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Production News

Auditions for Misery

from the book by Stephen King

• MAY 2006
• Director: Tracy Hunt

This tense thriller by the master of suspense, Stephen King, is one of the most atmospheric plays you will ever see.

When writer Paul Sheldon is injured in backwoods Colorado he is nursed back to health by his number one fan, Annie, in her isolated farmhouse. The only thing is - no one knows he is there and Annie is reluctant to see her guest leave. The theme of imprisonment by a malign force is so strong you can taste it and the denouement is not to be missed!

This two-hander is casting on: Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 January at 8pm.

Auditions for The Boyfriend

by Sandy Wilson

• JULY 2006
• Director: Mike Everitt
• Musical Director: Keith Crook

The last production this year - or is it the first next year? I think it is technically - is Sandy Wilson's musical, The Boyfriend.

The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of the Roaring 1920s! With its catchy tunes, period dances and winning sense of humour, The Boyfriend is a sparkling, tongue-in-cheek musical romp perfect for the whole family (and is the show which turned Julie Andrews into an overnight sensation!). It is exactly the sort of feel-good musical that will play to big houses during its run in the first week of the Hitchin Festival.

The Boyfriend is to be directed by Mick Everitt with musical direction by Keith Crook. There are lots of great parts for actors in their late teens/early 20s plus some lovely roles for more mature performers in the Society.

Mike is planning to have a sing-a-long on Tuesday 2 February. The auditions themselves will be held on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 February, starting at 8pm. Make sure you come along and are part of the fun! The performance dates are: 3-8 July 2006.

Fringe Production: NEW BOY

This is a sensational new play (written for the Soho Theatre) based on the popular book by William Sutcliffe, dramatised by Robin Labey.

Revolving around the not-quite-sexual relationship between a bright but unattractive 17 year-old and the Adonis of the sixth form, this play takes the usual teenage story of confused angst and turns it on its head.

Hysterically funny, fast paced and touching, if theres one play every young (and not so young) person should see to gain a little insight into the panics of burgeoning sexuality, this is the one.

Production Dates: 26-28 January 7.45pm

Plays for Next Season

This is a last call to directors for submissions for the 2006-2007 season. I think Brian wrote about this at length earlier in the year but just to remind you all that we are looking for plays to fill six slots from September to July.

We have a sort of template we work to which ensures that we offer a varied programme across the year with plays that have a range of parts for all adult performers (and sometimes younger ones!) of both sexes.

Genre-wise we like to have:

• A comedy
• A classic play (and that can be a modern classic like Equus)
• A drama
• A musical or play-with-music
• A Christmas play

Would-be directors need to send me a script plus a typed sheet of A4 giving their personal reasons for submitting the play and an outline of how they would stage it. The closing date for submissions is 5 January and there will be no extensions. Late submissions will not be included.