The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company News

Great news! More external work offers coming in!

9/10/2021

Dear Casts of both Ben Hur and Henry V;
Some more external work offers have come in. especially for you lovelies, (this time for Halloween scare actors). Please check the respective production facebook groups for more information and how to apply.
This is fab stuff. Well done for being so awesome.
Laura

In addition to that, two of our team have also been asked to assist with the pirate fight choreography for a new short film being made in Brixham next week.

This is one of the outcomes that we love - as well as producing our inhouse shows, we love it when external acting work comes in and is offered to the people currently working with us. Getting into professional freelance acting is a huge and thick glass ceiling especially down here in Torbay (its why we were founded in the first place, lol!) without drama schools and local agencies etc.
Lots of productions come down, and lots of acting work looks further afield to bring people in, when in reality, there is a ton of fab talent right here.

Seeing talented people get additional opportunities is one of the most rewarding things you can imagine.
<3

Events, dates, date changes, and news from the week so far

7/10/2020

There is a lot of news for a short period of time, that affects most of our shows.

First of all, we are delighted to announce that our first ever Arts Council funded project, True Tales of Spooky Brixham, is now live for public ticket sales. We had a great session with most of the recording work last week, and are doing the final pickups tomorrow. This project will be fundraising for Brixham Theatre, our nearest local theatre, where we always perform for each show tour.

Secondly, theres Jack The Ripper. The live theatre shows were originally planned for the end of January (at Brixham Theatre) but with the governments expectation that Coovid restrictions will go on for another six months, and Brixham Theatre not reopening until May 1st 2021, we will be running a virtual performance in early Feb 2021 (tickets on sale soon), prior to the rebooked tour dates in May for the live performances of Jack the Ripper as originally planned. All venues originally booked will be contacted by the end of the week to rebook.

With this schedule in place, we can also announce that in, the early New Year , we will be castings for our second "live" post-covid show, Shakespeare's Henry V. The dates for this show run will be dictated by our inclusion with Bristol Shakespeare Festival, ideally live, or otherwise as an online show.

With our virtual season, there have been some date changes. The Lost Girl (script by Germaine Shames, based on the novel by DH Lawrence) is being rescheduled for mid January 2021. Between some internal live broadcast logistics, and a delay caused by struggling to cast the older roles, (a new casting advert will go out shortly for those roles) we have postponed the project so that it can be done to best effect and quality..
The other autumn virtual shows, Sir Walter's Women, and The Taming of the Shrew, are unaffected.

Our non-exclusive casting agency also remains open. While our books are closed to actors who have not worked with us (we work on being able to provide personal reccomendations from having ourselves worked with people), our actors are largely available for remote/ home-taped/ virtual/ voice over work, or castings on known Covid-secure sets. Please note that if seeking actors through us, these are all experienced professionals, and must be paid as such.
We have some new work coming in through the agency at the moment, and suitable team members will be approached over the next week or so for the work, which will all be done over Zoom.

We are also in the process of developing a welcome book for those who join our teams for one or more productions. For those newer to working professionally, or who are unsure what to expect, this outlines how things work and organisation expectations, aiming to answer frequently asked questions, and be an easy to access guide. This will be finished by Christmas.

And that's all for the moment. Stay safe, keep battling along, and never stop revelling in creativity!

Update on our Arts Council/ Torbay Culture funded local folklore project

27/9/2020

This weekend, the main filming took place for our local folklore project. Funded as part of the Arts Council England's Create To Recover programme, this project provides paid work for four local actors, as well as a writer/director, and an editor/ camera person, a fantastic thing especially in these times!

The project brings to life four local spooky tales which have existed in the local folklore of Brixham for decades, and centuries; which will be released in time for Halloween.

With the Covid restrictions, as well as safety concerns around filming in public places where not all members of the public may socially distace, and the fact that some of the team live with relatives in "at-risk" categories, it was decided to record entirely over Zoom. Using costumes, props, greenscreens, home lighting and digital backdrops of our in-house collection of original Victorian postcards of Brixham, the cast created performances from their homes, each taking on a character from Brixham's colourful past.

Who is the broken man who forever mourns his son? What was the ruse the smugglers used to get contraband to Totnes? What did the young sailor do when his beloved was not allowed to marry him? Who is it who is seen to this day around a well known local landmark? Find out, as these stories are brought to life. Humour, tragedy,love and indomitable spirit are all brought to life in these tales, taking place around locations in the town which you can visit yourself.

The screening details will be available soon, and in the meantime, editing is well underway.

The screening event details will come soon.

March 14th, 2020

14/3/2020

Filming today with some of our lovely team for a micro-short film about VE Day in 1945, for a community project by Brixham Future

Working with external film company

23/2/2020

Before our rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream today, a whole bunch of our team, those who were interested, were auditioned by a visiting filmmaker, for a new external production. While no major detaiils will be announced yet, we look forward to working with this filmmaker on his project over the spring. An absolutely excellent morning.

Memories of Brixham before D-Day

3/6/2019

This was a recording done for Brixham's 75th Anniversary D-Day commemorations in conjunction with Brixham Futures. Brixham has an especial claim to fame, as it is from here that the first troops landed in Normandy at Utah Beach.

This video, made in April 2019, records the memories of Brixham residents who were children in the town during the war. We were going to inclide recreations and cutaways, but in the end, the magic of these wondeful memories, needed to be shown uncut regardless of glitches - with nothing taken away from the history that can be learned from these eyewitness stories. It was truly an honour to be able to record such wonderful stories and meet such wonderful resilient people.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2019 The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company. Reproduction without written permission strictly prohibited.

Mordred - film stills

8/4/2018

Editing for our film Mordred, telling the story of King Arthurs illegitimate son, based on early legends, continues. Its taking a long while as it is happening around everyones day jobs etc. But in the meantime, we have some new stills from footage filmed by the team in Cornwall at Pengersick Castle...

A Casting Call for a female role in our next show

10/3/2018

CASTING CALL *** CASTING CALL **** CASTING CALL
(theatre/ film combi project - equal profitshare - South Devon in the UK)

This is a recasting as the lady in the role has sadly needed to pull out due to emergency family commitments

PRODUCTION NAME_________
1307

ROLE_____________
Margery is a confident young girl in medieval Bristol, in 1307, aged 18-25. Daughter of a local workman, she is in a very innocent "young love" relationship with a young Knight Templar, Arthur -, though they both know it cannot go anywhere due to his vows and commitments. Caught up in the intrigue surrounding the end of the Knights Templar and the accusations of heresy, she ends up on the run with Arthur and others.

This is a medium size role, the actress will also be asked to appear in crowd scenes in other parts of the production; eg the fall of Acre and the arrests at the Paris Temple.
This is not a combat role, although Margery is involved in a tavern brawl scene as a non-combatant.
There is no nudity or physical intimacy required.

Script, costume, etc all supplied.

* Nb, we do require that the successful performer is based in the South Devon area, because of the logistics of attending rehearsals and performances.

REHEARSALS____________
Wednesdays 6.30pm - 9.30PM & Sundays 12.30pm - 4.30/5pm in Brixham, South Devon. Rehearsals are already underway so someone who can join us promptly, is preferred. Good attendance is required.

THEATRE SHOWS___________
Fridays-Sundays (currently being booked) Mid June- Mid July, around South Devon at various venues. Photoshoot and location based video trailer to promote the theatre show taking place at the end of April, in Torbay. One of these will also be filmed as an entry to a theatre festival competition in New York, USA.

FILM___________
There will be a short spinoff film based on the latter part of the script, filmed later in the summer, in South Devon, dates to be agreed with cast and camera/sound crew.

REMUNERATION_____________
- Equal share of profits; that is ticket sales less venue hire, alongside the other cast and crew. The film, as a short, will be equal profit share from any festival prize money or any distribution. We do not have funding in order to manage more, sorry.
- Character and promo photographs
- Copies of any and all publicity featuring your character
- film footage from video trailer plus film footage of theatre production, and film footage from short film.
- Lots of free teas and coffees in rehearsals and shows

TO APPLY_________________
You can PM me here on facebook (I am the director), or email us direct on southdevonplayers@gmail.com.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to come and meet us at one of our rehearsals, do a brief audition, and will be informed if successful or not as soon as possible. (within 24 hours).

SHOW SYNOPSIS__________________
1307 is titled from the historical date of the main event around which the show centres.
In October 1307, an inquisition was called against the powerful, and international organisation, which had grown up from a religious order of warrior monks, during the medieval Crusades, who are now famed in legend as the Knights Templar., or more properly “The Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon”. Accused of heresy, and confessing under torture, their Grandmaster , was burned at the stake in 1314.
In the centuries since, myths, legends, theories and questions grew and remain. Were the Knights Templar heretics? They certainly had secrets, with guarded secret initiations; but what was their secret? Were they simply fanatical medieval Christian crusaders who had grown too powerful for their own good, around whom a mythos had grown? Were they guardians of an ancient Holy secret that the church in Rome needed to destroy?
1307 is based on those legends, and one line of theory. Beginning in the fall of Acre, on of the last Crusader ports, in a dramatic siege in 1291, in what is now modern-day Israel, and continuing to medieval Paris, and thence to England, and linking to legends in the Southwest of England, surrounding the Knights Templar. This drama follows a Templar knight, and his secret.
This is a heavily researched historical drama, about what might have been.

ABOUT US ______________
We are a collaborative team of local professional and aspiring professional actors in South Devon, creating our own productions. We have run for 11 years now, winning national arts awards for our work. It is a friendly, positive team.

Facebook: The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company, Brixham
Main Site: www.southdevonplayers.com
Twitter: sdevonplayers
Instagram: sdevonplayers1

Example of previous work - full film currently in editing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiu9ZwwrQ8k

Next open auditions for medieval drama. If you want to join us, here is your chance to apply!

18/1/2018

Open auditions for our coming project 1307.

This drama, centering on theories and legends surrounding the inquisition against the medieval Knights Templar.

We are working from the same script; to perform a full length theatre show, as well as recording a radio drama, and dramatising part of the script into a 10 min film.

*** DOWNLOAD AUDITION PACK FROM OUR MAIN WEBSITE: http://www.southdevonplayers.com/auditions.html ****

Auditions are on Sunday Feb 4th 2018, at Chestnut Community centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon TQ5 0SA. Please arrive to begin at 1pm.

*This project takes three forms with the same script and cast:

1- Full length scripted theatre drama for stage
This is to be performed in and around Torbay, and Plymouth, in 2018. We are also looking into the possibilities of performing in Bristol, where part of the drama is set.

2- Full length scripted and dramatised radio drama for local radio
Recording to take place on at local radio station for subsequent broadcast. This will then pass back to us for online distribution, to create (we hope!) profit shares for everyone. This will be a single day, or two half-days of audio recording in Paignton, Devon

3- Short 10-min film (adapted from the above script)
We are using part of the script, from the 1307 dawn raid on the Paris Temple, onwards, to create a short film, This will be filmed on location in Devon and Cornwall, with one short additional scene in Bristol. Actors doing the theatre show and radio play have priority on these roles, but if not able to appear in the film, we will be open to casting differently for this.

Nb: with this project, we do need the full length cast to be the same for radio and theatre. Ideally we would like to cast the same actors in the same roles for the short film, but are open to changes if someone is unavailable for filming.

****Synopsis of production****
In October 1307, an inquisition was called against the powerful, and international organisation, which had grown up from a religious order of warrior monks, during the medieval Crusades, who are now famed in legend as the Knights Templar., or more properly “The Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon”. Accused of heresy, and confessing under torture, their Grandmaster , was burned at the stake in 1314.
In the centuries since, myths, legends, theories and questions grew and remain. Were the Knights Templar heretics? They certainly had secrets, with guarded secret initiations; but what was their secret? Were they simply fanatical medieval Christian crusaders who had grown too powerful for their own good, around whom a mythos had grown? Were they guardians of an ancient Holy secret that the church in Rome needed to destroy?
1307 is based on those legends, and one line of theory. Beginning in the fall of Acre, on of the last Crusader ports, in a dramatic siege in 1291, in what is now modern-day Israel, and continuing to medieval Paris, and thence to England, and linking to legends in the Southwest of England, surrounding the Knights Templar, this drama follows a Templar knight, Hughes, and his secret.
This is a heavily researched historical drama, about what might have been.

In light of modern-day politics and issues, we want to make it abundantly clear that this production has no intended racial or religious bias, nor will any such inference be tolerated from anyone linked to the production. Characters opinions, allegiances, religious and political beliefs are those of the characters only, and where possible, are the known stances of the historical figures in person, as much as can be ascertained from historical research and records. There is good on all sides and bad on all sides. This production is not linked to any neo-Templar organisations.

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.

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.
4) Performances are on an open-book equal-profit share basis.
5) We welcome performers of all backgrounds.

More about us:
www;southdevonplayers.com
www.facebook.com/sdevonplayers
www.twitter.com/sdevonplayers
www.instagram.com/sdevonplayers1

Mordred- the latest

5/1/2018

Having been in discussion with our editor, Michael, there will be, at last, a rough draft done when he is back in Devon, in Feb 2018, when he, and the South Devon Players committee will be meeting up, viewing, and then discussing the tweaks and next bits. At that point we should have a lot more info on the final timescales on the project.
In the interim, we are well aware that all of the cast and crew and supporters who have poured time, effort, money, logistics - or who love the project - are waiting very patiently, for news on the final timescales, so while we havent anything major yet, we should do soon, and in the meantime, I have decided to grab a few stills from the uncut footage. If cast would like a footage still or two, like the ones below, then do drop me a line and I will see what I can sort out Thank you so much for your patience everyone :)

Laura