The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company News

And 1307 rehearsals commence - Week 1

20/2/2018

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And so, with all but a couple of roles cast, we get underway with our new spring production! The first week is always an odd one. A new team of people getting used to one another, some still having to arrange their scheduling, but wow. In this first week, some of the cast are already coming off-script! Its a real race to the top with this show.
Lots is happening with 1307. With the full length theatre show and radio dramas both being performed, the former also for streaming to a New York theatre festival, and then a shortened version of the script being adapted for a short film, this cast have a lot of hard work ahead, but as competently shown, they can very much rise to the challenge!

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Men wanted for historical theatre show

5/2/2018

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The nationally awardwinning The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company, from Brixham urgently need to cast some male actors to fill principal roles as historical personages, in their historical next production

1307 is a historical, medieval theatre, and radio production with spinoff short film.
This production is gaining a huge amount of interest. It will be primarily theatre show (full length) touring venues in South Devon, plus being filmed/ livestreamed for an invite-only US theatre award festival, as the only UK entry, mid/late June and into July. It will also be performed as a dramatic radio play (full length) being for local radio, then made available online for download, with an additional spinoff short 10 min film filmed later in summer at mutually agreed time for festivals. The one stumbling block - we need some more male cast!

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.

Rehearsals commence this month, on Wednesdays 6.30pm - 9.30pm & Sundays 12.30pm - 4.30/5pm at Chestnut Community centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0SA,

TO APPLY
Please email southdevonplayers@gmail.com asap to arrange an audition. Due to people needing to attend rehearsals, and performances, we can only really consider people based in south Devon. We do require all cast to be auditioned in person.

ROLES STILL OPEN

Jacques De Molay (a principal main role)
Male. ideal playing age 50s-mid 60s.
Major role in the show, Templar, begins as one of the Grand masters council at Acre, and later becomes Grand Master, accused of heresy and finally burned at the stake under the orders of King Phillip. A matter of fact, intelligent man with little interest in politics, he is far more at home as a knight than a politician. Unshakably loyal to his ideals. Historical personage.

Roger Flors (a principal main role)
Male, age flexible. (20-50s)
Templar at Acre, uses the panic of the attack on the city for his own ends, selling passage out of the doomed city to the highest bidder. Later fakes his own death. Historically a controversial character, who is accused by some historians of desertion, and by others of leaving under orders. Flors is later excommunicated, and seeks revenge against the Order, preferably in favour of his own pocket.

Guillaume De Nogaret (main, critical role in Act 2)
male, age flexible (age 20-60s)
The main advisor to King Philip the Fair, and leader of the Inquisition against the Templars. A cunning, intelligent politician, who seeks to please the fanatical King Philip and line his own pockets under the guise of religious righteousness. Historical personage

Geoffrey de Charnay (minor role act 2)
Male, ideal playing age 40s-50s, but can be flexible.
Minor role, senior Templar arrested and imprisoned alongside Jacques De Molay, and can be combined with another role, appears in final scene when he and Jacques de Molay are burned at the stake. Historical personage

Thomas Martel (intermittent role through whole show)
Male, playing 30s-40s
husband of Ann, tavern owner who has fallen on hard times, appears intermittently throughout the production. Fictional personage.

De Villiers (minor role Act 1)
Male, playing age 30s - 60s
Grand master of the Hospitallers. Minor role in Act 1 at the siege of Acre. Could be combined and taken on by an actor playing another role, later. Historical personage
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Next open auditions for medieval drama. If you want to join us, here is your chance to apply!

18/1/2018

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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

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January 18th, 2018

18/1/2018

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ll for one and one for all – or is it?

The Three Musketeers is an action packed, family pantomime, written in-house from the South Devon Players team, touring Brixham and Torquay in Jan 2018.

Based on the classic swashbuckling novel by Alexandre Dumas, this panto tells the classical swashbuckling tale of intrigue and loyalty and action, set in the 17th Century French royal court, and how a young man from the country joins the royal guards, while foiling a plot to depose the King, given the panto treatment with plenty of laughter, dance, song, - and epic sword fights from our trained fight team.
The ambitious young swordsman from the countryside, D;Artagnan, joins an unlikely team of the Kings Musketeers; Pothos, Aramis and Athos, as well as the Queens lady in waiting Constance, and her rather terrifying mother, the tavern owner Bonacieux, alongside Queen Anne, to foil the scheming Cardinal Richelieu’s plan to take the French throne.
The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company, founded and based in Brixham, are on a steep rise at the moment, with the international release of their Arthurian feature film Mordred on the horizon, and having won a national arts award in Newcastle, in March 2017. Founded in the winter of 2005-6, this ambitious, energetic team of local performers develop new work, by researching historical events and adapting classical tales for the stage and screen to wide acclaim.

Tickets are now on sale, visit our box office for more information and to book

Brixham Dates:
Jan 20th - 7pm
Jan 21st - 2pm and 7pm

Brixham Venue:
The Edge,
Bolton Street.
Brixham,
Devon.
TQ5 9DH

Brixham Prices:
Adults £7
Concs (saturday £5.50, Sunday £5.00)

Torquay Dates:
Jan 27 - 3pm and 7pm

Torquay Venue:
St Matthews Church
St Matthew's Rd,
Torquay TQ2 6JA

Torquay Prices:
Adults £7
Concs (5.00)

Tickets can be reserved over the phone from the team on 07855 090589, or ordered online from the South Devon Players website: www.southdevonplayers.com (click the box office tab)

some rehearsal photos by Emily at Appleton Event Photography

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The first radio play - Les Miserables

18/1/2018

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On January 6th, our team embarked on what we hope will be a new and very excellent series of collaborations with a local radio station, starting, with recording a radio drama of Les Miserables, for broadcast over the next month or so (just needs editing and adding in sound effects etc!) - watch our social media for shared links to the broadcast. :)
It was fantastic to have a team of both established performers and new performers who worked together like clockwork to record the drama!

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Mordred- the latest

5/1/2018

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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

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Three Musketeers: The Panto - Behind the scenes!

7/12/2017

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And here is a quick look behind the scenes at our rehearsals for The Three Musketeers: The Panto,
This all action pantomime will be performed in Brixham and Torquay in Mid-to late January - pop over to our Box Office page to book now!

Scenes, swordfights, and costumes are all underway now.

We hope to see you in January :)

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Assassins Creed fight show

28/10/2017

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A new "take" on showteam shows was trialled on Thursday. Some years back we had our Three Musketeers showteam, which is still something which can be resurrected. But in the meantime through a series of events - an afternoon of impromptu fight show between Laura and Anth, back in the summer, and then the fact that a number of our performers are Assassins Creed fans, the natural thing happened.

And the Assassins Creed-theme showteam was born, we decided to put together a fight show for the final Brixham Buccaneers Pirate Thursdays. This is a charity, volunteer-run annual series of family friendly events - mainly pirate, but they often want different entertainment, and we work with them a lot.

Lucius, Steve, Ray, Laura and Rich created the final performance. It went so well than we have been asked back for the Pirate Thursdays next summer!

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A successful weekend of external bookings

2/10/2017

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A busy weekend of external jobs is now past, with great feedback.

On Friday evening, Steve, Lucius, Laura and Rhia were booked to be the in-character entertainers at a medieval banquet for Hatherleigh Primary School raising funds for their woodland area. So, Lord and Lady Bloodraven, along side Lord Redvers man at arms and Lady Eleanor Belstone (yes, using all local names!) alongside some other actors created a rolling drama of a stolen jewel, a drunken Jester who took religion after some time spent in the stocks. Unusually for us, this was not a strict historical period, and more generic in its medieval theme, so we had a lot more latitude than we normally allow ourselves!

Feedback from one of the organisers who booked us:
"Thank you sooo much one and all. Well all of the guests adored "the actors". I do feel without you all there, it would not have been a success"

Then, on Saturday, we had our second engagement, six of our lovely team booked as 1960s hippies, for the Ageing Well 2017 festival at Lupton House near Brixham . A great day of handing out flowers to people arriving, filling the front of the house with bubbles, dancing, and welcoming the event guests.
Again, great feedback from the organizers
"You really made me feel I was back in the 60s thank you so much for your hard work on the day. I could feel the love in the air"

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Ongoing collaboration with local radio station announced

29/9/2017

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We are delighted to announce that we will be collaborating with a local radio station to create dramatic radio-plays of some of our existing scripts and also a few new ones, over the coming months.

We are openly casting for this, and would love to hear from experienced, reliable actors who would like to join in with these projects.

Plays under discussion, include our 2014 script of Les Miserables, as well as various other pieces.

This will be ongoing, we get one recorded and in, then another, and so on. They will be broadcast in regular half hour slots.
Recording, depending on time and ambience needed, will either be at SDP (the community centre), location for outdoors, or at the radio station studio in Paignton,times to be discussed and to be arranged for when everyone in a particular radio play cast can attend together.
Expect anything up to three or four recording sessions per month . There may also be opportunity for other skits and ideas which are currently being thought about.
Clips as soon as broadcast can be used for actors voice reels.
Open to existing SDPers and prospective SDPers. Non-disclosure and actors agreements will apply.

To get involved, please drop us a line, we will respond with the Facebook group link where we will be co-coordinating shows.

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And 1307 rehearsals commence - Week 1

Men wanted for historical theatre show

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

January 18th, 2018

The first radio play - Les Miserables

Mordred- the latest

Three Musketeers: The Panto - Behind the scenes!

Assassins Creed fight show

A successful weekend of external bookings

Ongoing collaboration with local radio station announced

Updated by our secretary, Laura

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