Putting on a Show with Cottenham Theatre Workshop
Do you know that Cottenham Theatre Workshop is in its 39th year? That’s quite an achievement for an amdram group in a village. There are still a couple of members who were there at the start, in 1977! But to go on presenting two shows a year – one in spring and one just before Christmas, the very much appreciated pantomime – takes not just effort but involves many willing hands and teamwork.
CTW, a member of FECA since it started, are always looking for new people to join both on and off stage – we don’t mind if you’ve been involved with theatre productions for 50 years or if this is your first ever show. As a theatre workshop, we are always happy to train people up in different roles – indeed, many of our members have learned lots of different skills from being part of the group. For example one of our actors took on the role of sound technician for DRY ROT, our most recent play.
Just look at the many of the roles that make up a successful production:
Actors | Director | Producer |
Musical Director (mostly just for pantomimes) | Sound and lighting operators | Technical Director |
Costume designers and makers | Set designers, builders and painters | Back stage crew |
Choreographers (mostly just for pantomimes) | Publicity: posters, programme and banner design | Props person |
Rehearsal pianist (mostly just for pantomimes) | Pit band members (mostly just for pantomimes) | Front of house |
For more detail on these roles please look at our Get involved section on the Cottenham Theatre Workshop website or email cottenhamtheatre@gmail.com
DRY ROT RAFFLE
A raffle was held each night of the play, with all the proceeds going to the Arthur Rank hospice charity in memory of long-standing CTW member Sue Macdonald. Sue spent a week in Arthur Rank during her illness, and they helped in providing nurses to sit with her at night, so we felt that it would be appropriate to collect money for this charity. A total of £280 was raised – many thanks to everyone who “placed a bet”.
COME TO CVC ON 17 JUNE
This year’s CTW pantomime will be THE WIZARD OF OZ and the new script, written by Director Gary Unwin-Riches, is appropriately based on the 1939 Judy Garland movie, voted one of the best 100 films of all time. Everyone is welcome to the read-through of the script on 17th June at Cottenham Village College, 7.30pm. Auditions will be at the same place a week later, on the 24th.
We welcome members from the first year of senior school (Year 7) upwards. There are plenty of roles to play, from Munchkins to flying monkeys and evil witches to bumbling wizards. If you can’t make these dates and want to be involved, please contact matthewunwin1@hotmail.co.uk