Puss In Boots Auditions

CDDG would love to welcome you all to come along to the auditions for our 2025 pantomime, Puss In Boots.

This will be our own version of the traditional story: three brothers, Petrock, Patsy and Piran Trelawney, inherit the mill in Perranwell from their father, but the elder brothers won’t share with Piran, who is forced to seek his fortune in the great city of Truro, with only his cat and an old pair of boots. However, when the cat puts the boots on – she can talk! Puss plans for Piran to pretend to be the Marquess of Glasney, so that he can marry the beautiful Princess Gwinevere, but Petrock does his best to stop that and the King and Queen are more concerned about battling the wicked Ogre of Penelewey and his evil henchwomen. True love is under threat, Warfare is pending, but all ends happily, once Lawyer Roscarrick has found his proper glasses…

Auditions are to be held at The Perranwell Centre, Sunday 15th September from 10am to 1pm. The first full rehearsal will be on Sunday 13th October, 2 to 5pm. Company rehearsals will be on Sunday afternoons and principal rehearsals on Friday evenings. The production dates are Thursday 30th January to Sunday 2nd February 2025.

List of Parts:
There are plenty of parts of all sizes, suitable for people of all ages. Roughly in order of number of lines. Indications of age and gender are only for guidance – anyone is free to audition for any part.

Piran Trelawny, our lovable hero, teen male, must sing
Puss in Boots, clever and bossy, teen female
The Ogre, wicked and imposing, adult male, must sing
King Pydar of Cornwall, always speaks in rhyme, adult male
Queen Lamorna, capable and intelligent, adult female
Princess Guinevere, beautiful but feisty, teen female, must sing
Petrock Trelawny, Piran’s greedy brother, adult/teen male
Patsy Trelawny, his gullible brother, teen m/f
Mrs Polparret, Cornish villagewoman, could be played as a dame role, adult m/f
Lawyer Roscarrick, elderly and shortsighted, adult male
Freda, Ogre’s First Henchwoman (all the henchwomen are supposedly evil but really more concerned about their salaries and pension plans), adult female
Demelza, a lady in waiting, friend to Princess, teen female
Veryan Tregurra, Truro girl, teen/child female
Camilla, Prunella and Lucinda, henchwomen (see Freda), adult female
Herald, teen/child m/f, needs loud clear voice (well, everyone needs a loud clear voice, but Herald especially)
Cuby, King’s page, child m/f
Igor, Ogre’s sinister servant, child m/f
Roberta, Rowena and Rosie, three rabbits, child m/f, must sing
Boy Blue, a trumpeter, child m/f
Bo Peep, a shepherdess, child f
Suitor Lancelot, child m
Suitor Ruan, child m
First and Second Guards, any age m/f
First and Second Villagers, any age m/f
Cat, must move well, miaows, child f

Chorus of Villagers, Courtiers, Ruffians and Ghouls – a lot of the characters above can be in chorus also, and many of the musical numbers are for full company, so everyone needs to sing, even if they think they can’t.

You can see that we need a good-sized company for this, so do come to the auditions and encourage your friends to come along too.

 

Charles Dickens’ “The Chimes” Launch and Auditions

The Chimes

CDDG would like to welcome you all to our launch and auditions of our productions of Charles Dickens’ “The Chimes”.

The Launch will be held at The Perranwell Centre on Friday 7th June at 7:00pm.

Auditions will be held at The Perranwell Centre on Sunday 9th June at 5:30pm and Thursday 13th June at 7:30pm.

This production will be performed at The Perranwell Centre on the 3rd to 5th October 2024. Those currently in Matilda or Labour of Love will not be called for rehearsals until those shows are complete.

CHARLES DICKENS’ “THE CHIMES” 

After A Christmas Carol, The Chimes is the second of Dickens’ Christmas Books. Set on New Year’s Eve it tells the story of Toby Veck a humble porter who makes a meagre living, waiting for jobs as he sits on the church steps; inspired by the church bells to hope for better times.

This is Dickens at his most uncompromising. Ever the social reformer, he presents stark differences between the hard, the uncaring and the ignorant well-off, with the down-trodden poor who take pleasure in simple comforts and companionship, to live as well as they may. Although this is a dark tale it does conclude with a surprising and uplifting happy ending.

Ultimately it is a tale of the triumph of hope over adversity, and being Dickens, there are ghosts and goblins who are very much part of the story.

Matilda Jr Workshop and Auditions

Matilda

Karnon Kidz (the youth section of the Carnon Downs Drama Group) are pleased to announce that their next show will be Matilda Jr.

Are you between the ages of 7-18?

Would you like the opportunity to be part of the cast?

Maybe you would like to help behind the scenes?

Why not come to our workshop on Sunday 4th February 2024 from 10:00am until 1:00pm.

Auditions are being held on Sunday 11th February 2024 from 10:00am until 1:00pm.

Both the workshop and the auditions will be held at The Perranwell Centre.

Performance dates will be Friday 5th, Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July 2024 at The Perranwell Centre.

 For more details, please contact Samantha Barker- tinkerbellstar870@hotmail.com

Audition Pieces

Dr Faustus Launch and Auditions

DrFaustus

CDDG would like to welcome you all to our launch and auditions of our productions of Dr Faustus.

Auditions will be held at The Perranwell Centre on Saturday 13th January from 9:30am until 2:30pm. If necessary further auditions can be held Sunday 4th Feb 2pm to 5pm.
 
This production will be performed at The Minack on the 19th to 22nd May 2024. We will be beginning rehearsals on Sunday 11th February.
 
We would be happy to welcome children 14 or over to the launch, but that they and parents need to consider the timing of the show (week before half term so permission would have to be obtained from school) and also the increased commitment of either driving daily to The Minack or finding accommodation/ camping as a family nearby.
 
DOCTOR FAUSTUS BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE and COLIN TEEVAN
 
Welcome to Hell!
Here is Doctor Faustus the scholar who sold his soul to the Devil. In this new adaption the third and fourth acts of Christopher Marlowe’s Elizabethan classic are re-written by Colin Teevan, updating the satire and placing Faustus in a modern world of avarice and celebrity. Faustus isn’t the only one selling his soul, bankers and media moguls all sign on the dotted line.
 
This new version was performed at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London in April 2016. This production at the Minack will be it’s amateur premiere produced by the same team that brought a vibrant ‘Twelfth Night’ to life in 2022.
 
Directed by John Frankland with original music by Ben Sutcliffe and puppetry created by Jennie Rawling. It promises a mix of tragedy and terror with comedy and magic, a wild ride through life peopled with devils, a Swat team and even the Pope and Marilyn Monroe make an appearance.
 
Doctor Faustus is a story that has been running since humanity came into existence. Enjoy the magical in the magical setting of a real cliff edge.
 
‘The stars move still; time runs; the clock will strike;
The devil will come; and Faustus must be damned.’

Mother Goose Auditions

Mother Goose

Auditions for CDDG’s annual pantomime Mother Goose written by our very own Logan Fox and to be directed by John Frankland will be held on Sunday 15th October at The Perranwell Centre.

The auditions are open to all ages with under 16’s auditioning from 10am to 12 noon, and adults auditioning from 2pm to 5pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Labour of Love – Launch and Auditions

The October play (5th to 7th October) will be

Labour of Love by James Graham

This is a relatively new play professionally performed in 2017 with Martin Freeman and Tamsin Greig.

James Graham is a highly successful modern playwright ’This House’ performed at the National Theatre. He currently has his latest play ‘This England’ running now at the National Theatre. He also wrote the highly rated drama series ’Sherwood’

Labour of Love is a political comedy set in the party’s traditional northern heartlands. Its particular challenge is that it explores the clash of philosophy, culture and class against the backdrop of the Labour Party over 25 years from Kinnock, through Blair to Corbyn. That sounds quite sombre but it is a really sharp comedy with parts that verge on farce.

Labour MP David Lyons cares about modernisation and electability, his constituency agent, Jean Whittaker, cares about principles and her community but, what are their real feelings for each other?

So up is down, left is right, right is wrong, behold the new politics.

 

CAST:

David Lyons (a Labour MP)

Jean Whittaker (a constituency agent)

Elizabeth Lyons (David’s wife)

Len Prior (a local councillor and party worker)

Margot Midler (a constituent and party worker)

Mr Shen (a Chinese businessman investor)

 

Also, a group of constituents, party workers, delivery boy, takeaway owner, vitally important to the transition from one period to another.

There are a group of unique challenges for this production. It spans a period of over 25 years, early 1990’s to 2017 or, put another way from 1970’s bulky computers and fax machine to iphones. 

If anyone has or has any ideas for where we can find old computers and a fax machine please let me know.

The Launch/ auditions will be on Sunday 23rd July 2.00 to 5.00

at

The Perranwell Centre.

Auditions will be open to all. Please can everyone share this information far and wide so we can bring new and existing members to this production, especially, can we share the role of Mr Shen, who needs to be of Asian background (age is not specific 18 to 60)

As the play spans 25 years, age for all the parts is not specific.

So, whatever your political affiliation, red, blue, green, independent or, none at all, please join us in staging what will be an amateur drama FIRST and only the SECOND production ever of this brilliant comedy.

Any queries please contact Director, John Frankland

 j-frankland@hotmail.co.uk or Tel:  07974 799774

Community Coronation Tea Party

Join us for a community coronation tea party at The Perranwell Centre on Saturday 6th May 2023, 4pm to 6pm.

This event, organised by the trustees and supporters of The Perranwell Centre, is a free event open to all, and will feature pop up performances and royal themed activities.

 

Wizard of Oz Launch and Auditions

Pin back your ears and spread the word that Sam, Elaine, Jason and the usual team are back in action. Here are the details you have been waiting for.

Sunday 19th February Launch Day 2pm – 4pm at The Perranwell Centre.

Come along for a fun filled afternoon to find out all about the show and get to meet everyone involved. We will be reading some of the script, singing some of the songs with Jason as well as learning some of the dances with Sam. Of course we’ll also be doing lots crazy team games so that by the end of the session you’ll definitely want to “…follow the yellow brick road”!

Sunday 26th February – Auditions! 2pm – 5pm at The Perranwell Centre

We will make this an enjoyable and fun experience and it will give you the chance to tell us what parts you would like to audition for. Don’t be shy just show us what you can do so that you will be ready to shine on the stage as brilliant as Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers.

If you would like more information or have any questions, please email Sam Rogers the Director, via the following email address: tinkerbellstar870@hotmail.com

We look forward to seeing you all “somewhere over the rainbow”!

Wizard of OZ- Character List:

Dorothy Gale: strong singer, good dancer and large speaking role. American Accent

Aunt Em: singer and speaking role. American Accent

Uncle Henry: small speaking role. American Accent

Hunk (Scarecrow): Comedy singing, dancing and speaking role. American Accent

Zeke (Lion): Comedy singing, dancing and speaking role. American Accent

Hickory (Tin Man): Comedy singing, dancing and speaking role. American Accent

Miss Gulch (Wicked Witch of the West): Dramatic speaking role. Evil laugh required. American Accent

Toto: limited singing and barking role

Professor Marvel (Wizard of OZ): Strong actor and large speaking role. American Accent

Doorman: speaking role

Guard: speaking role

Glinda: delicate singer and actor

Nikko: small speaking role. “Eee-Eee-Eee”

Munchkins: small singing and speaking characters available

Ensemble: Munchkins, Jitterbugs, Winged Monkeys/Winkie Guards, Ozians, Crows, Apple Trees

Audition Pieces:

Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, Dorothy- Pages 4-5

Wizard of OZ & Dorothy- pages 43-44 / pages 6-7

Toto, Glinda & Dorothy- pages 10-11

Glinda, Dorothy & Wicked Witch- pages 16-17

Scarecrow, Lion, Tin Man & Dorothy- pages 30-33

Free Vocal Workshop

Sunday 12th February Vocal Workshop at Perranwell Centre 2.00 to 5.00pm
 
This FREE Workshop promises to be a lot of fun and will deal with not only protecting and exercising your voice, which will lead you to have more confidence in projection, but also how to deconstruct an accent, using the Yorkshire accent as a working example with text work from a Yorkshire play.
 
Our voice is the single most important element that we bring to our acting which is why CDDG have chosen it to be FREE. So whether you are considering joining us for the Youth Group ‘Wizard of Oz’, our October Play, maybe our Minack production in 2024 or simply want to learn a little more in a fun environment then we look forward to seeing you on the 12th Feb.
 
The Workshop is open to members and non-members from the age of 13 to however old you are! 
 
The Workshop will be led by Gemma Wright a professional voice coach, lecturer at Falmouth University and contributor to the RSC vocal team.
 
Please can you send a request for booking to John Frankland (j-frankland@hotmail.co.uk ) as numbers will have to be limited and to help us assess how many cakes we need for the break.

Alice in Wonderland Workshop and Auditions

Alice in Wonderland Jr

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

Twelfth Night Auditions

’Some are born great; some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them’ by attending our

Twelfth Night Launch / Audition

Everyone is welcome for a practical afternoon exploring Shakespeare’s comedy of love, folly and mistaken identity. A play that mixes partying with a darker side of humiliation and madness. A dangerous world, where falling in love can be complicated. ‘I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love’.
 
Launch and Auditions will be on 5th December, 2-5pm at The Perranwell Centre.
 
We will be performing at the Minack Monday 23rd May to Thursday 26th May 2022. (Get in Sat 21st and tech, dress rehearsal Sunday 22nd May)

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.

One Act Play Auditions!!

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.

One Act Play auditions
One Act Play auditions

One Act Play Competition Draws to a Close

One Act Play Competition

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

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

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.

One Act Play Competition

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 

Sisterly Feelings Launch Day

Spotlights

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.

Play in a week

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!

Summer Drama Club 2019

Spotlights

Calling all 8-18 year olds. During the first week of the school summer holidays, Monday 29th July to Sunday 4th August, CDDG led by Zoe Vale will be hosting a “Play in a Week” workshop.

For existing CDDG members the cost will be £20. For non-members it is £30 (you can upgrade to an annual membership for an extra £5).

summerDramaClub2019
summerDramaClub2019