We recently relaunched our postage stamp appeal, and have been finding some absolutely wonderful support.
Collecting used stamps for our fundraising, sorting them, and selling them to collectors via our eBay shop is a small but steadily growing part of our fundraising. (If you are a stamp collector and want to check out what we currently have on offer, please visit the ebay shop tab in in our top menu.) 

We have found several wonderful private supporters, many of whom have stated that they will support this stamp fundraising in an ongoing manner (which is fabulous - we don't plan on stopping this, rather the opposite). 

As well as our private supporters, we would like to extend an enormous thank you to Janet of the Welsh-themed café Crafty Cwtch on Middle Street in Brixham who is now acting as a collection point for our stamp collecting, and to Mandy of the Brixham Mission Community Magazine, who are also helping us by appealing to the congregations of four local churches, to save used stamps for us. 

Of course, if you want to hand any stamps directly to us, please get in touch with us on southdevonplayers@gmail.com

Thank you so much to everyone for your incredible support <3  It is help like yours which keeps our work of creating local theatre, and creative performance opportunities for people in the region, alive. 

All funds raised from these stamp sales, go towards hiring our rehearsal space at Chestnut Community Centre in Brixham (yes so then that money from our hire, benefits a local Brixham community centre in turn), buying second hand items to use/ remake as props and costumes, for insurances & other legal requirements. 

Should you wish to read more about our fundraising policies, please see  FUNDRAISING 

THEATRE - TORBAY/DEVON - PROFITSHARE
Character: Fluellen- Shakespeare's Henry V.

Gender: Any (castings for this show have all been genderblind)
Age: playing age 18-80
Pay: Equal profitshare of ticket sales (100% of ticket sales divided equally among actors & crew), plus show photos and a video of the full performance.
Rehearsal location/ Dates: Brixham, in Devon Sunday afternoons: Oct 31st, Nov 7th/ 14th/ 21st plus tech at the theatre venue on evenings Weds Nov 24th & Thurs 25th
Performance location / dates: Brixham Theatre in Devon: Fri Nov 26th (evening), Sat Nov 27th (matinee & evening)
To apply: email southdevonplayers@gmail.com

Requirements: Ideally can do a Welsh accent though this is an optional bonus! Should also be based in the South Devon area as will need to attend the rehearsals and performances in person.

Notes & general information: This is a recasting to join our team who have previously done broadcast performances online of Henry V for Bristol Shakespeare Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. Sadly our lovely original Fluellen is moving up-country for a new "day-job" and will be unable to do the "on-stage" performances. We will be asking our new Fluellen to learn lines between the time of casting and the "physical" rehearsals, as the physical rehearsals will mainly focus on the blocking and tech for the stage shows. One to one sessions at mutual convenience, with the director over Zoom can be arranged in addition. The script has some small cuts in it but is largely the original full text, set and costume styling is a mildly post-apocalyptic near-future.

Video of previous "online" performance and featuring the full cast you'll be working with, also available.
Our website casting page, although currently geared to our next main production casting, explains how we work with all our castings and shows including full details of how the profitshares are worked, our inclusion and covid-safety policies, and example of our actors agreements: https://www.southdevonplayers.com/auditions.html
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And here is a video from our founder (also the director of this production) also showing a clip of a previous Shakespeare show performance by our team - on the same stage as we will be performing Henry V: https://youtu.be/ggB6sYWnd30

Thanks to an awesome local lady's donations, our fundraising ebay account has been updated with a lovely selection of good condition children's DVDs, just in time for the holidays, all listed this evening! Lots of Disney and other content. Every penny raised goes into our rehearsals/ props/ costuming/ venue hire/ insurances etc (and thus mean we can keep running!)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/southdevonplayers

Play the #Torbay Lottery for just £1, support our #theatre work & creating arts opportunities for local people - AND be in with a chance to win a luxury #staycation- to enter, visit:
https://www.torbaylottery.co.uk/.../the-south-devon-players

Very important for us- and all theatres and performances
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/society-of-london-theatre-uk-theatre-guidance_54471.html​
#theatre #covid_19 #safety #uktheatre #britishtheatre

Just to remind all our lovely supporters; tickets are on sale for our digital performances of Shakespeare's Henry V - don't forget you can get your tickets over at ​https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html

(news at https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2021/july/2021-committee-election-results)

From Laura: 
As an actor & director who has always lived in Devon, the fortunes of regional theatre (as well as best practice, making more opportunities for people in the regions and improving things for those involved in it, etc etc) are forefront of my interest!
Do always message me if there's something you want to discuss, ask, input/suggest etc, and I will get back to you as soon as I'm able. ( and if I need to redirect you, I will do my best to point you to relevant help). I don't claim to be an expert (we are all learning and developing, all the time) but I do claim to be someone who really cares.
- Laura
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Equity have released this news update: Equity responds to Prime Minister's latest Covid press conference

It’s a minefield trying to figure out safety & backups for shows while also trying to be fair to everyone. Plans for returning to physical rehearsals and shows at The South Devon Players will involve more safety measures than “minimum legally required” simply because we want everyone to be as safe as possible in their theatre involvement and in their wider lives- though we hope the measures will remain welcoming to all as well. 

We are still working on the full details, which may be subject to alteration in line with official / verified scientific guidance., however, the draft safety measures for rehearsals are as below:

In a nutshell for rehearsals and castings, we will be keeping good ventilation at all times (if it is a cooler day bring a warm top as we will have windows open and a through-draught. ).
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People not actually up rehearsing a scene, will be asked, if possible, to wear a mask, and we will be encouraging the use of hand sanitizer on arrival and after using community centre facilities. 
If these are not possible for medical reasons, then we are happy to exempt you. 

We will ask that visitors (people who are not actors/ crew or volunteers) who pop in, are expected in advance and are visiting for a serious reason (eg: trade union visit, journalist, emergency services, etc)
Unexpected visitors will not be allowed to enter. "Do Not Disturb" signage will be on the door for this reason. 

Everyone will be asked to sign in and out, and will be requested to not attend if they are ill. (there will be no non-attendance note for this). Anyone who is self-isolating due to possible Covid exposure, may connect to rehearsal over Zoom.   

We will also encourage people to bring their own mugs for coffees and tea, and, if using community center mugs/glasses, to ensure that they are washed, dried and put away after use. 

Crew will arrive early and check the rehearsal room. It is a shared space with other local organizations, and we will ensure that it is of an acceptable standard of cleanliness before rehearsals. 
Everyone will be asked to help leave it in an equally good condition for the next user groups of the building. 

Costumes will be in individual ziplock bags (not to be shared)

A specific box containing disposable masks, gloves, sanitizer, wipes, disinfectant and other cleaning and protective materials, will be present in the rehearsal cupboard. 
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