UK Theatre Network

Dear Friend This edition of the newsletter has some important information about the plans I have for UK Theatre Network this year and I hope you can take the time to read this and let me have your thoughts or support as appropriate. Douglas McFarlane Editor ================== QUOTE OF THE WEEK "When you help someone up a mountain, you'll find yourself closer to the summit too." Anonymous SECRETS - KAYE QUINLEY IS CURRENTLY PLAYING..... OPPORTUNITIES - ACTOR FOR T.I.E IN MANCHESTER - FULL CAST FOR "PRETTY BOY" IN LONDON - STEERING GROUP MEMBERS IN LAMBETH WHAT'S ON - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST MASTERPLAN 2004 - UK THEATRE WEEK - WEBEDITORS SOUGHT FOR NEW WEBSITE - SHOWCASES - MEMBERSHIP DRIVE --------------------- SECRETS....SECRETS....SECRETS....OF THE NETWORK --------------------- KAYE QUINLEY IS CURRENTLY PLAYING..... .....the Nurse in aod's tour of Hippolytus. The tour finishes with a week's run at the Cockpit Theatre in Gateforth St, NW8. Performances are at 7.30pm from 29th march to 3 april, with a matinee at 2.30pm on 31st march. Box office 020 8367 5843. --------------------- OPPORTUNITIES....OPPORTUNITIES....OPPORTUNITIES.... --------------------- ACTOR FOR T.I.E IN MANCHESTER Waterfall Theatre Company urgently require 1 male for a role in their T.I.E production 'What About Tomorrow'. We are based in Manchester, for futher details please contact Anthony on 07881921487 Name: Liz Stankard Email: lizstankard@hotmail.com ------ FULL CAST FOR "PRETTY BOY" IN LONDON The Yellowchair Performance Experience will shortly be holding auditions for a forthcoming showcase / reheased reading of Sam Hall's Pretty Boy, to be performed at The White Bear on 6th & 7th June. Pretty Boy is a romantic comedy about the value of beauty. The actors we require are.... 1. PRETTY BOY. Early thirties to early forties. Can do a convincing American accent. Preferably muscular. 2. OTHER PATIENT. Female. Late twenties. Can roll tongue. Actress should not be claustrophobic, as will have to spend majority of play with head bandaged up. 3. NURSE. Female. Early twenties. 4. DOCTOR. Male. Forties. 5. ART CRITIC, which is a smaller but comic role 6. INGE. Female. Young. Character is vacuous, has an exotic accent and is a comic role. Georgous yet sickly thin; possibly anorexic. 7 GILLIAN, who is deep, intelligent & speaks RP. Gallery owner. 8. TEDDY CAPOTE. Male. Early fifties. Balding. The actor chosen to play character 4 may double as character 5 and/or 8. Likewise the actor playing character 6 may double as character 7. If interested, please post an up-to-date CV & headshot to Hugh Allison, 89 Birchanger Lane, Birchanger, Bishop Stortford, Herts, CM23 5QF by 4th April. ------ Seeking Steering Group Members Wanted Noh Budget Films based in Lambeth, is looking for steering group members to develop our Playas Klub Project. This Youth Arts project is a Personal Development Programmed aimed at young black Men in the borough of Lambeth. Noh Budget Films produces educational multi-media productions (film & theatre) for the benefit and enjoyment of community audiences. We strive to tackle 'real' issues that impact on young peoples lives. We are a collective of professional individuals that include teachers, trainers, directors, professional actors, workshop leaders and filmmakers who present drama-based learning experiences in a range of young people centred settings such as, schools, youth centre's and other youth centred groups and organisations. Noh Budget Films steering group currently comprises leading people from the fields of local government, the arts, education, health, crime reduction, finance and law. In order to build/develop on this pool of expertise, we are particularly interested in gaining new members from the Black and Minority Ethnic Communities who are well linked to the community, are committed to the role of the arts in community regeneration and supporting the development of excluded young people within Lambeth. If you are interested in joining or finding out more please contact Tony Cealy on 07956 877358 or email information@nohbudgetfilms.freeserve.co.uk --------------------- WHAT'S ON....WHAT'S ON....WHAT'S ON.... --------------------- 'A Date for your Diary'. Brand new Midlands based theatre company, Encore Theatre Company, are excited to present their new production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. The production brings a fresh approach to the classic piece and promises to be a dynamic and funny evening. First showing at Highbury Hall, Kings Heath from Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th April, and then at Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire from Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th May. Show time is 7.30pm and ticket prices are inclusive of entrance to the fantastic halls. (£15 & £12 @ Highbury; £18 & £15 at Ragley). Feel free to arrive early and enjoy the halls and their grounds in the early summer warmth (hopefully!). This is a great opportunity to be there when a new theatre company is born as it were! Hope to see you there... book online at www.encoretheatre.co.uk or call 0121 440 7126. Alice James ----------------------- UK THEATRE WEEK Big ideas for a big problem. Problem: How do you significantly increase the audience figures going to the theatre ? Answer: Create a UK Theatre Week which generates media interest to generate stories of interest. Problem: How do you stop the public from thinking its a merely a revenue generation exercise ? Answer: Each production gives a POUND from the entrance price of every ticket for one week and gives it to charity. Problem: How do you co-ordinate something like this on a mass scale. Answer: Via a mass-mailing newsletter service which people register with and this creates a central communication facility to distribute news stories, events and publicity material. Co-ordinating meetings can be held in various regions and press conferences held as appropriate nearer the time. Problem: How do the charities get their money ? Answer: Each participating theatre or production company enters it via an online website - a sample website is at http://www.justgiving.com/uktheatre (Do not use this website at this stage to donate) My selected charities are: National Asthma Campaign, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Cancer Research and Save The Children. Problem: What week do you select ? Answer: A suggested week would be the last week in May which includes a holiday Monday. April is too soon, June/July is into Summer and August is Edinburgh fringe. Problem: How do you gain support from Production Companies and Theatres ? Answer: Ask them directly. Ask them via newsletters (like this one). Use initial support to gain press interest and seek wider support. Problem: What do I do next ? Answer: At this stage, only those who can make decisions for their productions and are interested in support this venture should make contact with editor@uktheatre.net ------------------- WEBEDITORS SOUGHT FOR NEW WEBSITE The development of the new website for UK Theatre Network will start in a few weeks and requires the support of about 6/7 WebEditors to take sections such as "WHAT'S ON", "SECRETS", "ACTOR DIRECTORY", "THEATRE DIRECTORY" etc. and become the sub-editor for those pages, encouraging entries and developing the section to maintain it's overall fit with the rest of the website but with freedom to create a unique environment for visitors. The new website requires very little HTML skills and requires no special software on your PC. It is as simple to edit as the UKTheatre.net webpages (if you have one). Having said that, I would expect those chosen to provide examples of websites that they have put together, even if that is only a personal website. These positions are voluntary but do require committed individuals who are able to give about 1 hour of their time each day to keep the site fresh and updated. Interested ? Email editor@uktheatre.net explaining why you think you'd be right for the position. Enclose links of sample website. (P.S. Current reviewers will have their own section so need not apply). ---------------------- SHOWCASES FIVE potential showcase directors have been offered their services to run a UK Theatre Network sponsored showcase. A final selection of three will be chosen over the next week. ---------------------- MEMBERSHIP DRIVE A competition to help drive up the membership will be run during April. The member who attracts the highest number of references will receive a top prize (suggestions on a postcard please). A special form will be created on the website to enter your colleagues email addresses as well as your own.