Oedipus At Colonus
Description
Oedipus The King
6th – 8th October 2022
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
This play was written for performance in Athens in 400 BC, and was set about nine hundred years earlier. Is it drama, is it history, is it myth? This was Sophocles most personal play, being set in his home village and dealing with the death of a flawed hero, written in the year before his own death. We are tackling this production in a semi-traditional manner, with a cast of eighteen, ranging in age from twelve to our loyal octogenarians. They are enjoying the challenge of tackling a production in unfamiliar style; it may be a very old play but it is new to them and will be new to you, our audience.
Performances
Thursday 6th October at 7:30pm
Thursday 7th October at 7:30pm
Thursday 8th October at 7:30pm
Tickets
Tickets
Tickets will be available soon…
£12 Standard
£10 Seniors and 16 & under
Box office 03454 500296
Online (No booking fee):
Cast
Cast
TBA…
Photos
Gallery
Alice in Wonderland Jr
Description
Alice in Wonderland Jr
22nd – 24th July 2022
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, in her madcap adventures. Featuring updated songs from Disney’s thrilling animated motion picture, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. is a fast-paced take on the classic tale.
The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit. Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!
Performances
Friday 22nd July – show starts at 7:00pm
Saturday 23rd July – show starts at 2:00pm
Saturday 23rd July – show starts at 7:00pm
Sunday 24th July – show starts at 2:00pm
Tickets
Cast
Cast
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Photos
Twelfth Night
Description
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
23rd – 26th May 2022
The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, TR19 6JU
Following our Group’s successful debut at the Minack in April 2018, we return with one of Shakespeare’s best known romantic comedies, to be directed by John Frankland.
Show times:
Monday 23rd May at 7:30pm
Tuesday 24th May at 2:30pm and at 7:30pm
Wednesday 25th May at 7:30pm
Thursday 26th May at 2:30pm and at 7:30pm
Tickets
Cast
Cast
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Gallery
Gallery
Alice in Wonderland Workshop and Auditions
As it stands it’s STILL all systems go for Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR to be performed by the Karnon Kidz on Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th July 2022.
As you can imagine with having to postpone this production twice, we are very much aware a lot has changed in that time. We have had an amazing response from our appeal asking those of you who were involved originally whether they were still interested in joining us for this fabulous show which is great. Bearing this in mind the Director Samantha Rogers and her team are excited to inform you that they will be holding a workshop/audition on Sunday 27th February 2 – 5pm at the Perranwell Centre for anyone aged between 7 & 18 years. We are looking forward to seeing you all again and finally getting this production on the road. If you have any friends or relatives that would like to join us then please do bring them along as we are aware that some of you couldn’t join us last time due to our age restrictions, but are now old enough to join us.
If you have any queries or are unable to attend but would like to take part then please do let us know by emailing: smeagleandprecious@hotmail.com
A Lad In…
Description
A Lad In… by Joy Bassett
27th – 30th January 2022
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
This pantomime, written by a member of our Group and directed by Pam Furnish, is set in Cornwall and in the Orient, and will be an original and comical retelling of the Aladdin story. With song and dance, colourful sets and costumes, and large cast of all ages, it will be an entertainment for the whole family.
Show times:
Thursday 27th Jan at 7:30pm
Friday 28th Jan at 7:30pm
Saturday 29th Jan at 2:30pm and at 7:30pm
Sunday 30th Jan at 2:30pm
Tickets
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. Click below to book your tickets online.
Box office 01872 862063
Online (No booking fee):
Cast
Cast
Cast list |
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ROSS/ALADDIN | Abi Holmes |
DEMELZA/PRINCESS BLOSSOM | Megan Laval |
DENZIL/WISHY-WASHY | Millie Padmore |
LILY/TIGER-LILY | Bethan Robinson |
ROBIN EWE/DAN D | David Ivall |
MAYOR/SULTAN | Colin Groom |
LADY CURRANT/SULTANA | Sally-Ann Gretton |
WIDOW TRELAWNEY/TWANKEY | Tracey Holmes |
WI SECRETARY/LADY CHAMELEON | Laura Keverne |
CORNISH KNOCKER/GENIE of the LAMP | Chris Breach |
GENIE of the RING | Rueben Lewis |
GUARD 1 | Charlotte Padmore |
GUARD 2 | Asha Robinson |
PANDA 1 (GuGu) | Esther O’Bearagh |
PANDA 2 (ChiChi) | Moo Burnett |
BABY PANDAS x 3 | Finley Knight, Lucy Padmore, Luke Dunn |
DANCE LEADER | Grace Gurr |
CHORUS | Vron Spear, Sara Wright, Chris Breach, Mark Breach, Harrison, Rosie Etherington, Matlida Hains, Maeve Spear |
Twelfth Night Auditions
’Some are born great; some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them’ by attending our
Twelfth Night Launch / Audition
CDDG takes it’s COVID responsibilities very seriously. For us to ensure adequate ventilation, the hall may not be as warm as usual. We would advise you come adequately clothed.
Pop Goes the Patient / Two Point OH
Description
CDDG, as part of its extended Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations, presents two one act plays: POP GOES THE PATIENT and TWO POINT OH
7th – 9th October 2021
The Perrranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
Pop Goes the Patient was the Group’s first ever production in 1970. It has now been adapted by director John Frankland and will be staged as a radio drama (with audience participation).
Two Point OH, by Jeff Dunne of Maryland, USA, was the winner of our One Act Play Writing Competition last year. A story of when technology goes wrong, it will be directed by Nick Vale.
These two plays represent CDDG’s ethos: proud of our successful history, but always looking to the future.
Photos
One Act Play Auditions!!
We are thrilled to announce that after such a long break, due to the pandemic, we will be holding auditions for two one act plays on Sunday 18th July.
You are invited to audition for Two Point Oh! by Jeff Dunne and also Pop Goes the Patient by Leonard Barnett.
Two Point Oh! was the winner of the Carnon Downs Drama 50th Anniversary One Act Play competition, which ended up being judged through the pandemic. Pop Goes the Patient was CDDG’s first ever production, and was a play we had hoped to perform as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2020.
For more information about the auditions and to book your audition slot please contact secretary@carnondownsdrama.co.uk.
Carnon Downs Drama AGM 2021
We will be holding the CDDG AGM at The Barn, Gwennap Pit, on Sunday 11 July at 2.30pm.
One Act Play – We Have a Winner!
We have a winner! When 294 became 1!
It’s taken 9 months, 3 lockdowns for firstly the CDDG panel to arrive at a shortlist of 14 and then secondly for the judges (Kirsty Cotton, Talent Development Programme Manager at Hall For Cornwall, Libby Shaw, Manager at Waterstones Truro and Local Author Liz Fenwick, latest book ’The Path to the Sea’ 2019) to choose a winner.
AND THE WINNER IS……………..
’Two Point OH’ by Jeff Dunne, Maryland USA.
In a very difficult and tight decision the judges picked 3 further plays to be joint runners up. So in no particular order:
THE RUNNERS UP ARE………………
’The Notice’ by Lucy Charleston,Truro Cornwall.
’The Incident at Wembley Stadium’ by Lucas Kingman, Falmouth Cornwall.
’Seven Small Deaths’ by Emily Hageman. Iowa USA.
To see just how hard a decision it was, each of these plays are here to download for you to read yourself:
One Act Play Shortlist Announced
It was in February this year that, thanks to John Frankland, we launched this competition, but little did we know how big and global an entry it would draw! – 294!!!
It has been a mammoth task reading all the entries but we can now publish the Shortlist of 14.
— THE SHORTLIST —
‘Offsteady’ by Darrel Draper
‘BIO’ by Fergal O’Byrne
‘Revelation 18.8’ by Rhys Clarke
‘The Incident at Wembley Stadium’ by Louis Kingman
‘Lobsters’ by Seb Flatau
‘Burnout’ by Maisy Beth Crunden
‘Flat Earth’ by Stephen Doran
‘Two Point OH’ by Jeff Dunne
‘This is Just This’ by Barbara Lindsay
‘Byron’s Voice’ by J J Steinfeld
‘Touch the Moon’ by Arianna Rose
‘Seven Small Deaths’ by Emily Hageman
‘The Notice’ by Lucy Charleston
‘Greatest Britain’ by Harry Cowper
N.B. List is in order plays were submitted (earliest first).
Total number of submissions 294.
We thank all the writers who entered. The shortlisted plays will now be judged by a panel of experts and as soon as we have their decision we will publish the result.
Update on One Act Play Competition
We have really enjoyed reading through all of the entries to the competition – a BIG thank you to everyone who entered! We are very close to our shortlist so WATCH THIS SPACE!
One Act Play Competition Draws to a Close
As part of our 50th Anniversary year we launched a One Act Play competition to find a new play to be performed alongside a rehearsed reading of our very first production ‘Pop Goes the Patient’. The closing date for entries was midnight on Friday 5th June. Shortly before that deadline we received our 294th submission.
The competition has been amazingly successful with entries from all over the world, several from America, as well as Russia and Canada. We have also received entries from Cornwall and across the UK including one from New Zealand from a writer having to see out the pandemic there whose home is Falmouth.
Entries have come from established professional writers as well as amateurs and for some it is their first attempt at writing a play. Several entries have made the point of how much they appreciated the opportunity in these uncertain times.
The judging team from CDDG will now be completing their reading and assessing all 294 submissions with a view to selecting 14 finalists from whom our winner will be chosen by a panel made up of Managers at Waterstones, Truro, a local author and myself.
In the light of the number of entrants I expect the judging process to be completed in July 2020. At that time we will, in the light of where we are with Covid 19, be making further announcements about production plans.
Sisterly Feelings Goes Virtual
Sisterly Feelings Monday May 18th Opening night transferred from Minack to Zoom.
I was very pleased with the way our virtual reading went and super proud of everyone who took part with special thanks to Zoe and Ethan the backstage team.
I think we have learned a lot. Virtual backgrounds and how to control them. Entrances and Exits how to make them look smooth. The use of co-hosts to support if there is a technical problem with audience or cast. It enabled us very smoothly to readmit those who lost connection.
All in all a very worthwhile event and a good celebration of what would have been a perfect opening night at a sunny Minack.
I have added to this some thought and comments from cast and audience.
John
If you’d asked me three months ago what I would be doing on the evening of May 18th I’d have been confident of the answer – carefully eyeing the skies and praying for decent weather for the opening night of Sisterly Feelings at the Minack.
In my wildest fantasies I would never have contemplated performing my part in the solitude of my own bedroom, aided and abetted by a virtual cast and before a virtual audience. Yet owing to a bizarre combination of a global pandemic and the wonders of modern technology that is exactly
what transpired (and we must not forget dear Johnny whose mad idea this was!).The fact that this was pulled off so successfully owes much to the Zoom software, which I’d never heard of before April. So this was a steep learning curve for me, with knowledge being acquired both before and during the performance! My bête noire was the Virtual Background – I could only make this work by pointing the laptop camera at the white ceiling and looking down into said camera to deliver lines (even this failed when the natural light faded at around 8.30, and once again I became a ghostly apparition).
Entrances and exits were an interesting challenge, particularly in the cross-country race scene, where I would have been (and hopefully will be in 2021) haring around the stage in all directions. I’m convinced I felt more exhausted after Monday than I would have at Porthcurno. Props were, to quote Jeeves from another show, ‘mostly imagined or representational’. This involved my daughter Cathy launching sandwiches on to my picnic plate from behind my laptop (blink and you missed it), as well as clipboards, stopwatches etc. Sadly our long-suffering audience were deprived Constable Murphy ‘handing’ me a loud hailer – that scene fell victim to the random choices in the script.
Thanks to all of our wonderful cast for throwing themselves into this venture, especially Chris and Nick who replaced original cast members at short notice. The backstage team were as active as they would have been in a live show – I think we have Ethan and Zoe to thank for this – and we must not forget John’s boundless enthusiasm in putting the whole thing together. We also thank the Zoom audience (14, I believe – I’ve played to fewer in real life) for getting into the spirit of the project and for their kind feedback after the show.
We fervently hope that in twelve months these strange times will be behind us and that we will be celebrating a more conventional success story on a real stage. Nonetheless, this unique performance will be a delightful memory when I sit back and recall the special moments I have been privileged to enjoy with CDDG.
Simon
Please give my congratulations to all involved in “Sisterly Feelings”. It’s not a play that I am familiar with, but it kept my attention throughout. I thought it was amazing to get the reactions between characters when they were not even in the same room!
Angela
It was a rather strange occasion, we should have been at the Minack, but … we know the rest. It was the first time we had tried to do anything like that and I think we learnt a lot from the exercise, especially about lighting and virtual backgrounds.
Mark
When you are next in touch with cast and crew of Sisterly Feelings, please tell them that I thought they did a stirling job on Monday.
Ann
That was a lot of fun. Thank you everyone…its so lovely to keep in touch.
Kate
New experience. Prefer reality but good to see everyone.
Jon
Really enjoyed that John, so glad I joined can’t wait for the real deal.
Amelia
I thought everyone did really well considering the limitations and difficulties of using technology for a live theatre event. Characters emerged and the story was clear from the start. You could tell it was going to be a great show at the Minack for all.
Charlie
Great performances from all the cast and very cleverly adapted to zoom- it didn’t feel like just another zoom catchup but felt like an ‘event’ with the use of tech, excellent work by all! Looking forward to seeing it at the Minack next year!
Dylan
One Act Play Competition
As part of our 50th celebration we are launching a competition to find a new one act play to be performed 1st to 3rd Oct and 10th Oct. The competition is open to all; both members and non-members.
Apart from the special reward of seeing your work performed there will also be a cash prize of £100 plus a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to the winning playwright. Closing date for submissions Friday June 5th 2020 (Terms and conditions apply) As long as it has never been performed before it will qualify. All welcome from 16 years to 100 plus.
The winner will receive £100 cash and a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to help develop their script and discuss careers in scriptwriting.
Victoria is a writer and script editor, and was the coordinator for the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition. She collaborates with emerging and established writers to develop their scripts for the stage and screen, and is currently working with production companies including Drama Republic (Doctor Foster), New Pictures (COBRA) and 42 M&P (Military Wives) to find projects to develop for film and TV.
So, let the creative juices flow.
Please email your entries to j-frankland@hotmail.co.uk
The Sleeping Beauty
Description
The Sleeping Beauty – By David Ivall
January 2020
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
The Group’s pantomime for its Fiftieth Anniversary Year is The Sleeping Beauty, written and directed by David Ivall, with songs by David Ivall and Peter Smith. It blends the stories of the beautiful enchanted Princess with those of Red Ridinghood and Jack and the Beanstalk (not to forget Daisy the Cow). We can be fairly certain that, despite the machinations of the Wicked Fairy, the Princess will be awoken by the kiss of a handsome Prince, but who will she actually marry?
With fifteen adults and twenty three children, this is our largest cast pantomime for some years. Add in colourful costumes, ingenious sets, original songs, comedy, dancing, and a talking goose, and you have fun for all the family!
Book your tickets now here.
Tickets
Cast
Cast
Jack – Megan Johns
Princess May – Abi Holmes
Red Ridinghood – Bethan Robinson
Prince Cyprian – Megan Laval
King Faraway – Colin Groom
Melisend the Good Fairy – Charlotte Padmore
Mafalda the Wicked Fairy – Chris Breach
Big Bad Wolf – Mark Breach
Dame Durden – Sally-Anne Gretton
Granny – Ann Lejeune
Royal Chamberlain – Malcolm Grimsley
Assistant Chamberlain – Jasmine Lennard
Chief Guard – Grace Macindoe
Guard Chris – Grace Gurr
Guard Ash – Roby Goddard
Guard Sam – Klara Boehm
Guard Alf – Oliver Lawrence
Guard Bart – Luka Boehm
Griselda, henchwoman – Hannah Moorfield
Royal Cook – Sarah Wright
Cora, young villager – Olive Hilton-Meadows
Flora, young villager – Sophie Woodrow
Mrs Thomas, villager – Vron Spear
Mrs Richards, villager – Wendy Poole
Mrs Henry, villager – Anne Grimsley
King’s Page – Lavender Leishman
Royal Choir Mistress – Esther O’Bearagh
Royal Attendant Rose – Millie Padmore
Royal Attendant Marigold – Poppy Leishman
Royal Attendant Violet – Asha Robinson
Small Servant – Lily Broughton Rowe
Smaller Servant – Alice Hamilton
Slightly Bigger Servant – Steffi Wright
Hedgehog – Hannah Goodman
Rabbit – Vera Leuzzi
Mouse – Ellie Goodman
Voice of the Goose – Moo Burnett
Voice of the Giant and Daisy the Cow – Mike Stanger
Photos
Sisterly Feelings Launch Day
On Saturday 30th November we are holding a launch day and open audition for Sisterly Feelings by Alan Ayckbourn. This will be a Carnon Downs Drama Group Production to be performed at the Minack Theatre from Monday 18th May to Friday 22nd May 2020.
The launch day and auditions will take place at 2.00pm at The Perranwell Centre, South Room.
Please let John know if you would like to borrow a script or have any queries or if you are interested but can’t make the date.
And Then There Were None
Description
Agatha Christie’s
And Then There Were None
1st to 5th October 2019
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU
Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd
From the pen of Agatha Christie comes an intriguing murder mystery And Then There Were None.
Performances will take place from 1st to the 5th October 2019
Tickets
Tickets
The box office is now closed for this production.
Cast
Photos
Play in a week
Summer Drama Club has begun and we have a great bunch of youngsters that are putting together a Play in a Week. Check out what we have been up to.
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
… and now the trailer for the fantastic play that has been put together over the week:
The final performance! We are so proud of all the children! We want to say a big thank you to all of them for all their hard work, to all the adults who helped us and of course the parents for helping learn lines and lending us their children for the week! Enjoy!
To finish up what has been a fabulous week with a wonderful bunch of youngsters, here is what they and their parents thought!