Auditions & performance opportunities
We are aware that some casting websites and agencies, copy our casting calls out to their clients. That is absolutely fine, but please ensure that all relevant information (dates, locations, rehearsals, profit share, etc) are also shared and not altered.
Our castings as laid out in this website section, are the correct official version. If you have questions, that are not answered here, please email us.
These are professional castings as stated below. We do not charge anyone to audition or get involved with us, we are strictly against "pay to play!"
Our castings as laid out in this website section, are the correct official version. If you have questions, that are not answered here, please email us.
These are professional castings as stated below. We do not charge anyone to audition or get involved with us, we are strictly against "pay to play!"
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(When attending an audition please bring comfortable clothes, a pen, your diary, a comprehensive list of dates that you are not available for rehearsal or performing, and your completed audition form.)
We do not charge membership or audition fees, and there are no hidden costs to get involved with us. We do however operate with a strict system of performers contracts. |
This production company has signed up to the Protecting Actors Fringe Charter, helping to ensure all cast and crew involved operate under safe and fair working conditions.
Protecting Actors : SHIELD:16702
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The Great Gale of Brixham 1866
Casting all roles for this researched historical production.
These roles cover speaking characters (no extras) aged 10 - 70, playing for the most part real people and telling their stories through this storm. People of all backgrounds very welcome. Auditions are on Sunday Sept 15th 2019, at Chestnut Community centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon TQ5 0SA. Please arrive to begin at 1pm. (doors open from 12). REHEARSALS Rehearsal dates: Wednesday evenings 7pm - 9.30pm, Sundays 12.30pm - 5pm, at Chestnut Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0SA, the same as the auditions. For this reason, priority will be given to performers who live in the South Devon region. Please note that you will be expected to attend regular rehearsals SHOWS Brixham Theatre - Dec 13th (evening), Dec 14th (matinee & evening) The Watermark, Ivybridge Jan 18th (evening) We may also book another one or two dates within this range. ABOUT THE HISTORY (From our history booklet - more information can be found on our site at https://www.southdevonplayers.com/brixhamblog/the-great-gale-of-brixham-1866) On the night of January 10 – 11th 1866, a southeast gale blew up, and the storm is widely remembered in Brixham to this day. Much of the towns fishing fleet, as well as other ships sheltering in Torbay were destroyed, with a large loss of life. The fishwives of Brixham built a bonfire of their household effects on the end of the breakwater (half the length of the current breakwater, although in the same location) to try to guide their husbands home safely, while the men on shore in the town did all they could to save people from the ships which were wrecked along the Brixham and Churston coastline, and all those saved, both locals, and those from other parts of Britain, and indeed mainland Europe, were shown great kindness by the residents of the town who in many cases offered them lodgings in their own homes, even as they waited for news of their own loved ones. It is said, however, that after the storm one could walk along the coastline from Brixham to Paignton, upon the wreckage of all the wrecked ships. Over a hundred bodies were identified, and records to this day also list many other unidentified seamen who were found torn apart by the fury of the storm and unidentifiable. A mass grave and memorial exists at St Marys Church in Brixham to this day. The full death toll from the storm will never be known – for example it was reported that two passenger steamers had been seen in Torbay, and some sailors, later rescued from the wreck of their own ship, reported that in the chaos of the night, in the bay, their ship had crashed into an unknown steamer which then sank, as far as they knew, with all hands. In the 19th century, at the time of this storm, Brixham was one of the foremost fishing ports in England, and it was due to this storm that the people of Exeter, the county capital, raised funds for Brixham to have her first RNLI lifeboat; named The City Of Exeter, and the town has always had a lifeboat since. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AUDITIONS: Castings will take the form of reading and characterising excerpts from the script. A casting pack will be available soon at https://www.southdevonplayers.com/auditions.html As with all our shows, all persons appearing as cast and crew for this production will be entitled to remuneration as - equal profit share (ticket-take less venue hire cost) - portfolio photos and video for portfolio use - copies of all press in which the character is featured - programme credit (and anything else we find that we are able to offer) More information on our audition process is to be found at https://www.southdevonplayers.com/auditions.html Some roles may be combined, or an actor take on more than one NOTES Due to previous incidents we need to state that 1) All cast will need to be able to attend regular rehearsals, and to be able to learn characterisation, lines and blocking. 2) Actors will be required to wear costumes 3) All people in the production are expected to adhere to socially acceptable behaviour at all times, and work as a member of a focussed team. 4) Performances are on an open-book equal-profit share basis. 5) We welcome performers of all backgrounds. |
What happens at our auditions:
Our auditions, unless otherwise stated in audition information, take the form of script readings in groups of auditionees, (scripts provided at audition), in front of a casting panel. If you are auditioning for a specific task such as a singing or dancing role, you will be asked to prepare something of a relevant genre, of your choice, to show us at the audition. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent. You will be informed within a stated time, if you are successful. It is only in very rare cases that we accept video auditions, and then only from people whom we already know are reliable. As a rule, we expect you to attend in person. As professionals and aspiring professionals, we do our utmost to ensure that we do our best to reward the team members from ticket sales, less venue hires. While full amounts can never be guaranteed, the amount, whatever it is, is equally shared among all cast and crew, so that nobody is treated differently than any other. If you have questions, please get in touch via email southdevonplayers@gmail.com. In your audition, we will look at several factors in deciding who gets the role. These include: - Suitability for role and quality of audition given. - Skills in clear speaking, expression, body language. - Good social skills: how you seem to interact with others in the room. - Pleasant, positive "can-do" attitude. - Timekeeping (arriving on time, or communicating in advance if unavoidably delayed. We reserve the right to not audition latecomers.) - Preparation (bringing audition forms, your pen and diary, etc) We do take natural "audition nerves" into full account, but due to only casting for serious performers who, regardless of previous experience, share our career-based ethos, we look for a range of qualities required by anyone who seeks to be a serious performer. We have a strict equal opportunities policy. THEATRE & FILM The following session, for those selected as cast, will involve a mandatory getting-to-know session, for the team, along with workshops, getting measurements or any especial information relating to the roles, and stating what is expected. All cast and crew will be expected to sign contracts which will then be held by our secretary. A seated script read-through will also take place and you will have the opportunity to ask role or production questions. THEATRE Rehearsals will subsequently take place on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons at Chestnut Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon TQ5 0SA. You are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of rehearsals, and to inform the director at once if you find that you are unable to attend a rehearsal. No-showing more than once is likely to result in removal from the production, or in being cast in a smaller role. FILM Rehearsals and readings will take place prior to going on location, at a time and location agreed by the cast. EXTRA TRAINING - SPECIAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS All workshops are free for our cast members. Please see our Training page for information on workshops. Some may be show-specific and only for cast members. Some may be open to the public, for a small fee (in which case pre-booking and payment is imperative). IMPORTANT This may seem very basic indeed but is being noted publicly after a couple of incidents over recent years: If you are joining us as a performer, please be aware that you will be expected to read and learn your scripted scenes, by the deadlines given, attend rehearsals on time, and to keep detailed notes on your blocking (where you are stood on stage, on stage directions) penciled into your script. Joining us as a performer also requires that you have adequate literacy, and focus to do this. You are not joining an amdram amateur club, but a dynamic professional team of ambitious, hardworking, career-orientated people. You will also be required to abide by the norms of socially acceptable behaviour towards other members and towards the public, failure to do so, is likely to result in instant dismissal. Example contract used by our cast.
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Notes for all our auditions -
* New performers for our internal shows and films are always welcome regardless of experience. We require that you are reliable, serious, have good social skills, and that you are willing to get involved, and work towards a high quality production, respecting our ethos of safe environment, and of creating professional -grade productions.
* Unfortunately, we are not able to cater to "special needs" as that is not our remit, nor do our type of shows provide such facility, nor would someone with such requirements enjoy working with us. Anyone becoming involved needs to be able and willing to work alongside other high ability performers in ambitious, fast moving, professional-level roles. If you are looking for an alternative needs drama club with a more relaxed atmosphere, please contact Roc Creative in Paignton.
* Being involved with us allows you access to a lot of perks like: free photoshoots/ video clips/ references / access to castings for local films / professional studio-based actors headshots etc!
* Performers are expected to commit to attend rehearsals in Brixham (in Torbay, South Devon) once or twice a week, and therefore must live within easy travel distance for these. Main rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. What we expect from our actors.
* If you would like more information about who we are and what our ethos is, see the "about us" page.
*Feel free to pass on the casting calls from this page to anyone anywhere who may possibly be interested, but make sure ALL information (including audition details, our website, location etc) is included. Thank you!
*If you have a preference for a specific type of role (e.g: large, or small, or dramatic or quiet), do say! We cannot guarantee to be able to accommodate the preference (it also depends on the auditions and suitability for the role) but we try to bear it in mind.
*While our shows are suited to audiences of all ages, we usually require our performers to be aged 16+, simply because we are not a "youth" theatre group, and we sometimes perform in pub venues that may be age restricted. Anyone aged under 16 needs to be accompanied, at all times, by a parent or guardian of legal age.
Please note that if a show is not listed on our previous shows, current shows, or auditions page, (as relevant) then it is not a show or event connected with the South Devon Players in any way.Thank you.
* New performers for our internal shows and films are always welcome regardless of experience. We require that you are reliable, serious, have good social skills, and that you are willing to get involved, and work towards a high quality production, respecting our ethos of safe environment, and of creating professional -grade productions.
* Unfortunately, we are not able to cater to "special needs" as that is not our remit, nor do our type of shows provide such facility, nor would someone with such requirements enjoy working with us. Anyone becoming involved needs to be able and willing to work alongside other high ability performers in ambitious, fast moving, professional-level roles. If you are looking for an alternative needs drama club with a more relaxed atmosphere, please contact Roc Creative in Paignton.
* Being involved with us allows you access to a lot of perks like: free photoshoots/ video clips/ references / access to castings for local films / professional studio-based actors headshots etc!
* Performers are expected to commit to attend rehearsals in Brixham (in Torbay, South Devon) once or twice a week, and therefore must live within easy travel distance for these. Main rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. What we expect from our actors.
* If you would like more information about who we are and what our ethos is, see the "about us" page.
*Feel free to pass on the casting calls from this page to anyone anywhere who may possibly be interested, but make sure ALL information (including audition details, our website, location etc) is included. Thank you!
*If you have a preference for a specific type of role (e.g: large, or small, or dramatic or quiet), do say! We cannot guarantee to be able to accommodate the preference (it also depends on the auditions and suitability for the role) but we try to bear it in mind.
*While our shows are suited to audiences of all ages, we usually require our performers to be aged 16+, simply because we are not a "youth" theatre group, and we sometimes perform in pub venues that may be age restricted. Anyone aged under 16 needs to be accompanied, at all times, by a parent or guardian of legal age.
Please note that if a show is not listed on our previous shows, current shows, or auditions page, (as relevant) then it is not a show or event connected with the South Devon Players in any way.Thank you.
