Take your turn in the limelight

4:00pm Monday 9th September 2013 in Stage
By Ruth Meech

Full of class: Dorchester Drama Club’s production of
Jeeves in Bloom

SUCCESSFUL theatre group Dorchester Drama, who this year celebrated their 50th anniversary with a brilliant adaptation of Jeeves in Bloom, are revving up for their autumn production.

All are invited along to take part in auditions on Wednesday, September 11 and there are also opportunities for those preferring to help out with vital backstage and production work.

The show, Alan Ayckbourn’s Life & Beth, will be staged in late November and is a wonderful comedy in similar vein to Blithe Spirit.

It is Christmas, and Beth Timms is mourning the recent death of her health and safety officer husband, Gordon. Beth’s sister-in-law Connie and son Martin have come to stay, determined to ensure that she should have a stress-free Christmas, but their good intentions prove to be short-lived.

Only David, the local vicar, provides Beth with comfort, but when he says a prayer for her he unwittingly summons Gordon’s ghost back to the family home.

Gordon has been busy implementing health and safety measures in the afterlife and is now determined to stick around to help Beth manage her affairs. It soon becomes apparent, however, that his return is not altogether welcome . . .

The characters for the casting on Wednesday are Beth Timms, recently widowed and in her 50s, the late Gordon in his 60s, son Martin and his girlfriend Ella in their 20s or 30s, Gordon’s sister Connie who is in her 50s and David the vicar, who is a widower in his 50s.

The production will be co-directed by Paul Lawless & Richelle Khan.

Dorchester Drama spokesman David Reeve said: “Paul and Richelle are local professional actors and workshop co-ordinators who are really looking forward to directing their first project with us.

“Both have had extensive training in all areas of the performing industry and intend to run rehearsals in a fun but rewarding workshop-fashion.”

Auditions are in the Sunninghill School Hall off Culliford Road, Dorchester on Wednesday, September 11 at 7.30pm.

Please arrive promptly at 7.15pm, as auditions will begin swiftly at 7.30pm and any lateness will be taken in to consideration when casting the play.

Rehearsals will run twice-weekly, on a Monday and Wednesday evening, from September 16. If you are interested in helping with production side contact Anne on Reevefamily4@talktalk.net

Hi all

The Dorchester Drama Committee are very excited to annouce our autumn production with local actors Paul Lawless and Richelle Khan as our co-directors in the festive comedy “Life and Beth” by Alan Ayckbourn. This a great opportunity for those interested in warming up before the community play so we hope to see you all at the auditions!! Please feel free to forward this to anyone you may think is interested.

Hello Thespians and Co!
Dorchester Drama are excited to announce that their Autumn production will be –
Alan Ayckbourn’s festive Comedy
‘Life & Beth’
Performance 21st – 23rd November 2013
……………. It is Christmas, and Beth Timms is mourning the recent death of her health and safety officer husband, Gordon. Beth’s Sister-in-law Connie and son Martin have come to stay, determined to ensure that she should have a stress-free Christmas, but between Connie’s drinking problem and Martin’s unspeaking and emotionally volatile girlfriend Ella, their intentions prove to be short-lived.

Only David, the local vicar, provides Beth with any comfort, but when he says a prayer for her bereavement he unwittingly summons Gordon’s ghost to return to the family home. Gordon has been busy implementing health and safety measures in the afterlife and is now determined to stick around to help Beth manage her affairs. It soon becomes apparent, however, that his return in not altogether welcome . . .

Characters (there is some flexibility with the ages):
Beth Timms, recently widowed, 50s
Gordon Timms, Beth’ late husband, 60s
Martin Timms, their son, 20s/30s
Ella Parker, Martin’s girlfriend, late 20s
Connie Bunting, Gordon’s sister, wodow, 50s
Revd David Grinseed, widower, 50s

Co-directed by Paul Lawless & Richelle Khan
Paul and Richelle are local professional Actors and Workshop co-ordinators who are really looking forward to directing their first project, with Dorchester Drama. Both have had extensive training in all areas of the performing industry and intend to run rehearsals in a fun but rewarding workshop-fashion. When the cast aren’t rehearsing or blocking scenes, they will be working more closely with the other director on breathing, voice work, movement technique and approaches to the text!
Acting Auditions are to be held in the Sunninghill School Hall on
Wednesday 11th September at 7.30pm.
Please arrive promptly at 7.15pm, as we are looking to begin swiftly at 7.30pm. Lateness to the audition will be taken in to consideration when casting the play. Rehearsals will run twice-weekly, on a Monday and Wednesday evening and commence the following Monday (16th September).
If you are interested in fulfilling roles on the production side of things, please get in contact with Anne Reeve on Reevefamily4@talktalk.net
We look forward to seeing you at the audition!