Latest news from CADS
February 2019 news extra
(February 20, 2019)Auditions!
CADS is delighted to announce its next production, which will be our contribution to this year's Royston Arts Festival. It's Terence Rattigan's classic wartime drama Flare Path, which will be performed in September 2019 (exact dates to be announced).
It's a story, of love and loyalty, courage and fear, and was based in part on Rattigan's own experiences in the RAF. It tells of a group of airmen stationed on the Lincolnshire coast and perhaps more importantly, of the women in their lives. Bomber pilot Teddy Graham is celebrating a reunion with his actress wife Patricia at a small hotel, but the arrival of her ex-lover and Hollywood film star Peter, and a sudden urgent bombing mission over Germany both threaten to throw everyone's lives into turmoil.
We're completely delighted to have Brenda Cottis on board as director for the show - Brenda has appeared in recent years with CADS in Romance is Dead and Pygmalion but has a vast wealth of experience directing with groups both here and in Cambridge. The play is likely to be performed over the two weekends of the Arts Festval (20/21 and 27/28 September), though there are still some details to sort out, but we can announce that auditions for the play will take place from 7.00p.m. on Thursday 25 April at Meridian School, Garden Walk, Royston (exact location to be confirmed).
If you're not familiar with the play, the list of characters is as follows (ages shown are playing ages as descibed by Rattigan - some latitude is possible):
Countess Skriczevinsky (Doris) - down-to-earth hotel resident, early thirties
Peter Kyle - Hollywood actor, about thirty-five
Mrs Oakes - no-nonsense hotel landlady, middle aged
Sergeant David Miller (Dusty) - air gunner, about thirty-five
Percy - hotel employee, fifteen or sixteen
Flying Officer Count Skriczevinsky - Polish Air Force officer, over forty
Flight Lieutenant Teddy Graham - decorated pilot, aged twenty-four
Patricia Warren (Mrs Graham) - actress, mid to late twenties
Mrs Maudie Miller - Dusty's wife, mid thirties
Squadron Leader Swanson - veteran of WW1, aged about fifty-five
Corporal Jones (Wiggy)- cameo role (2 spoken lines) - age probably immaterial
More details about both the auditions and the actual performance dates as soon as we have them, but do make a note of that audition date...Meanwhile, if you'd like to get involved backstage with this or any future shows, or can offer help with costumes, make-up or whatever, or if you have any queries about the group in general, please do contact us via the website and register your interest!
Awards!
We can now announce the winners of our two annual awards (I've given up trying to persuade people to call them the "Caddies"!). The 2019 Fred Sillence Award for outstanding contribution to drama is presented to Rupert Jordan "for his unending support for CADS in every aspect of the group - he is hugely committed and hard working, a constant force for good". As well as taking on the daunting role of Treasurer, Rupert has appeared both on stage (most recently playing the lead parts in Pygmalion and Ghost Writer) and behind the scenes as sound director for the pantomime among other roles. He also plays the church organ locally and has dedicated his time to helping a local church choir with their Christmas services.
The 2019 Lizzie Houghton Award goes to Ellis Hughes, a pupil at Meridian School, described as "a very talented dancer and actor, as well as an excellent role model for younger students, hard working, always aiming to achieve his best and setting a good example to others - an invaluable member of the production team". Ellis has had major roles in school productions of Grease, Les Miserables, The Addams Family and most recently Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, as well as working with local dance school GStars, where Principal Georgina Wootton praised his "exceptional choreographic ideas and his amazing talent".
Congratulations to both winners.
AGM!
CADS will be holding its Annual General Meeting at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 2 April at Meridian School (exact location to be announced). This is our chance to review the past year and discuss plans and ideas for the future, as well as for members to elect (or re-elect) the committee for 2019/20. It's also a chance for you to come along and meet us, maybe with a view to getting involved, or simply to ask questions of the existing committee. A reminder that only paid-up members can vote on any issue raised at the AGM, so if you haven't yet paid your subscription, now's the time to do it - you can pay by card online by using the "Donate" button on the home page of our website or pay us by bank transfer - the account name is CADS, the sort code is 40-39-22 and the account number is 91389149. Any queries, please get in touch with [email protected].
In the interim, please feel free to contact any of us at any time via the Contact page of the CADS website if there's anything you'd like us to consider or discuss...