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What are your favourite audition pieces?--West End Producer

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:02:40 GMT

An interesting article from a producer on their favourite audition pieces.

https://www.thestage.co.uk/dear-west-end-producer/dear-west-end-producer/what-are-your-favourite-audition-pieces

Dear West End Producer: ‘ What are the most famous theatrical superstitions?’

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 21:40:19 GMT

Superstitions have been around for nearly as long as Michael’s Balls. They help make the theatre world a place of magic and intrigue, and learning about these traditions is a fascinating business. So, let’s have a quick look at some of the most well-known superstitions:

No whistling on stage

If you whistle on stage you face the danger of something (or someone) falling on your head. This is because when theatre was originally invented (by Biggins), the people who built sets and worked backstage also worked on ships and in ports (hence the term ‘crew’). In fact, theatre is steeped in nautical terms – including ‘knots’ (backstage crew members love showing off their knot skills). When on a ship, crew would communicate by whistling and they would do the same on stage. So if you mistime your whistle you could be communicating with someone working in the fly floor and end up with a bit of scenery on your head (Whistle Down the Wind always has backstage complications).

Dress rehearsals

Another superstition is that you should always have a bad dress rehearsal, which hopefully means the opening night will be good. The idea is that the actors, crew and the technical team get so worried by the terrible dress run they up their game for the first night – hopefully making it a roaring success. However, this does not mean you should purposefully muck up the dress rehearsal, as this will result in the ripping up of your contract and your role being taken over by a member of the local amdram group.

Macbeth

The play Macbeth, so legend tells us, is cursed. And if you ever say it out loud in a theatre you will be shot glances of anger and disgust. Traditionally, if the name Macbeth is said it brings bad luck and means the show will not get a transfer (even to the Charing Cross Theatre). The reason for this curse is because the witches’ chants are supposedly actual spells Shakespeare copied from real witches (Shakespeare was the pioneer of verbatim theatre). If someone ever says ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre they are legally obliged to jump on the floor, do the splits, run around the building, slap the director, drink half a bottle of gin and defecate on the script.

Break a leg

People say “break a leg” so they don’t have to say “good luck” – as this is considered bad luck. The term refers to bowing, because when an actor bows they “break” the line of their leg (and often the lining of their pants).

Pantomimes

In a panto, it is considered bad luck if the whole show is performed without an audience – so usually the last few lines are not said until opening night. This is all well and good, but is also a bit of a bugger for those actors with bad memories. In which case they revert to their favourite audition speeches and the audience is treated to another half an hour of badly performed classical monologues.

Shared from The Stage:

https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/2018/dear-west-end-producer-famous-theatrical-superstitions/?utm_source=newsletter1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter1

Congratulations NCVO

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 03:21:23 GMT

The NCVO held yet another successful Telethon on Saturday October 21st at the Prospect Playhouse. The evening's tally was CI$ 137,000---Woohoo!!!

Thanks to all of our CDS volunteers who worked alongside the NCVO volunteers to make the evening special!

Our young members!

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:53:02 GMT

We are proud to announce that our member, Maddy Bowyer appeared at the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in "Seven Devils" to rave reviews. "An exciting hour of drama and mystery...performed by some talented young actors" - Broadway Baby. Our congratulations go out to Maddy and her group and thanks to Sophie Gough for sending in the photo!

Richard de Lacy

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 02:24:45 GMT

It is with great sadness that we have learned our fellow thespian and musician by night and QC by day, Richard de Lacy passed away on Monday, July 24th. Richard was a big supporter of CDS, joining after attending the very first "Cocktails and Cabaret" show in 2012. Richard became active when he played with Chuck and Barrie as part of the orchestra for "Jekyll and Hyde" and again for "Rent". He joined the cast of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 2016 as Jacob and the memorable Potiphar. He again joined the cast of "Yes Minister" as Sir Arnold and the french ambassador.

Richard contributed this for his bio in "Yes Minister":

"Richard’s stage career ranges from "Chips with Everthing "by Wesker (Hull 1969) to "Turandot "by Puccini and "Macbeth" by Verdi (Orange, France 1979 and 1981). Thereafter he devoted himself to becoming a better barrister. This cactus was recently caused to reflower by Cayman Drama Society (Jekyll & Hyde, Rent, Joseph). He is delighted to have been invited to play himself as the Cabinet Secretary. "

He will be greatly missed by not only the CDS family, but also by the Cayman National Orchestra where he was an active member. Besides a thriving law practice, Richard was also the Deputy Chair of the Conditional Release Board among other roles where he contributed his time and immense expertise.

Curtain Call bar changes

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 16:33:46 GMT

For reasons of Planning (permits are going to be required and it is better to get permission for all of the things we want to do) the existing bar was refurbished to give volunteer bar staff a more effective environment to look after the public.

The results of the two-week upgrade exercise look good and have been positively received by both our bar volunteers and our patrons.

Congratulations to Beverly and Andrew for getting this done.

Auditorium upgrade

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 16:27:09 GMT

As many of you will now have experienced, the auditorium was significantly upgraded during the summer break.

All rows of seating are now on their own levels except for the first two rows where the stage view is upwards.
Seat width was increased from 18" to 21" and the chairs are now linked so that the auditorium is more safe.
Curtains were added to the walls to create a better environment for events involving music, and especially live music.
The access stairs to the stage were moved stage-left.

Please let us have your feedback on these changes.