS runs a series of more-or-less regular meetings related to drama in all its aspects. Often these take the form of play readings but we've also had talks by visiting speakers, a film show, several quizzes and a number of excellent mini-workshops.

Past meetings have included an exciting series of acting workshops focusing on duologues hosted by former professional actor Martin Maynard, a hugely entertaining account of "Life After CADS" by former CADS regular and now professional actor Kim Ensor, an introduction to the technical aspects of the theatre, and a read-through of two of the plays we recorded for Royston Radio (alas, currently dormant). 

We've also recently revived our semi-regular play readings, which are open to absolutely anyone and take the form of a round-the-room reading, so that everybody who turns up gets a chance to read at least one part during the evening. Sometimes these lead to productions but the idea is to introduce members and others to plays they might not otherwise have read or seen.

Our next such reading is at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 14 April in the Walmsley Room at The Old Schoolhouse. Michael Young will be introducing two one-act comedies with Shakespearean connections which he hopes will be the basis of the CADS entry in this year's Royston Arts Festival. Ruby of Elsinore by Bruce Kane sees the eponymous court hairdresser cutting the hair of (and exchanging banter with) Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius, Hamlet and even the ghost, while To be or not to bother - a brand new play by David Tristram - has the members of the Little Grimley Drama Society attempting to put on an evening of iconic scenes from the Bard with minimal resources and even fewer actors. (It's hoped that one of these might also end up being the CADS entry in this year's Cambridge Festival of Drama and opinions may be sought on the night of the reading about which of the two plays members think might be a better choice for Cambridge.)

 

On Tuesday 13 May last year, Kathy Young introduced a read-through of the hilarious Bleak Expectations by Mark Evans, which we're now hoping to stage in late Spring, with Kathy Young and David Atkins co-directing. Watch this space and/or our newsletter and/or social media for details of auditions and performance dates!

On Tuesday 8 July, Michael Young presented a reading of Night and Day by Tom Stoppard. Set in a fictional and war-torn African nation, this focuses on a diverse group of journalists, all keen to get an interview with the President and/or the leader of the faction trying to overthrow him. In the process, it has much to say about press freedom, journalistic ethics, exploitation and corruption as well as having a sub-plot that revolves around marital infidelity. 

On Tuesday 21 October, Kathy Young lead a read-through of the first act of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. This much loved (and twice filmed) comedy of manners tells the story of a sceptical playwright who jokingly organises a seance hoping to get material for a new script, only for the medium he hires to conjure up the ghost of his dead - but extremely lively - first wife.

And then on Monday 23 February this year in the Walmsley Room at the Old Schoolhouse, Michael Young led a reading of Prism by Terry Johnson. This is a reimagining of the later years of eminent cinematographer Jack Cardiff and touches - sometimes poignantly, sometimes amusingly - on issues such as memory, vision, fidelity, celebrity and love.

With all our evening meetings, there's no need to book - just turn up on the night! It's completely FREE, and open to absolutely anyone, whether or not you've been involved with CADS in the past. 

Our meetings take place at various locations in Royston, including the Coombes Community Centre, The Old Schoolhouse on Market Hill, and Icknield Walk First School. They usually start at 7.00 p.m. and last until about 9.00 p.m. (with maybe a break for refreshments, depending on the nature of the evening) but on occasion may go on slightly longer. 

If you have an idea for any future meetings, or would like to lead a session yourself, please contact the CADS Secretary....

 Watch this site and/or our newsletter and/or our Facebook page for details of future meetings!