At Progress we like to reuse material whenever possible. It saves time and money as well as being better for the environment. If you saw The Ash Girl earlier this year you'll remember the splendid fireplace. If you come to Cold Comfort Farm you'll see it being reused as part of the set. It will be looking slightly more dirty and battered as part of the Starkadder's kitchen.
The word chaperone calls up images of Victorian maiden aunts sitting in on dates to ensure nothing untoward is going on. In the theatre it is used to mean someone who looks after the interests of any children or young people in a show. In the professional world they have been used for some time in theatres and on film sets to make sure that their charges have rest breaks, access to education and are not asked to do anything dangerous.
For the last few years it has been a legal requirement for amateur theatres to have a chaperone backstage during every performance including under 17 year olds. Chaperones have to be police checked and registered with their local authority. It is not an onerous job and mainly involves sitting in the dressing rooms, saying shush! a lot and waiting until all their charges have been picked up at the end of the night. Having said that without people willing to give up their time to do this young people would not have the opportunity to perform on stage. Many amateur theatres have decided that it is too much bother and don't cast anyone under 17. Luckily we do bother at Progress so you'll be able to see the Progress Youth Theatre performing Cold Comfort Farm starting tonight 4th April and running until Saturday 9th.
If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.
Coming up...
Progress Youth Theatre Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons adapted by Paul Doust, 4th - 9th April 2011
All My Sons by Arthur Miller 5th - 14th May 2011
Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011
See Progress Theatre website for details of all our productions and auditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment