The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company News

Behind the scenes of Beowulf

27/10/2022

Absolutely fab Beowulf rehearsals this evening . Beowulf is a drama based on the 10th Century poem with puppetry, excerpts of the poem and lots of dramatic action. This show is suitable for all, especially bearing in mind Beowulf is also a Key Stage 3 English Literature text.
All links available here: https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html

A peek behind the scenes

25/10/2022

Lisa and Robin in fight rehearsal, as members of two rival clans, for our theatre production of Beowulf. Fight choreography by Rich Sandford & Laura Jury .
These are two new amazing actors in our team.
Rehearsal taking place at our rehearsal venue: Chestnut Community Centre, Brixham

. Beowulf theatre performances take place around Devon in November & December 2022

Theatre show, suitable-for-all, based on the classic 10th Century epic poem, (also a Key Stage 3 school text) coming to
Stoke Damerel Church; Plymouth: Nov 4th
Brixham Theatre, Brixham: Nov 18, 19th
Barnfield Theatre, Exeter: Dec 2nd
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Torquay, Dec 9th

Pop over to https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html to get your tickets now!

More info on us www.southdevonplayers.com www.facebook.com/sdevonplayers www.twitter.com/sdevonplayers email southdevonplayers@gmail.com

Beowulf character posters

15/10/2022

Given half a chance, we do a character poster for each of our actors in our shows - granted with this show, our actors are often playing more than one role, so one character has been selected for each actor - behold our Beowulf awesomes!!
https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html

first class on the course :)

14/10/2022

Tonight the amazing Gareth launched our theatre classes at Brixham Theatre- session 1 was about building confidence and overcoming anxiety.
Next month we will be moving into performance skills with exploring stagecraft and working on and around a stage.

It was sad we had some noshows including on some of the funded places but the small group of students we have are awesome and we are happy to welcome newbies on the next one

#brixham #brixhamtheatre #theatre #acting #actors #education #theatreschool #creative #devon #devontheatre #regionaltheatre #stage #actorslife

Press release materials for our Devon tour of Beowulf

10/10/2022

Press Release
Internationally award-winning Devon theatre company bringing Beowulf to Plymouth, Brixham, Exeter & Torquay
Issued October 10th 2022

For Immediate Release
The classical 10th century epic poem, with heroic warriors, legendary trolls and dragons, based on olden mythology, is brought to life in a new action drama for the stage, by an awardwining theatre company from Brixham in Devon.
A drama suitable for all ages, based on the classical 10th century poem Beowulf, a Key stage 3 text in schools, and featuring passages of the translated poem itself. This is an action drama based around Saxon and Norse / Viking mythology.

A chieftains magnificent royal hall in Denmark, is ravaged by a newly woken creature of the night, and Beowulf, a warrior hero, alongside his small band, travel to the hall to destroy the creature. He is successful, although encountering two such creatures instead of only the one, before travelling back to his homelands, where war and strife between clans, eventually lead to him being crowned King. But there are other creatures that dwell in the dark places. An escaped slave, stealing a golden cup, awakes the dragon, and once again, Beowulf is called upon to defend the people once more....

Staged with drama, action, and larger than life puppetry, as well as excerpts of the original poem, this is an all-new retelling of the drama, by an awardwinning theatre company from Torbay.
With both regard for production costs and for the environment, the shows set, props and costumes are all created from recycled and salvaged materials, with no loss of quality in the production itself. Similarly the cast, drawn from Torbay and Plymouth, range in experience from those who have performed professionally for decades, to those who are completely new to performing but are seeking to launch their career as actors, with a wide range of ages and skills. The show is created around the performing strengths of each actor.
The actors and crew for Beowulf have worked together since August on this show, in and around their wider lives, jobs, studies, family commitments, etc; creating the costumes and props mostly from recycled materials; choreographing the action scenes, as well as working on the technical logistics for touring this show including soundscapes, and larger than life creature suits,- and all on a budget of selling second hand books and things on ebay, to fundraise.
Now, with a show in the final stages of rehearsals, the case and crew are beyond excited to bring this groundbreaking show to the public at long last.
The show is female led; Laura Jury, who adapted the script from the original poems, has been an actor since 1996, and directing since 2000, she is also one of four theatre directors nationally on Equity's Directors & Designers Committee, which meets regularly to discuss and advise on best practice and improving theatre working conditions on a national basis. Laura has an especial interest, born of experience, in championing regionally and rurally created theatre on a national scale.
Laura Jury breaks many stereotypes, as an autistic woman of colour in a professional leadership position.
The show - and theatre company - itself breaks down barriers for creatives. Laura also founded the South Devon Players, a not-for-profit theatre company based in Brixham, Torbay, in 2005 and led it to national and international arts awards for previous shows- the show creates opportunities for local Devon actors and creative talent of all backgrounds to showcase their skills towards, or to further, developing a career in theatre and the arts

All dates and tickets can be found on the box office page at www.southdevonplayers.com.
The show comes to Plymouth at Stoke Damerel Church on November 4th, Brixham Theatre on November 18th & 19th, the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter on December 2nd, and the new Royal Lyceum Theatre in Torquay on December 9th.

END of press release

Attachments:
Group cast photograph photos (actor name as character, back left to right, front left to right) . Other roles are played by the same actors, also doubled up.
Robin Purdie as King Hrothgar, Lisa Highton as Wealhtheow, Lily Marlow as Headred, Ruth Willis as Eadgils, Brooke Harris as Hygd
Laura Jury as Hygelac, Rich Sandford as Beowulf, Sascha Spencer as Waegumund.
Show posters (self-explanatory)

More information: https://www.southdevonplayers.com/box-office.html

Contact:
Laura Jury 07855 090589,
southdevonplayers@gmail.com
Mail: care of our rehearsal venue at Chestnut Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon TQ5 0SA

Members of the press and media are cordially invited to get in contact for any additional information, or to be invited to rehearsals and see behind the scenes of our work.

Downloadables:

beowulf_press_release.pdf
File Size:	61 kb
File Type:	pdf

Google Drive of all press materials
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CyBN-YXSIzJ8W8P_wfGiKIqOlj7kBaEj?usp=sharing

Cast photo
Bigger photo available in the Googledrive above, names of actors in press release.

Show posters

Fundraising in the market

8/10/2022

The amazing Maggie Donaldson running a fundraising stall at the Brixham Scala Hall today to raise funds for our rehearsals and suchlike - she makes amazing cards ( see DevonSent Cards) as well
Many thanks to Brixham Town Council for hosting the event

#actors #brixham #theatre #stage #brixhamtheatre #fundraising #supportlocal #suportthearts #supporttheatre #britishtheatre #devontheatre #devon #torbay

Our classes are a sellout!

8/10/2022

Fab news, our professional theatre course at Brixham Theatre is now filled - all places are sold out as of this morning. Starting on October 13th on stage at Brixham Theatre - run by Laura Jury and an opening session from Gareth Foreman.
All registered students will recieve an email over the next few days with details for the first session and arrival.
#theatre #acting #stage# #brixhamtheatre #devontheatre #brixham #actors #actorslife ##britishtheatre #torbay #devon #performingarts #stageschool

Ageing Well festival 2023

20/9/2022

We would like to say an enormous thank you to our lovely team members Anne, Phil and Annie, for representing us at the Ageing Well Torbay festival. As a theatre company open to people of all ages who work together creating top quality theatre, it is so important to spread the word about our work, and welcome new actors, stage crew, helpers and audiences at every opportunity.
If you met our lovely team members (or not of course! ) and would like to get involved, in any aspect, or find out more, at any time, please drop us a line any time.

Lovely Maggie supporting our fundraising

2/9/2022

More stock for the craft sale at #scalahallbrixham on Saturday 10th September. In addition to my cards, there’ll be lots of toiletries, costume jewellery and other goodies, raising funds for the South Devon Players, your local Brixham-based theatre group, fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe! Come along and support local creatives
#devonsentcards #brixham #brixhamart #brixhamartist #torbay #torbayart #torbayartist #devonart #devoncreatives #handmadecardsforsale #localtheatre

Opening theatre classes at Brixham Theatre

23/8/2022

We are opening theatre classes at our partner venue Brixham Theatre, in October 2022.
Bookings: https://www.southdevonplayers.com/learning-zone.html
All but the final session takes place on the second Thursday of each month - the final session of the course takes place on March 16th 2023.
The course is designed for those new to performing, who want to make it into a career, or course of study, and will cover basic acting and stagecraft, as well as how to apply to agents & castings; and avoid the common pitfalls.
The final session is a showcase where each person will create a performance monologue or duologue which will be filmed on stage, alongside headshot photos, for applying to wider productions.
This course is taught by a qualified drama teacher (Masters of Education from the University of Exeter), who is also a theatre director, one of four nationally on Equity's Directors & Designers Committee.
Due to a generous grant from a private donor, we are able to offer 8 places to people from Torbay on a low income who would not otherwise be able to access theatre training.

Registering for a free place on the course is on the understanding that you attend all sessions unless illness or an emergency occur - this is to prevent free places being taken from other people who would otherwise benefit from the donors generosity. If someone stops turning up, with no communication, they will be invoiced for the full price of the course, and the place re-offered to someone else on a low income.

Classes take place at Brixham Theatre, Bolton Cross, Brixham, TQ5 8TA; starting at 7pm. Students please come to the stage door.

Students must be aged over 18.