It's been a while...

Hi everyone (or if I'm right and no-one else reads this, hello mum!)

I realise I've not written as much as I probably should have over the last few weeks, but I've been directing Codsall Dramatic Society's production, "Puss In Boots"! We've had really good reviews, and fantastic audiences, and I would just like to say thank you to all the cast and crew who gave their time and their efforts have resulted in a fantastic production! They can all be very proud of what they achieved.

But now that's done, I can bring you more funny insights into amateur theatre from the ground level. I hope to get a part in "West Moon Street", Codsall Dramatic Society's next outing, opening March 12th.

For more info, check out our website, here, Codsall Dramatic Society co uk or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. More info coming soon!

Directing A Play: 6 Things You May Have Forgotten

Holidays are great...

Hi Amateur Theatre fans (though I'm still not 100% sure anyone else reads this, so if I'm right, Hello Mum)!

I'm sorry it has been a while since I last spoke to you all, but I have just come back from Holiday, in CYPRUS!!!! (for the place I stayed, please see Blue Serenity Cyprus).

But now I have returned, and am in the middle of the biggest undertaking of my amateur theatre career. Directing my own play!

I know, they let this guy direct a play...

I have directed smaller things in the past, even been involved in writing a few pieces, but this is the first time I've been given the chance to go at a full play myself.

The play in question is Codsall Dramatic Society's Puss In Boots (tickets on sale now). It has been a challenge, but one I have relished in many ways.

Yet there have been a number of moments that have surprised me, and I thought I would share those with you today. So here, for anyone interested in directing amateur theatre, is my list of things you may not have thought about...

1. Casting Plays is a mine field

Ok, who killed the lead?

When I got to the audition phase of my production, I was excited, I was thrilled. I rushed up to the Hall, and set out the chairs, delighted to be having a go at directing. I stumbled on getting things up and running, but I managed to settle down into it.

And I discovered, that casting an amateur theatre production is fraught with difficulty. In the past, I have found it a fairly easy task. These were shorter pieces you understand. Here, however, was a full play, with character development, plot twists and many other maddening things I may not have been 100 prepared for. To get the cast balanced, even with the much valued support of my co-director, was not easy. And one mistake now may be irreparable. I had to get it right...

2. There's more to blocking a scene than telling people where to come in

Having successfully cast the play, blocking (getting the scene worked out) began in earnest the next rehearsal. I was clear in my mind about where people were going. I knew what the scene would look like, no problem. 

Yet had I considered that people who go off in a scene may need to come back on later? No, I hadn't. I thus becomes the labyrinthine task of moving my chess pieces around to get people in the right place, at the right time.

And even then, you have to ensure that there are many other things that go right. People need to know how to move through the scene to get off in the right place. I have been blessed with a group who take great care in how they move on set, and in that I was very lucky. Otherwise it might have given herding cats a whole new meaning (herding cats, Puss In Boots, genius).

3. Why am I doing this though?

Motivation is key to performers. Without it, you might as well get some talking robots to do it (still be better than some hollywood stars though). As an actor, your job in amateur theatre is to come up with your own. It's easy(ish). As a Director, you've got to understand every single characters motivation. This has been a challenge with this play, and its a Panto about a cat in boots, hardly the Merchant Of Venice.

Yet motivation is paramount, it shapes scenes. Every character has dialogue that relies on knowing why they are saying what they are saying. Without it, there's no life to the words. A good script (like the one we have) is only as good as those who deliver it. Again tough, my cast have helped immensely, bringing scenes to life, allowing me to explore the deeper motivations of why a lonely millers son should give a random talking Cat his boots...

4. You want me to wear what?

 Costume are fun. I love a good, daft costume. It makes things so much more fun. You get to see so much more than when you simply walk on in jeans and a t shirt. It adds so much more life to productions.

So what am I wearing? Erm....

I am very lucky to be in an amateur theatre group with such a wide variety of costumes available. Some small professional theatres could probably stage a show with what we've got. This adds a whole new dimension, it's less what don't we have, but how much we have. It is a very laborious task to go through costumes, but they can make or break a production, so it is vital to choose the right ones.

5. LET THERE BE LIGHT

I keep going on about how lucky I am to be in an amateur theatre group with such great resources. On top of having a great venue, Codsall Village Hall, we also have some very dedicated sound and lighting technicians.

They do however, need to be part of a discussion about things. They need to be given ideas. There has to be a meeting.

Organisation is key, so anyone who likes the idea of directing better have a good idea of how to sort themselves, because everyone will need to be a part of the discussion. Sound and Lighting is vital, and you need to have a clear picture of how you want that to go, or else you may be in the dark for a long time (honestly, I should do stand up...)

6. And finally your life..

Do you know the worst thing in amateur theatre? Life, work, children, they don't pause so you can just concentrate on directing. You have to go to work, you have to look after the kids, feed the cat (that's not a joke, we do have a cat, she's called Mittens). Amateur Theatre is something you do because your passionate, because you love it. 

At the end, I'm told it will be worth it. All I want to do is survive, and produce the best show I can!

Come and see Puss in Boots, at Codsall Village Hall, Thursdays and Fridays 28^th, 29^th November and 5^th, 6^th December at 7.30pm, Saturdays 30^th November and 7^th December at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are only £4.50; adults come at children’s price, ticket price includes a drink and biscuit for children during the interval. Free entry into our colouring competition for all children, with prizes! (Aimed at children aged 3-11) 

Tickets will be available soon from Knit & Stitch, The Square, Codsall. Alan Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge and Learning Ladder Toy Shop, Anders Square, Perton, or you can order online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk. For parties of 6 or more please telephone 07792784908 or order online.

Codsall Dramatic Society Presents Puss in Boots

I can never resist going on about my adventures in Amateur Theatre, so here's the next offering from Codsall Dramatic Society!

To celebrate the 40^th anniversary of our plays for Children we’re adding a new play to our repertoire Puss in Boots!

With the usual mixture of fun, interaction and laughter watch as a furry fairy with attitude helps a lowly Miller’s son meet the beautiful Princess and battle the evil ogre. Share in all their adventures and meet the bumbling twin sisters, the glamorous Fairy Godmother and the mysterious Baron. Come along to boo at the baddies, sing, dance and cheer on our hero. Let the magic unfold.

Performances at Codsall Village Hall on Thursdays and Fridays 28^th, 29^th November and 5^th, 6^th December at 7.30pm, Saturdays 30^th November and 7^th December at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are only £4.50; adults come at children’s price, ticket price includes a drink and biscuit for children during the interval. Free entry into our colouring competition for all children, with prizes! (Aimed at children aged 3-11)

Tickets will be available soon from Knit & Stitch, The Square, Codsall. Alan Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge and Learning Ladder Toy Shop, Anders Square, Perton, or you can order online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk. For parties of 6 or more please telephone 07792784908 or order online.

Challenging Your Pre-conceptions - Playing Someone You Hate in Amateur Theatre

Time...

I've taken time to reflect on last weeks post, and noticed it to be pretty aggressive. You see, it's hard to see the wood for the trees when you're so jaded from a particular part, as I was at the time...

Rest and Xbox, that's what I needed...

Having taken the time to pause and think about it, as much as I couldn't stand Mike as a character, I should be grateful for the opportunity. You see, as valid as the points I raised last time were, it's these sort of trials that make you a better actor.

I'd like to balance last weeks post this week with a new post about the benefits of playing this sort of character.

Improving your acting

As I said last week, playing characters like this is very challenging. You've got to work hard to get the motivations right, or the characters comes across as stock.

But surely this can only make you a better actor? Treat acting like a muscle, if you let it become stagnant, you'll never get better. If you constantly test it, stretch it, then you will get better at it. For all my complaining, this is the best way to improve as an actor. Testing yourself, pushing yourself to improve. it's how the best become the best. So instead of moaning, we should embrace this challenge and see it head on.

Being someone else

Lets face it, at the end of the day, acting is escapism. We act to be someone else. To imagine ourselves in someone elses shoes. And in order to do that we have to vary our characters. It can be very easy to become type cast, to be seen as the same person every time. So it's surely a benefit to play lots of different characters. To become someone else, to act in different ways to how you normally would, that is the natural. And this leads me nicely onto my last point...

It's fun!

How this point slipped past me the first time is beyond me, but here it is. I'll go slightly away from Mike here, to talk about one of my favourite characters, King Rat from Dick Whittington. 

This guy was an amoral, rude and aggressive schemer. Yet I had so much fun playing the character, doing things I would never do. 

Sitting back and seeing this, while Mike wasn't a lot of fun, he did often in "The Memory Of Water" sit back and wind the other characters up. Which now I look back on it, was kind of fun. His attitude to woman couldn't really be further from mine, but when you look at it from the point of view of comedy, there is a lot to recommend the part. It was fun to rile the other characters intentionally. Not something I try to do, but entertaining for the play.

Summing up

Amateur theatre is difficult at times. Playing challenging characters is one of the many challenges it throws up. Yet I can't deny it's fun. A lot of fun...

I'm off on holiday till 23rd October now. For more amateur theatre news, check out Codsall Dramatic Society on Facebook and Twitter, @CodsallDramSoc.

Playing Someone You Hate In Amateur Theatre

Sorry I've been away...

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Those of you who read this blog will know that I've been involved in Codsall Dramatic Society's latest production, "The Memory Of Water". 

Now this has been very draining, for reasons that I haven't made clear, because it would have been a bit of a spoiler. The reason it was more draining than usual is because I couldn't stand him!

Look at this guy! Eugh!

The character was that of Mike, a man who's been two timing his wife for the last 5 years.

I'll just let that sink in for a second. This man has been cheating on his wife for 5 years! With the same woman! But his wife's ill so thats ok. Wait, NO IT'S NOT! That's worse! I seriously could not stand this man. His every line had an agenda, it was sickening to even think the lines, never mind speak them!

Now, this is an inevitability. At some point, you will have to play a character that you don't like. That doesn't mean I have to like it! So I'm going to rage for a little bit on how much I hate playing characters like this. Then maybe next week when I've calmed down, I'll be able to see some silver lining on this thunder cloud...

Getting into their head

Managing to get into the head of someone you despise is very difficult. Now thankfully with Mike, he seemed to have some personality. It's just that it wasn't a personality I'd ever want to be associated with. He is aggressive when he doesn't get his own way, resolute in not budging an inch, and more and more throughout the play comes across as spineless. Now I'm not saying that he has no redeeming features, it's just that they were buried under layer after layer of issues. Getting into the mind of a character like this is grueling. It's nigh on impossible. No one would ever like to imagine themselves like this. Some characters are simple. Those that you don't like are among the hardest to play. It's physically and emotionally draining.

The Lingering After Effects

Mike as a character stuck with me. Challenging as he was, in order to make him believable, I had to bury myself in the character. I had no choice, there's only certain ways you can do this. This makes you hate even yourself. I looked in the mirror, and he looked back, with his smug, womanising grin. I couldn't stand it. So what did I do? I shaved. I got a hair cut, I vowed not to wear that suit jacket until the look of it no longer reminded him of me. That is the lasting effect. It makes you doubt yourself. By getting into the character, you start to associate yourself with him. Sure, in a few weeks, I might look like him again, but by then I hope I'll have moved on and forgotten. 

Grrrrrr...

I might have calmed down in a bit. I think maybe I'll go and have a drink, a hot bath, and maybe next week, I'll be able to come back to this in a different light.

Chris is an active member of Codsall Dramatic Society. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter, @CodsallDramSoc.

Opening Night!

Codsall Dramatic Society Presents The Memory Of Water

Hey readers, I'm not going to be telling you more funny and heartwarming tales from amateur theatre. Tonight my new play opens! I would love to see as many people there as possible, so if you can be there, come and see it, it promises to be a fun night!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Memory Of Water Tomorrow

Theatre Fans!

My amateur theatre group, Codsall Dramatic Society, will be presenting "The Memory Of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson tomorrow night, and all week. Come and see the show! Here's some pics to wet your appetite!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Amateur Theatre Home Straight! - Tech and Dress Weekend

And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain...

I have no intention of quoting all that song, but for Codsall Dramatic Society's next production, the end is indeed near, as we have reached the tech and dress weekend!

You have GOT to be kidding me?

There is no one in amateur theatre who will tell you this is easy. It isn't. It's a none stop slog, getting the set up, the lights up, the seats out, etc etc etc.

I've been noticing a theme with a lot of my blog posts (as you might have, if anyone actually reads these, if so let me know. I get so lonely...) that my opinion on amateur theatre seems to be long, hard slog followed by huge success. Which you might now expect me to do here, talk about the giddy high of performance!

Only excuse for this surely?

Now I am going to surprise you readers! Here is a tribute. To the people who can so often be forgot in favour of the ponces up on stage in amateur theatre...

Just a little more blush I think dear...

Tech, Lighting and back stage

Did you see that eye shadow...

I have a huge amount of respect for these people. They work so hard and they hardly get any credit. Sure those on the sound and lighting desk at the back are almost always thanked in a play. Yet there are so many more people, who turn up week in and week out, who don't get credit. They work tirelessly, so the cast can learn lines, make sure they're ready. 

So here's to you, those who make amateur theatre possible!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

The Darker Side Of Amateur Theatre!

Where there's muck, there's brass!

I'll introduce this with a little about myself. I'm northen. That to you either means I'm hard working, dedicated, salt of the earth. Or it means I moan a lot and can't pronounce a lot of words correctly. However, no matter what you think, I know when hard work is important. Nowhere more so than in amateur theatre!

Would you believe one garage could hold this much? Only in amateur theatre...

Codsall Dramatic Society members over a couple of Saturdays recently sorted out the costume store, basically a garage that the society uses to store all the costumes that have been used in the past to entertain, sadden and baffle audiences in our many amateur theatre productions (not to mention embarassing every member of cast we've ever had...)

Trust me this isn't even the worst one...

Yet out of these strange and indeed entertaining experiences, there is so much to be gained. No longer is the dragons head that was once used so magnificantly for that one play 10 years ago lost (though on reflection it could use some febreeze), returned are those somber army uniforms, that made many an old lady weep in our last great war epic and rest assured, no ugly sister will ever be without a costume again...

Trust me, this isn't even the worst thing we found...

Without this kind of effort, amateur theatre would never get off the ground, we'd be languishing in barren rooms, with no props (since when does orange juice even look like whiskey) and no costumes (we've still got clothes, steady on!) Amateur Theatre globally relies on people mucking in. So to all you people, I salute you!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Amateur Theatre And Learning Lines 2 - The Script Strikes Back

I left you all last time pondering the best way to learn lines. I'd looked at using a Dictaphone, getting to whole cast to record it, or even using Que cards. So what other ways are their to learn lines? Anyone in amateur theatre knows how important it is.

4.  Mind Mapping - Walking it through, Roman Style!

This suggestion made me think a lot. Amateur Theatre requires similar levels of professionalism to professional theatre (if it is to be successful). So employing such a technique, with proven scientific pedigree (yes I know wikipedia isn't THAT scientific) would make sense. It involves using spacial awareness to help you learn lines. Like, walking through a garden, and associating your lines with different points in the garden. By unlocking an otherwise unused part of the brain, more mental capacity is used.

It's great in theory. However, if my last paragraph hasn't given this away, I must admit I don't quite understand it. I saw the technique used on TV, and I still didn't understand it. It does seem to work, but in order to put it into practice in amateur theatre seems a little extreme. By all means, try it, but I think there must be a simpler way.

5. Little by Little

This is another tried and tested method, practically written in the bible of amateur theatre. Learn your lines just a little bit at a time. Do a scene, part of a scene, or even a page, make sure you get it right, then move on to your next objective. Perfect, you learn the lines, and you will have confidence on opening night right?

It is  a well thought out idea. Yet I know many in amateur theatre will be thinking, "How long can this take?" There's the problem. Time is a problem people in amateur theatre are all too aware of. If you have a big part, learning lines in this way may leave you rushing to the end. The ending of the play being the bit people will remember. It's a worthwhile technique, but do require a time commitment that not everyone can give.

6. During Rehearsals

I must admit that this is the method I usually use to learn my lines. I find that lines flow more organically within the setting that is the stage. I worry before any amateur theatre production because the lines aren't always readily there. Yet when i get on stage, I find it easier, because I'm in the situation those lines were meant for. Maybe its to do with spacial awareness again (those Romans might be cleverer than I thought...)

However, it's risky. If you aren't sure going on, how can you be sure it will be alright on the night? How do you know you will remember them? There are hundreds of words to learn, if you paraphrase even one, how much could you throw your fellow cast members? I've dried on stage before. Could this be half the problem? Do I leave my lines too late?

.....Does It Really Matter?

The final sticking point. In amateur theatre, how dangerous is dropping the odd line? Answer? Not a lot. You and your fellow cast members have been doing these scenes time and time again. With a strong cast round you, you can get away with it. When I've dropped lines in the past, I've asked people I knew in the audience and they never notice. So enjoy the thrill of amateur theatre. Learn your lines, but above all, enjoy it!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

Learning lines - how do you do it...(part 1)

As the play has progressed, the realisation has dawned on many of the cast. We now have to learn outlines!

This always attracts debate. What's the best way to learn lines? In amateur theatre, this is a whole other predicament compared to professional theatre. In general, professional actors have all the time to learn their lines. That is their job. In amateur theatre however, people have jobs which tend to take up most of their time (pesky things). So how do people in amateur theatre learn lines?

Whats my line again?

 In order to get to the bottom of this problem, I questioned members of Codsall Dramatic Society. They all had their prefered ways (as we all do) so here is the first half of a two part blog (oh look at me being all professional) with Top Tips from CDS Members when it comes to learning lines in amateur theatre.

1. A Dictaphone

A tried and tested method, get yourself a trusty dictaphone, and say your lines into it. Then amuse yourself for hours replaying key scenes, trying to get those lines exactly right. This method definetly has a number of pros going for it. The main one being, once the lines are recorded, you can listen to them in the car, while at work, walk the dog and practice your lines. How much more perfect could it get?

As with any method, this does have it's drawbacks. I find listening to dialogue very distracting, more so when you're actually trying to learn some of the dialogue! How can you drive a car while trying to remember what was said two minutes ago. I realise that part of this is about just listening to the scene and engrosing yourself in the character, but that comes to a bigger sticking point. You're not just recording your own part. You need to read ALL the parts. Which can reach particular levels of hilarity when it comes to actually men reading in for women and vice versa. 

A good start, can we improve on this. Well, how about the next solution...

2. A Whole Cast Recording

Ah now surely this is ideal for amateur theatre fanatics everywhere! Get the whole cast to sit down and record the script together. Everyone gets the benefit, and you get the whole play to listen to, with everyone reading the right parts! No men reading in for women (unless it's that sort of play, am I right fellas?) and no hilarity of trying to tell who's voice you're immitating this time!

In theory yes this sounds like a great idea! However, the CDS member who remembers using this technique did point out that they did this with a close knitt cast of 3. Which is fine, but most productions have an average cast of about 5, usually more, and it's hard enough getting rehersals on with the whole cast, never mind recording the whole play! You could argue this could be done during the first read through, but people make mistakes in early read throughs, so this isn't ideal. Another great suggestion, but not perfect. We need to dig deeper, maybe get away from recording...

3. Que cards

An old technique from my school days, when you need to learn chunks of information really fast. They're easy to set up (usually) and can be a very effective way of learning your lines. A tried and tested method, so surely it's one of the best?

You'd think that, but no. Que cards are good for short, snappy snippets of information. Like, whats the capital of Botswana (Gaborone in case you were wondering). Scripts aren't short pieces of information. I have it on good authority that they are usually ten pages, maybe more! So sure, que cards could be helpful for speaches, or those little sticking points, but for learning a whol script, there may be better ways.

Till next time...

Like all good writers (and all bad ones) I will leave it there. Maybe next week, I will be able to get to the bottom of finding the best way for people in amateur theatre to learn lines!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

Writing The Script In Amateur Theatre

You want to put what in the play?

During the current production, thoughts are already turning to the next production (in amateur theatre, you've always got to think one, probably 2 plays ahead!).

It was actually quite warm in that costume!

Our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall will be one that is always highly enjoyable, and warmly recieved, our Children's Play. Yes, bright colours, crazy costumes and slap stick comedy that once every 12 months we come back round to and make fools of ourselves doing, all for the enjoyment of normally packed houses of children and adults alike. Last year was another successful year with Snow White being staged, but in the past, Dick Whittington, Robin Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Jack & The Beanstalk, Aladdin and many more wonderful productions have been staged.

Right, who killed a member of the cast again?

  While not revealing what the next production is, we haven't performed this for some time (I was only just born the last time it was staged) so the script feels a bit rusty. So we need a rewrite!

That however does bring new amateur theatre challenges. How do you balance it? There are hundreds of things to consider, not least the available cast. No point writing a script for 6 men and 3 women if you've only got 2 men and a Chihuahua. And think about the audience. Macbeth is a phenomenal play, but isn't going to be suitable to 5 year olds.

Writing a script is a challenge I have never been able to master. Thankfully, there are far more talented people than me in the society. I look forward to reading the fruits of their labour. Because no matter what, its going to be a scream!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

My Amateur Theatre matters

Recently, I found this webpage coming out in support of theatre:

http://www.mytheatrematters.com

I could not be more in support of this campaign. When I arrived in my current home, I knew no one. I needed to make friends. How did I do that? I joined my local amateur theatre company, Codsall Dramatic Society.

Now? I have new friends, and a real sense of purpose. That is where amateur theatre is so important! Its about more than just people on stage and fancy costumes. It's about that sense of community! My name is Chris Fairhurst, and My Theatre Matters!


Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

Amateur Theatre In Action! - Getting it on it's feet!

There's nothing quite like starting...

So cold...

In amateur theatre, the process is very simple:

1. You read the script
2. You cast it
3. You read it with the cast
4. You get it on its feet

In Codsall Dramatic Society's latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, we've started to get the show on its feet. And even though we've got some tables as a bed, a water bottle pulling double duty as a whiskey bottle and a phone(?!?), you can start to see how the production will shape up.

You see, for me, in amateur theatre and when reading plays in general, a script is a tabula rasa. There is no identity in the words themselves. Sure, there are stage directions, and a lot of scripts these days come with a set layout from the production its based on, that can bear no resemblance to the finished product.

In amateur theatre as in all theatre, the director calls the shots.

A finished amateur theatre production is the culmination of the vision of the director. But while it's not always possible due to time restraints, there's a wonderful feeling of collaboration. The cast in this amateur theatre production feel confident in suggesting things, and discussing the finer points with the director.

That is another of the wonderful things about amateur theatre. While at the end of the day, it is the directors choice, the odd suggestion from the cast is welcome. It will often meet with "lets try it" during the formative weeks of the production. But once all is blocked, there can be no more compromise. Already over a third of the way through the play, this amateur theatre production is gathering pace...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson

Hey All, the next amateur theatre production I'm in, "The Memory Of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson, has started selling tickets! Exciting, I know. Here's a link to the official blog post:

http://codsalldramaticsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/tickets-for-memory-of-water-by-shelagh.html

Hope to see lots of people there!

Supporting Amateur Theatre (or what happened to my weekend?)

Getting an amateur theatre production up and running is not easy. Normally it needs a huge amount of hard work and time. This all depends on the scale of the production. Take the last amateur theatre production I was involved in, Codsall Dramatic Society's Bring Me Sunshine, an evening of sketches in association with Codsall Singers.

This was done very simply, with seats around the outside, and all the action taking place in the centre of the room. This did not take a long time to set up, as staging goes. However, the amateur theatre production before that was The Titfield Thunderbolt...

 This involved a great deal more work, including the building of a train station, and a train(ish). This was an ambitious amateur theatre project, but it was also a highly successful one. Codsall Dramatic Society has gained a bit of a reputation in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton for set building, be it a train, a boat even for Way Up Stream, no challenge appears to be beyond this amateur theatre group. So, what can you expect from our next production? Why not join us and find out...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall. 

Memory Of Water - Rehersals Begin in Earnest

You're getting me out of bed for this?

Rehearsals began in earnest last week for Codsall Dramatic Societies exciting new play, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson. Amateur Theatre presents many interesting challenges, not least of all being getting yourself into character at the drop of a hat, turning it on and off like a tap.

I still don't know why I'm getting up...

There are many ways that people can do this. Some, simply sit quietly to themselves, have a brief moment before heading out onto the stage. Others will go for the method acting approach (not always that easy in amateur theatre), where they act like their character constantly (Daniel Day Lewis is an example of a Hollywood performer famous for this). However, in amateur theatre the same time can't be spent on developing a character as in professional theatre. Amateur theatre relies heavily on performers giving up their spare time to learn their lines to and from work, giving up their evenings and putting 110% into a project, making it one of the most demanding undertakings anyone can go for. But it is also the most rewarding.

Some even learn their lines during rehearsal...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall. 

Codsall Dramatic Society Presents The Memory of Water By Shelagh Stephenson

Codsall Dramatic Society

Presents

The Memory of Water

By Shelagh Stephenson

A strange title but an amazing and funny play, winner of the 2000 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy.  Three sisters are brought together after the death of their Mother to sort through her possessions, prepare for her funeral and to share their childhood memories, but their memories aren’t exactly the same or as happy as their mother might have thought.

Join Codsall Dramatic Society (NODA Award winners for Best Production 2012) for a provocative yet comical evening as we return to the work of Shelagh Stephenson, whose play Experiment with an Air Pump we performed in 2009.  Once again Stephenson captures a moment of high drama and injects it with a dose of comedy and wild abandonment. As the daughters get intoxicated with drugs and booze so the bickering grows and middle daughter Mary can’t stop dreaming of her mother Vi at her age, a vision in green Taffeta.  How will they all cope with the hangover the next morning and the secrets unearthed the night before?

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge, call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Putting On A Show - Amateur Dramatics Can Be Stressful...

Amateur Dramatics is a stressful business. There can be no denying that. Anyone who has even come within a sniff of acting in/directing/producing/helping/selling tickets/making the tea in any amateur dramatics production will tell you that it is not easy.

So much can (and invariably does) go wrong. I'm not going to mention any specifics (but I'm sure you can all tell your own amateur dramatic horror stories!), but there seems to be something about it that causes all sorts of problems.

These can come at any time during an amateur dramatics production. A member of the cast might break a leg, the Director might lose their mind, the backstage manager might drink all the "pretend" gin for that pivotal scene. A piece of vital electrical equipment might short at the last minute, a passing ant might sneeze and knock the set over, or someone might lose that glass eye that was so vital to that parlor scene at the end of act one, necessitating a marble to be found at the last second.

And even if your amateur dramatics production makes it to opening night with all its parts still intact, that does not mean the Gods have smiled kindly on you this day. How do you know what the audience will think, how much whiskey has the dsm been drinking, and where are those que cards you spent days making, that you can't do without, you start to wonder why you even bothered..........

And then it's curtain up....

The lights are upon you.....

That first line, the joke upon which it all hangs.....

.....and the audience roars with laughter. You feel your spirit soar, Noel Coward himself couldn't do it better than you, Dench would be your understudy, Branagh is back stage making the half time drinks!

And you remember. You remember why you go through it. That feeling of achievement, that joy at the completion of the task. No matter what you've done, how you did it, you did it. And that's the joy of amateur dramatics. That sense of winning, against impossible odds. No one can ever take that away from you.

Want to get involved in amateur dramatics in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur dramatics production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall. 

Codsall Dramatic Society – Amateur Dramatics in Wolverhampton & Codsall

Codsall Dramatic Society is an award winning drama society, with a broad repertoire of plays in our history. From Ayckbourn to Shakespeare, Wilde to Lansley, to our annual children’s play, Codsall Dramatic Society can provide for any theatre goer.

Amateur dramatics in Wolverhampton has a long and proud tradition, and Codsall Dramatic Society has been a part of this tradition since our formation in 1949. We may be an amateur dramatics group, but Codsall Dramatic Society has always strived to provide a professional standard of plays, from acting on stage, to sound and lighting, and the set’s that have earned the society much acclaim; including a boat for Alan Ayckbourn’s Way Up Stream, to a full on(ish) steam engine in Philip Goulding’s The Titfield Thunderbolt.

The society meets on Wednesdays at Codsall Village Hall, so if you want to get involved in amateur dramatics in Wolverhampton, or want something new and exciting to do, come on down. We’re always on the lookout for new members, not just on stage, but off it too. So come and join us, you may discover a talent that you never knew you had…

At Codsall Dramatic Society, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to those people and groups who have supported us, not just as members, but as Patrons. Patrons support our society both financially, and by turning up to our productions. They get a ticket for every production, as well as free entry for our vastly popular patrons evening (supported this year by Codsall Singers). If you’re interested in becoming a Patron, please contact us via email (codsalldramaticsociety@gmail.com).