The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company News

Welcoming lovely Sue.

16/9/2023

A big challenge which we have had since the day we started is support accessing writing grant applications and networking etc.

With being one person doing all that, and the theatre company admin, while also being autistic and of a minority, Laura has found it largely inaccessible both in terms of time and in terms of people/ organizations/ funders making negative judgements on “someone different from them”, and her own social anxiety and c-ptsd. This has of course had a huge knock on to what we have been able to achieve for the amazing local people we work with. Appeals for reliable help on this, for 17 years, fell on deaf ears.

Now the lovely Sue Slade from Paignton, also mother to two autistic teenagers who often become involved in our shows, has come on board as Laura’s access support for applying to grants, networking and building up those things, and being that contact whom outside bodies for funding, networking and the arts, may feel more comfortable accepting..
Already on Day 1; two applications have gone off with another two in the drafting stage.

Macbeth rehearsals in progress :)

14/8/2023

An absolutely fantastic Sunday rehearsing Acts 4 & 5 of our touring theatre production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth - still early days yet but the characterisations and hard work from the cast and crew are second to none with hair-raising action scenes, and drama that will have you on the edge of your seat!
(Tour info at https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html)

Updates from Les Miserables (2023)

27/6/2023

. So, it has been a really long time since we got to update this page. Our tour of Les Miserables through May and June gained fabulous audience feedback at all venues, excluding Plymouth which we had to cancel due to a bereavement on our team and an outbreak of Covid among the venue staff.
Soon after the start of the run, the director's mother passed away suddenly, and other cast members also had illnesses and family emergencies, so it was quite a trial of fire to keep the show running - however, thanks to an amazing, supportive team of people, we kept it running.
It has been an absolute honour to work with such an amazing team of people. We hope very much to work with many more times in the future and all of whom I would highly recommend as amazing and competent theatre actors and crew.
Phenomenal audience feedback for the show, building a real fan following for our work there too.

We are having quite a short turn around before we come back in for Macbeth,

Coronation weekend

9/5/2023

A huge thank you to a bunch of our lovely actors who braved the heavy rain to join in with Brixham Future's Coronation parade to promote our performances of Les Miserables - and got lots of interested responses! And then a huge thank you to the Crafty Cwtch cafe for being a great base for drying off and getting a hot cuppa. #theatre #acting #actorslife #brixhamtheatre #britishtheatre #actors #lesmiserables #lesmis #devontheatre #DevonActors #torbay #Coronation2023

A huge thank you to our long time friends and supporters The Naked Sheep Hayle. This amazing family owned company in Cornwall makes handmade clothing and homewares from natural wools, sold all over the country. They are now supplying beautiful handmade tea cosies for sale at our friends cafe (Crafty Cwtch, 66 Middle Street, Brixham. , to raise funds for us here at The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company, Brixham. Thank you sooo much Allie and Janet

Les Miserables cast photoshoot

25/4/2023

In April, we had a cast photoshoot for our Les Miserables team, which most of our cast and crew were able to attend. If you want a look at the actors bringing this super show to you in May and June; here you are!
With enormous thanks to our friends at the Crafty Cwtch cafe on Middle Street, Brixham. for being the fab base camp for our actors photoshoot on nearby streets,

Photos by Laura Jury and Sacha Spencer.

Visit our Box office page (click here) to book and find out more details of the show :) we would love to see you at any of the venues

Les Miserables: The Memoirs of Jean Valjean is a 3 hour stage drama (not the musical!) bringing Victor Hugos's famous novel to life.
This is a show suitable for all ages, and is a classic tale of redemption, compassion and revolution; set between 1815 and 1832 in France.

Great showcase/ workshop, concluding the 2022-23 winter theatre school

17/3/2023

We had a great conclusion to the theatre school as the final session of the six month drama classes, in which most of our students and a couple of guests from our production or Les Miserables performed a monologue, which was filmed for their portfolios.

The theatre school will return again next winter subject to funding to cover the costs, with various other workshops etc before then we hope. Well done to all the amazing people involved tonight and a huge thank you to Brixham Theatre for hosting the classes!

A new look behind the scenes of our Les Miserables rehearsals

23/2/2023

Our cast and crew are working beautifully on the show, and the scenes are coming along amazingly. With characterization, and (where needed) action choreography, and the first hints of costumes, the scenes are really coming together - we couldnt be working with a lovelier or more talented team!

Images by Michael Betts

rehearsals coming along well

21/2/2023

Last Sunday was a barricade special, where the tech crew started building the sound and lighting cues for that rather tech-heavy sequence, and the first time the actors were working in costumes (costumes are still being put together but we like to rehearse in even partial costume as soon as possible, because it helps with character development.

Sundays rehearsal

28/1/2023

Looking forward to the first “on our feet” blocking rehearsal for the second half of our spring / summer theatre production of Les Miserables: The Memoirs of Jean Valjean, tomorrow, with our brilliant cast.
Next week we will be start the multiple weeks of characterisation and performance for the characters and performances and scenes with the actors and bringing in the crew to start in on building up lighting, sound and special effects.
(Photos from Wednesday’s first half blocking rehearsals)
#theatre #acting #lesmis #devon #devontheatre #brixhamtheatre #devonactors #stage #rehearsal #regionaltheatre #britishtheatre #brixham

Rehearsals for Les Miserables, commence

22/1/2023

We had a wonderful opening read through to launch our touring theatre production of Les Miserables: The Memoirs of Jean Valjean. This show features a super cast from across the area, ranging from people who have performed in theatre for decades, through to people who are completely new to performing, those who have performed with us before, and brand new faces, side by side. Next rehearsal on Wednesday, is the first half of the show. It is an absolute delight to work with all these amazing people!

#DevonActors #brixhamtheatre #lesmiserables #theatrelife #devon #regionaltheatre #acting #rehearsal #brixham #brixhamdevon #torbay #britishtheatre