Bobs Column 28th August 2014! SPONSORED WALKING First this week a reminder that the Torbay Dementia Action Alliance’s sponsored walk in aid of Young Dementia, this year’s nominated charity, takes place on September 20th. Starting at Berryhead, the walk (5 or 10 miles, depending on your stamina!) reminds us, too, of the Alliance’s continuing efforts to help create a dementia-aware world. For more details or for a sponsor form, email starcaroly1@aol or call Carolyn on 01803 311716. SOCIAL ISOLATION According to new research, one in 10 UK residents cant name a single one of their neighbours and many don’t even know their immediate neighbours’ names, but two thirds believe their neighbourhood would be stronger and safer if people knew each other better. It’s not that we’re more reserved than other nations, a researcher concluded, but we have ‘stricter unwritten rules about privacy, not talking to strangers, and that kind of thing.’ ‘So,’ he goes on, ‘we need more props and facilitators – pubs, clubs, pets, sports, games, weather-talk – to break the ice and get us interacting with each other.’ Props and facilitators? That’s exactly where getting involved in volunteering can play a dynamic part, as I also heard Esther Rantzen saying on Radio Devon just the other day, in a discussion about finding answers to problems with loneliness and isolation that affect so many. If you’d like to find out more about the amazing range of volunteering opportunities available in Torbay, how to use your skills and maybe discover new ones, give us a call on 01803 212638 or pop into our offices in Torquay’s Temperance Street. PANTO and FILM AUDITIONS With exciting new projects for stage and film The South Devon Players are calling for new people to join them, whether your ambition is performing on stage or film, or you’d love the chance to work behind the scenes. Zorro: The Panto Directed by Laura Jury and Hayley Rushton, an all-new pantomime combining traditional elements of pantomime with Vegas-style glitz, Zoro the Panto is planned to be, they tell us, ‘a high-tech, creative, glamorous, hilarious family show.’ Will the shy and bumbling Diego de La Vega outwit the evil Capistrano, and will we discover the identity of the dashing outlaw Zorro? All roles are open for casting, with the Players looking for everyone from singing and dancing lead performers to chorus members in a cast aged from 8 to 80 plus! Open auditions are being held on Sunday September 14th at the Players’ regular rehearsal venue, the Chestnut Community Centre in Poplar Close, and anyone hoping for a principal role is asked to contact them beforehand for set audition pieces. Les Miserables: The Web-film Series Following the success and London sponsorship of last year’s Les Miserables, the Players have decided to collaborate on an crowdfunded internet film series based on Victor Hugo’s novel. Hour-long episodes will be released for online viewing, directed by Ric Vince and Edward Stewart, with Laura Jury as producer. It’s a long-term project but they intend to begin filming for Episode One by the end of the year, and again they’re looking for a full cast, with most roles up for grabs, including characters not usually seen in abridged stage or film dramatisations. Anyone interested in performing in the show can go along to open auditions on Saturday September 27th, 11am – 6pm at Jasmyn House Community Rooms, in Paignton’s Midvale Road. Join the Players! South Devon Players stress that auditions for both productions are open to all, and they’d also be delighted to hear from anyone interested in getting involved behind the scenes. As many readers will know, they’re an award winning, family-friendly, non-profit-making community-based theatre company, performing shows around Torbay, and South Devon. Founded in late 2005 by two Brixham performers, they’ve gone from strength to strength, with awards won and a rapidly increasing member-base, an appearance on a national BBC 1 TV programme, and London sponsorship. New members are always welcome, regardless of background, experience, beliefs or nationality, as they offer, in their own words, ‘an exciting hobby, performance experience and education, and a friendly, safe, inclusive atmosphere.’ More details can be found on their website, southdevonplayers.weebly, while for more information about the auditions, call 07855 090589 after 5pm or email southdevonplayers@gmail A 1920’s Cabaret The Players’ latest show is set in a 1920’s Torquay cabaret club where the owner has to cope with awkward guests, opinionated cabaret girls and a visiting movie star - all without the band he booked. The performance space is set up as the cabaret club with the audience seated as guests, giving them the chance, we’re told, to enjoy ‘music, dance, singing and comedy suitable for the whole family as they travel back in time to Buckwells Cabaret on its opening night.’ You can see the show on Sept 5th, at Sherwell Valley Primary School, Sept 6th at The Edge in Brixham and Sept 7th at The Artizan Art Gallery in Torquay. Again, for details just visit the website.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:37:12 +0000
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