The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company
Follow us on our social networks
  • Home
  • About us
  • Box Office
  • Auditions
  • Crewing
  • Find Us
  • Latest news
  • Previous projects
  • Contact
  • Casting services
  • FAQ
  • Reviews
  • Youtube
  • Acting & tech resources
  • Policies
  • Blog: Creating An Arts Organisation
  • Family stories
  • Training Zone
  • Merchandise Shop
  • Ebay
  • Fundraising & sponsors

General news update

29/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Hello all! 
This is just an update with news all in one place! 

Overall, the news on theatres reopening remains the same. While some theatres are able to put on subsidised performances, it is impossible for most of us, sadly as outlined in our update on the subject, to return to distanced physical shows, for us and very many theatre companies. Most of the UK theatre industry is awaiting the announcements due in November from the UK government's Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, as to when theatres can re-open. With vastly reduced audiences due to (the very sensible!) distancing, it is impossible to run shows viably, and make enough from sales to pay for a venue and also to pay cast/ crew. 

Jack the Ripper
We are now rehearsing over Zoom each Sunday afternoon for this show, with plans for an online performance if the physical shows end up delayed. Jack The Ripper will return to the physical stage as soon as theatres are able to reopen (all being well, our bookings are for the end of January and early Febuary, with ticket sales going live once we know more from Mr Dowdens announcements in September. 
The production team are really pleased with how the rehearsals are progressing, with this Sunday being a characterisation workshop session. Our return to the physical stage, in 2021, will also mean that at least one performance of each show run, will be livestreamed to audiences who either are unable to access the venue, or who may still not wish to attend theatre in person after the pandemic. 

Shakespeare in 2021
Our 2021 Shakespeare show will be Henry V, as is already being booked for summer 2021. We are also hoping to finally get to tour our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was postponed due to the pandemic, subject to cast and venue availibility, as it now appears highly unlikely that we will be able to tour the show this year. 

Virtual Season
Casting announcements will go out within a few days for the first of our Virtual Season, the dark adaptation of Snow White, by Ashley Griffin. There have been a few delays while the cast are being selected, but we will have that sorted out by the end of this coming weekend. Tickets have already begun to sell, and as soon as the casting announcement goes live, we will be able to send out press releases, distribute posters and online events listiings to really push for the ticket sales.  The ensuing plays, The Lost Girl and Sir Walter's Women, will be cast during the later part of September. 

Spooky Tales of Brixham
This project telling of our local town's folklore, is well on track, with a release date of Halloween. 
We have acquired a wonderful collection of Victorian images of Brixham, for some backdrops and intro cards, and are currently in talks with local filming locations. All filming will be socially distanced, and outdoors in a Covid-secure envriroment. 
0 Comments

An update on theatre performances following the August 13th 2020 government announcement.

14/8/2020

0 Comments

 
We have been very pleased to hear of the UK governments move towards allowing limited indoor performances from August 15th 2020, and the associated guidance on the uk.gov website.
Having reviewed the information as updated, we wanted to set out, for clarity, how this will affect us.
For the time being, we will not be returning to live shows in physical spaces (though once it is safe and possible, we will be back with bells on!) and will be continuing to focus on our Autumn “Virtual season” and while we will regularly review the situation whenever new information and guidance comes out, we are not expecting a return to live physical performances until at least the awaited announcements from the British Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, expected in November 2020.


This decision is for a number of reasons.
  • Our actors earnings are usually based on the ticket sales (profitshare), and a lower number of seats available for sale, means less earning potential for our cast and crew. Venues also often rely on sales of refreshments etc, to fund the venue, aside from the hire/ box office split, so it is also difficult for a lot of our regional venues right now.
  • Furthermore, while here in Devon, we are in a relatively safe area with lower numbers of Covid-19 cases, our shows do tour, including to venues outside of the area, some of which do have higher rates of infection. We would be very remiss in exposing our cast and crew to these higher-infection rates, or risking one or more of us bringing it back to family and friends.
  • A lot of venues, especially older Victorian or earlier buildings (some of our venues go back to buildings from the 1600s and 1700s), do not easily allow for recommended social distancing back/ sidestage, in what is often a quite cramped area.
  • A number of our regular venues have taken the decision to be closed until the New Year.
  • Rehearsals still need to take place with social distancing in place, either 2 metres radius between people, or 1 metre with masks/ PPE. Actors also should not face one another unless absolutely necessary. This makes it near impossible (or impossible) to rehearse a naturalistic performance involving physical interaction between people and set (what is called “blocking”.), though it would work for simple recitation (which our shows are not).
  • Actors and crew, at all times, must remain a minimum of 2 metres from any member of the audience.
  • We have looked into the possibilities of performing outdoors, however, again we have encountered a number of issues. In addition to the socially distanced rehearsals/ performance issues, when out of doors, you require additional microphone and sound equipment so that audiences can hear you – sound is easily carried away outdoors. While we could borrow a suitable speaker system, we would not have enough microphones for the whole cast (microphones cannot be shared, there was a serious infection case in Northern Ireland, where a cast shared a microphone). Actors of course need access to changing spaces and toilets (audiences also need access to toilets) which means it is not possible to just “set up in a field”. We have found that every event needs a minimum of a calendar month to advertise, market, re-rehearse, and plan the logistics. If you do not have marketing and advertising in place one month before, as a minumum, you will be unable to sell the tickets in a reasonable enough amount. You need a large space again, to make it worthwhile for the cast and crew, with socially distanced audiences (again, down to earning from the ticket sales, and while most of our actors are from the local region, we also have actors and a technician, who come over from the Republic of Ireland to work in our shows.).
    From our experience of street theatre, this is again impossible as you cannot charge for tickets, meaning the actors cannot earn, and that is an unacceptable situation unless you are an amateur dramatics club, which we are not. We also found doing street theatre years back , even with marshals in place, that people often will push through an audience, climb over barriers, and physically collide with performers, in fact at least one of those incidents - often more- would happen every single performance, which in this situation is utterly unsafe for everybody., for distancing etc. In addition to which, the scale of our current shows, (full scale 2 and 3 hour plays, professionally performed, with costuming etc for a cast of around 10-12 ) does not allow for performance on a street corner.




In the meantime therefore, we have our Virtual Season, which is allowing for some incredible collaborations to form, and some super broadcast theatre with new and established creatives to our team, working almost entirely online. We are also working with the Arts Council and Torbay Culture, to create a filmed performance piece about local Brixham ghosts and spooky tales, which creates some brilliant fully paid work for some of our actors; and we are in rehearsals for physical shows, to return to the physical stage once it is safe, and cost effective. We are also planning further ahead with writing for new shows, and working with more theatre shows through 2021 and 2022.


When we are able to return to the physical stage, our cast, crew and audiences should be aware that there will likely still be some level of restrictions, or additional guidance still in place, and to work with us on those.


We also recognise that there may still be a number of people, who may feel unsure about attending the theatre in person. We are working to run livestreams of our performances (at least one per production) from the venues, so that for those who would rather attend the theatre from the safety of their own home, they are able to, for the same ticket cost. Early equipment tests are proving very positive, and we are now working on linking the systems to high-quality cameras to provide the best audience experience.


There are also a number of other creative plans, the viability of which, will be looked into through the autumn, and developed from this work. (Some will succeed and others not be deemed as likely to work) so we are using this time as usefully as is humanly possible.


We fully realise that some of these “realities” of why we are not doing the “distanced indoor shows”, are hugely disappointing to many, both our audiences and our creatives, however, we feel that it is very important that we do everything in our power to ensure the wellbeing of our cast, crew and audiences, while also continuing to create work and . It is much better to come back to physical shows, a bit later with everyone well and happy, than to have had some avoidable disaster.
With the understandable confusion already appearing in some articles circulating online, regarding the August 13th announcement, we wanted to take the time to explain in detail, where we stand, and the reasons for our decisions.  


​Laura Jury

0 Comments

Open Auditions for theatre production: Jack The Ripper.

7/7/2020

0 Comments

 
A FEW WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR
Just a reminder that we are currently casting for our steampunk production of Jack The Ripper, and we would love to hear from you. In line with current safety guidelines, we are casting via self-tapes, and will be holding initial rehearsals (and for anyone who wants to remain distanced once we are able to start physical rehearsals this will be ongoing) via Zoom, a simple video conferencing platform that will not cost you anything to join. Before any physical rehearsals or shows, there will be a full risk assessment and safety/ distancing guidelines provided to all cast and crew which will have been checked by Equity and other professional bodies. 
Our casting and production process follows Equity policies, promoting fairness and excellence in running all our productions: Manifesto for Casting | Safe Places Policy | Cast It Here | Inclusive Casting Policy | Performance for All 
THE SHOW
The show is a researched drama based on a number of the historical theories, surrounding Jack The Ripper, a Victorian serial killer in Whitechapel, London. We never fully reveal who the Ripper is, therefore through the show he is played by different people, all masked the same. The principal main character is the detective Abberline, a brilliant, humanitarian but broken man, tracking down the killer.  The show design is stylish, steampunk, and daring. It does not involve any sexual scenes, beyond some of the ladies of the night soliciting on street corners.  Originally due to be performed in October 2020, it now looks likely to be moved to Jan/ Feb 2021, due to the Covid outbreak. It will tour Devon and up to Bristol. 
CASTING
We are casting for all roles, This spans all speaking roles; which are male and female roles, all ethnicities very welcome.  Actors should be aged over 18, but other than that we welcome (and require) actors of any age  - we require a range of ages from 18 or thereabouts up to and including senior citizens in their 70s!  Actors must be based in the Devon area or easily able to travel to same, for live rehearsals (after lockdown) and the performances. 
​We do not charge anyone to work with us - indeed we do our utmost to pay our cast and crew via equal profitshare from the ticket sales at the very minimum (with applications in to various funds with the aim of raising full union standard wages for all cast and crew). No roles are "precast". 

As a professional company, with national and international arts awards, we require that all actors, regardless of experience, are able and willing to work to the standard consumate with those expectations. Actors must have the ability to attend required rehearsals and performances on time, note and follow directions/ production details, the literacy to read and learn scripts by deadlines without habitual paraphrasing/ improvising, are respectful of other cast and crew, are calm & focussed in rehearsals and shows, and maintain a positive, stress-free workplace enviroment. This is being stated due to incorrect misconceptions about our work being a social club/service  drop-in centre, in the past, which caused unwarranted upset and embarrassment on all sides. 
​

In your self tape, which you can record on your phone, laptop, or any device, we are not looking for cinematic brilliance, or for you to second-guess "the right character".  We are looking for characterisation and those magical split-seconds where for a second the casting director forgets they are watching an actor, and completely believes that it is the character themselves. Bold choices with the audition material are also encouraged. 

You will hear back within the week following the closing date (July 19th) as to the status of your application to the show, regardless of whether selected or otherwise. 

Early rehearsals will take place online, using Zoom. When it is safe to do so, and in line with risk assessments and safety procecures checked by Equity, we will begin to return to our rehearsal space at Chestnut Community Centre (downstairs room), in Poplar Close, Brixham. 

​If you have any questions, please email us on southdevonplayers@gmail.com, or text the director and company owner, Laura Jury, on 07855 090589. 
CASTING DOCUMENTS
This is the original audition pack, created before the Covid pandemic. It contains information about our company, our history, and also a full list of all characters open for casting. Please note that dates and times will be changing (rehearsals on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons, will take place as normal, noting the usage of Zoom for online rehearsals.)
jack_the_ripper_show_audition_pack__original_.pdf
File Size: 428 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

This is the updated Covid auditions document, which goes alongside the audition pack, updating about how we will cast during the lockdown
audition_covid_update.pdf
File Size: 91 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

This audition form, to be sent back with your self-tape, tells us a few things about you to help us with the casting process
actors_audition_form_2020.pdf
File Size: 87 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

For those who have not self-taped before, this document should be helpful, as to what we are looking for. 
self-taping_notes.pdf
File Size: 46 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

And here is the link to the all-important audition sides. Please remember that these are all copyright material, and that the script copyright is registered to us at the Script Vault. When you have recorded your self-tape, please send it, with your audition form, to us at southdevonplayers@gmail.com, marked "Jack The Ripper"
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vAkGRN5zn_xoswQ9rQJZsgsrVsR_QdAV?usp=sharing
PAYMENT
As professionals and aspiring professionals, we do our utmost to ensure that we do our utmost to reward the team members, each of whom recieves an equal share of the show profits, from ticket sales, less venue hire. (As soon as, and whenever, further funding can be found to upgrade everyone in the team to union wages, this will happen, and supercede all profitshare agreements for the given production.)

As it stands, w
e fundraise and work with our Supporters Trust to cover the costs of rehearsal hall, costumes, props, printing and other production expenses, so that we can pay the maximum possible to our team.

While full amounts can never be guaranteed as it is based on ticket sales numbers; the total amount, whatever it is, is equally shared among all actors and production crew, so that nobody is treated differently than any other. We have never finished a production in the "red".
At the time of payment (usually within 10 days of ticket sale monies being received from venues) we also provide the box-office sales reports from the venues, showing precise ticket sales, and how much the venue has deducted in hire for the space; to the cast and crew.

You will also receive portfolio photos of you performing or working in your crew role during the rehearsal and production process, backstage light refreshments, and anything else that we find we can offer.

We are actively applying for funding to increase our work, including a prioritised aim of being able to offer salaries, and at such time as we find such funding, everyone will be automatically upgraded on the spot (even if mid-way through a production).

The current profit share situation is because we are self-funded from market stalls, and sponsored activities to pay for a rehearsal room, costumes, and materials, so that we can then share the ticket takes, less show venue hire only, to all our cast and crew. We are committed to rewarding our cast and crew to the very maximum of our ability.

We have a strict equal opportunities policy
0 Comments

In the Herald Express

18/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
For more information and to book: ​https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html
midsummer_nights_dream_online_press_release_upload.pdf
File Size: 302 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

The Show Will Go On

15/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Internationally award-winning Brixham theatre company brings Shakespeare's classic Midsummer Night's Dream to life, defying lockdown in an international, online performance, with actors performing from their homes.
“The course of true love never did run smooth ”
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1 scene 1



Shakespeare's classic comedy, is brought to life in a lockdown production, by a theatre company based in Brixham, South Devon.
Already in rehearsals for the live shows, with a national tour being booked for the live shows, when the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, caused postponement and cancellation of live shows for several months, for every theatre in the UK. Of course, many theatres, both venues and production companies had no choice but to close, and work for professional actors temporarily collapsed.
The South Devon Players decided to resist the trend, and as well as postponing (not cancelling!) the usual shows to such time as when it is safe for theatre venues to reopen, the Players decided to create online performances, in which the actors come together to perform online from the safety of their own homes. This in itself has not been easy, as many people in the team, have had to learn new technology & software, and find ways to make it work on household electronics, with the cast and crew working from their lockdown locations mainly in south Devon but also sheltering in place spread across the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland, and Los Angeles in California.
The first of these online performances, is a full length, costumed production of William Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy; A Midsummer Night's Dream. Keeping as close as is possible to the originally planned steampunk styling of the live shows, the members of the team are dilligently rehearsing and learning software online, creating costumes and makeup styles, to create this show, and develop an entirely new way to present theatre using modern technology during this time.
Following this first performance, the Players are also planning further online shows, performing Shakspeare and other classic dramas, in the same way.
The South Devon Players Theatre and Film Company, are developing a proud history of Shakespeare productions, as part of their focus on historical and classical dramas. In 2019, their production of Macbeth, was booked for a second tour and won an international theatre award in New York for its professionalism and creativity. Laura Jury, the director of that production of Macbeth, & many of the Player's shows, and founder of the theatre company, has returned to lead this new project. Laura has also recently been selected to appear in an online Shakespeare project by the Globe Theatre in London. The South Devon Players were founded in the winter of 2005-6, on the proceeds of a carboot sale, to create professional opportunities for local actors, and has flourished ever since; previously winning national and regional arts awards, including the national Epic Award 2017 for England, a national arts award celebrating creativity and innovation in grassroots arts. Based in Brixham, the Players primarily specialise in researched historical theatre productions and old “Classics”.



William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream will be broadcast on the evening of May 30th 2020, as a ticketed event online, with tickets costing £5 each. All details on how to book tickets, and receive the online viewing links, are available at the company's website www.southdevonplayers.com.
__________________________________________
0 Comments

Announcing our first lockdown show

4/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
A full costumed production of Shakespeare's classical fantasy drama
This production is the full uncut script.

A production performed via video-conference from our actors homes PERFORMED ONLINE AT
www.southdevonplayers.com (full link made available to ticket purchasers. Link includes the page where the show will be streamed, a virtual programme, and a production blog covering the month running up to the show.. We would like to reccomend that a laptop or PC, or internet enabled television, is used for the best audience experience)

Running time approx 2.5 hours plus half-time interval. Doors open 30 mins before the performance start time. The show will be available to watch back or catch up on for the ensuing two days after the first streaming.
If you have any questions about the show, please feel free to email us on southdevonplayers@gmail.com
0 Comments

The first of our cast interviews!

2/3/2020

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Working on new ways to grow the arts organically

7/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
In these times, with budgets stretched, and marketing of shows always being a challenge for any theatre company, we are proposing this new initiative, where theatre companies exchange advertising. A text page of line adverts in a programme, where we list each others productions in the same region, means that we all reach more audiences, encourage theatre-going, and grow together.  This isn't intended to exchange money, just help one another with a few lines of text. 

Since it is based on an exchange, (just with the provision of a checking copy to the companies involved, to prove openly that agreements are honoured), it should hopefully be something that is accessible to all companies. 

We are based in the Southwest (Southwest UK), and that is the area that we would cover, but if people in other areas of the country want to initiate the same kind of idea - that would be awesome :) 

Please get in touch if you would like to exchange with us, and get involved in this new idea. 
​Laura (company director) - email southdevonplayers@gmail.com
0 Comments

A fantastic productive day.  Theatre rehearsals and modeling.

1/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Well we have had a fabulous day of productivity. A great rehearsal for the Great Gale of Brixham 1866, and our youngsters in the team got to do some product modelling of children's books for a local author. ​(check out her books at cazgreenham.com)
0 Comments

A fourth award-win for the South Devon Players

3/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

On the evening of November 2nd, 2019, the South Devon Players won our fourth award. We were one of the organistions who won the Brix Award, a local award by the community organisation Brixham Yes at their community hub The Edge.  
The Brix Awards celebrate the contribution of local organisations and individuals, to the local community, and making Brixham a positive, and vibrant place to live. 
The South Devon Players founder, Laura Jury, and our stage manager, Sammy Hickman, attended this Musical Theatre themed event in costume, and were thrilled to win this award. 

This is the fourth award won by the Players.
While our other awards have been local (2010 Torbay Together's Arts In The Community), national (2017 Epic Award for England; All-England winner), and international (2019 Long Island Theatre Festival - Theatre Partner Award), all of them mean so much to us and our lovely team members. 
We are a highly ambitious professional theatre company, making opportunities for local people, and sharing our work as widely as possible, but we also value our contribution to the local community highly, and it was a huge honour to be recognised for it. 
It is often hard to be taken seriously as a regional theatre company, and things like this are a huge morale boost to everyone involved with us.  We are very happy today after this great news. 

Our lovely golden brick from the Brix Awards will join our other collection of awards. <3 


Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Updated by our founder
    ​Laura Jury

    This is our new format news page. To read all our news between 2010 and Jan 2015, please see our old format news page HERE

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at
    southdevonplayers@gmail.com

    The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company, is the trading name of The South Devon Players Limited;
    Registered at Companies House: Company number 11569166 
    ​

    Subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required
    Email Format
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by @sdevonplayers

    Categories

    All
    1307
    Actors
    Arts Council
    Assassins Creed
    Audio Drama
    Auditions
    Awards And Prizes
    Behind The Scenes
    Ben Hur
    Bristol
    Brixham
    Brixham Theatre
    Cabaret
    Casting Agency
    Collaboration
    Copyright
    Costume
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Education
    Equity
    Fanfilm
    Film
    Film Festival
    Filmmaking
    Fundraising
    Great Gale Of Brixham
    Harry Potter
    Inclusion & Diversity
    Jack The Ripper
    Les Miserables
    Local History
    Macbeth
    Marketing
    Midsummer Nights Dream
    Modeling
    Mordred
    Music
    Networking
    New Writing
    OnlineMidsummer
    Our Stage Productions
    Photogallery
    Photography
    Pirate
    Police
    Poster
    Press
    Publicity
    Radio
    Radio Play
    Safety
    Schools
    Shakespeare
    Show Dates
    Show Results
    Special Effects
    Steampunk
    Supporters
    Templar
    Theatre
    Theatre Festival
    The Edge
    Three Musketeers
    Titanic
    Torquay
    Training And Workshops
    Venue
    Victorian
    Video
    Vintage
    Virtual Theatre
    Voiceover
    Wellbeing
    Young People

    RSS Feed

    The South Devon Players theatre company, Brixham

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.