KDC Theatre – Central London based amateur theatre group
Maker of theatre: creating, experimenting, learning, performing.
Final preparations, last-minute murders, deadline-driven duels, and eleventh hour incest, all happening now to prepare for your entertainment/disgust next week! Tickets available to purchase right at this very moment, don’t delay book today!
Come meet the directors and the whole team, it’s our Autumn Season Launch this Thursday at the Hoop & Grapes pub in Farringdon! Join us from 7pm and grab yourself a beer, you can hear all about our little merry band and both directors for the season will be talking about their new shows. You can quiz them about the upcoming auditions, what they wanna see, and find out how you can get involved. All welcome, map below. We’ll be on the first floor!
‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore
by John Ford
Directed by Nick Mouton
Animal Farm
adapted by Nelson Bond from the book by George Orwell
Directed by Saskia van ‘t Hoff
7pm, Thursday 12th September at the Hoop & Grapes pub in Farringdon Street
Get to know our talented team of directors, who are building an exciting showcase of new writing…
Anna Markland
The first show Anna directed, the comedic Maybe Radio, was just featured as part of KDC’s Spring season.
Anna’s background is in improvised comedy and she will be using improv techniques and a very collaborative approach as part of rehearsals.
Lloyd Smith
This is Lloyd’s first time working with KDC. Previous directing credits include new writing for Wandsworth Arts Festival and The 39 Steps for New Stagers. Recently he produced After The Dance and acted in Earthquakes In London for Sedos.
Saskia van ‘t Hoff
Saskia is a director and stage manager, and has worked with theatre companies in the Netherlands, London, and Sydney.
She was a long-standing member of a theatre company in the Netherlands, writing, producing, and performing plays, before moving to London in 2014. In 2016 Saskia directed her first full-length play for KDC Theatre; THERE HAS POSSIBLY BEEN AN INCIDENT.
She is stage manager and associate artist for Director’s Cut Theatre Company, directing and stage managing at Leicester Square Theatre, The Pleasance Theatre, The Southwark Playhouse, and St James Theatre.
Lucy Spreckley
Lucy has been getting itchy feet for a while now to have a crack at directing and to be doing her directorial debut with KDC is just the icing on the cake. At the start of April Lucy had finished a run of the devised show ‘Hush Now’ with KDC and is exciting to be involved in another season!
Aneirin George
Aneirin has been working on this theatre lark for many years now and is excited (and grateful) to be taking part in a second KDC Full Stack extravaganza. This year as well as directing/hopefully arranging for comedy to occur on stage. He is taking a new step and learning how to make “that social media thing” say what he wants it to.
Vicky Olusanya
Vicky has been part of the KDC community for several years, producing our Full Stack show for the second time with Carried Away. She has recently directed for the Arcola Queer Collective and looks forward to creating more new writing projects in the near future.
Claire Pattie
After over 100 scripts, we whittled it down to just 15. Here’s a bit more info on the talented souls to be included in this year’s showcase.
Get your tickets for Carried Away here!
Ivo de Jager
Ivo is a recent graduate of RCSSD’s MFA degree in writing for performance. His work has appeared at the Arcola, the Bunker, and Theatre503 in London, as well as the Y Theatre in Leicester. In 2017, he took Sweetmeat, a new play about homoerotic cannibalism, to the Edinburgh Fringe, where it earned 4-star reviews. He’s currently working on a play about hazing in the Soviet army, and a short film about modern-day trepanning. When not typing away at his laptop, he can usually be found forcing his cat to spend time with him.
Vivian C Lermond
Vivian is an award-winning playwright who has penned 58 one-act plays and monologues that have entertained audiences in the US, Mexico, England, Scotland and Australia. Her full-length drama/comedy, Back to Bethlehem (PA), premiered Off-Broadway in 2006 at the Manhattan Theatre Club. She has taught playwriting at a local college and has facilitated playwriting workshops at writing conferences.
Mark Daniels
I’m a writer from South-East London who writes mainly comedy with a little bit of drama mixed in. I enjoy finding the funnies in the mundane and using humour to provoke conversation about important, current topics. I’ve had short plays on at Theatre503, The Vaults and The Brockley Jack, as well as two full-length pieces at Matchstick Theatre (N89, The Institute of Nuts) and one at Canal Café Theatre (Tinderella). I also regularly have sketches and songs performed at Canal Café’s NewsRevue and I’ve written sketches for BBC Radio 4.
Adam Szudrich
Adam Szudrich is a ‘Bartie’ award winning writer whose work has been selected for 59 festivals and received 30 award
Scott Mullen
Scott Mullen is a longtime Hollywood screenplay analyst, a two-time winner of Amazon Studios’ screenwriting contest, whose short plays have been performed hundreds of times around the world. His short play WEDNESDAY was performed last year as part of KDC’s “Future Imperfect” show. An evening of his comic plays, A NIGHT OF S.M., recently had a two-week run in Hollywood.
Niall Urquhart
My work has been performed at the Waterloo East Theatre, Jack Studio Theatre, The Aeronaut, Theatre Deli and the Redgates Theatre with upcoming performances at the Bread & Roses Theatre and the Southwark Playhouse. Currently focusing on shorter pieces. I always try to find different and quite possibly strange ways to address contemporary issues.
Andy Marchant
Andy has been a long time collaborator with KDC Theatre, but this is the first time his name has appeared in a programme since he directed The Arsonists in 2015. Previously written plays produced by KDC Theatre include “You’re So Vain”, “Oh, Mom” and “Stag Nation” as well as being a co-writer for both the company’s 70th anniversary show “The Long Run” and their contribution to the RSC’s Open Stages competition “The War Of The Waleses”. Andy currently runs the 10 Minutes A Month Playwriting Collective, setting monthly challenges and reading nights for new plays.
Matt Wixey
Matt works in cyber security, and previously worked in law enforcement. He’s also a part-time PhD candidate, focusing on cyberweapons and cyber warfare. Matt’s writing work to date has included short plays and spoken word performed at Redgates Theatre Gateways, Stitchin’ Fiction, and Sharp Scratches. He is also a member of the Director’s Cut Writer’s Club. Matt enjoys writing horror, dark comedy, science fiction, and “twist in the tale” stories and plays.
L.H. Grant
L.H. Grant has authored many full-length and one-act plays with productions in numerous venues both in the United States and internationally including New York, London, San Francisco and Vienna. Most recently, his one-act Free Hugs was performed at The Other Palace in London as part of a charity benefit.
Jon Deery
Jon is a writer whose works have received generous and consistent praise from a dedicated fanbase. This may be a credit to his skills as a writer, or simply a product of the fanbase itself, which consists of: his mum, his dad, and his best friend. Due to Jon being an eighteen-year-old writer from Darlington, this is the first of his plays to be performed, and he hopes that a few more successes will expand his fanbase a little (maybe his grandparents too?)
Matthew Fisher
Matthew has found some success with his writing being performed in Manchester, London, Cardiff and NYC. His full length play, “Abandoned”, was performed by Dramatic Moose Productions and was in Entertainments South Wales ‘Top 5 Live Shows of 2018’. He is also working with Bamalam Productions to produce “Abandoned” as a 4-part radio play, that will be released in Jul-19. Recently, his short film “Second Chances”, released in Jun-19, is on the YouTube channel for Watchers Productions project, Strange Tales. Also, his one act play “We Are Stronger Together” has been performed at various one act festivals this year.
James Taverner
This is James’s first play and he’s very grateful to the talented team at KDC for taking on the challenge and performing it.
Jim Moss
Jim has authored four full-length plays and over a hundred one-acts. His work has been produced in Tampa. Miami, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, and numerous New York Off-Broadway venues, including: La MaMa La Galleria, the American Globe, and the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Last year his play “Tagged” won three contests: First place in Theatre Odyssey’s One-Act Play Festival in Sarasota, Best Lab Works Production at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, and the British Theatre Challenge in London.
Thom Jordan
Thom first cut his teeth writing and performing sketch comedy in Australia, one of which he toured to Edinburgh Fringe. Following this he performed and developed Where There’s Smoke, which toured to Perth and Sydney Fringe. His next adventure was to write and perform a family show The Hand of Time, which toured to Sydney, Perth and Adelaide Fringe side by side with his solo Thorn (Cleansed in Blood/We Are All), which toured Australia and the UK. Since moving to London he wrote and performed The Monks of Umami: Radiodyssey, which debuted at the Vaults Festival before touring to Brighton and Prague fringe.
KDC Theatre – Notice of Meeting
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special General Meeting of KDC Theatre will be held at the Hoop & Grapes, 80 Farringdon Street, London at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 September 2018 to transact the following business:
AGENDA
1. Alteration to the Constitution
To consider and vote upon the following resolution.
That clause 3(1) of the KDC Constitution be amended to read “to advance the arts for the public benefit, in particular by the production and presentation of amateur theatre performances in Greater London.”
That clause 3(2) of the KDC Constitution be removed.
2. Members proposed resolutions
Details will be given once proposed resolutions are received. Proposed resolutions should be submitted via our contact form by noon on 30 August 2018. A revised agenda will be issued by 6 September 2018.
3. Any other business
To deal with any matters raised at the meeting.
4. Season Launch
Formally close the meeting and move to the Season Launch, detailing plans for our two performance weeks in November.
By order of the Board of charity trustees
Sarah Dobson
Chair
13 August 2018
This Autumn KDC is seeking three directors to perform in two weeks in November. We are inviting pitches for productions that you, as a director, are longing to stage. We are also seeking directors for two very dark and very different one act plays, which are being brought together for the first time.
She takes place over 1 night in a restaurant, 3 stories, different perspectives, all leading to this one moment; a simple action with violent consequences.
Stiff invites the audience to see the other side of death, set in a mortuary; how will the night shift cope when confronted with a familiar face?
We want to know what will make your production special. You can pitch for as many productions as you like and, if you can’t make the dates of this season, we would love to know what you would have pitched. After all, spring is only round the corner…
13 Sep 2018 – Season Launch Event – Hoop & Grapes, Farringdon
17-19 Sep 2018 – Auditions – Theatre Delicatessen – Deli Studios
22 Sep 2018 – Recalls – Theatre Delicatessen – Deli Studios
24 Sep 2018 – Rehearsals Mon/Wed/Sun – Various locations
6-10 Nov 2018 – She/Stiff – White Bear Theatre, Kennington
27 Nov – 1 Dec 2018 – Production Week 2 – Barons Court Theatre
1. Pitches open Thurs 26 July 2018
Prospective directors to register interest by completing this contact form by Mon 6 Aug. The scripts for the two one act plays will be forwarded in response
2. Complete questionnaire By Mon 6 Aug 2018
Prospective directors to complete KDC pitch questionnaire (see full list of questions below)
3. Interviews Mon 30 July – Tue 14 Aug 2018
Prospective directors will meet with Steph, Artistic Director and Sarah, Chair. Steph will be in touch to arrange the meeting once contact form is received
4. Decision Mid-August 2018
Autumn productions and directors confirmed
For information – the full set of questions are listed below, in case you would like to prepare your answers in advance of completing online.
1. Name
2. Email address
3. Dates pitching for:
a) 6 – 10 November 2018 at White Bear (directing ‘Stiff’ or ‘She’)
b) 27 November – 1 December 2018 at Barons Court Theatre (directing my own choice of play)
4. Name of the play are pitching to direct?
5. * Author
6. * Date of first publication? (This can be found on the information page at the front of the published script)
7. * What is it about – please give a brief description of the plot of the play?
8. How would you characterise the genre?
9. What do you like about this play?
10. How do you plan to present the play?
11. Why would your production be great for KDC members to get involved in?
12. What experience do you have of working with/managing groups of people? This can include theatre/directing experience or experience from another area of your life.
13. * What is the approximate running time of play? Will you have an interval?
14. Number of actors needed/sought?
15. *What is the likely male/female split of your cast?
16. Do you plan to work with an assistant director or producer? If so, do you have someone in mind?
17. * If your pitch is successful, we will apply for any performance rights needed. However, sometimes the rights for plays are unavailable. To avoid disappointment, we invite directors to consider a rights free production, which could act as a back-up if their first choice isn’t available. If you would like to submit a full proposal for another play, you can complete this form again for a different play. If you already have other plays in mind and would like to let us know what they are, you can include them here.
Is there anything else you want to tell us?
18. Do you have any questions?
Hope you can make it to the Hoop & Grapes, Farringdon Street, for the AGM. The agenda:
KDC is recruiting! It’s AGM time again and we’re looking to grow our merry band – theatre with KDC happens because of all the awesome people who are involved in the shows, but also because a much smaller band in the committee are pulling the strings throughout the year to make those shows happen at all. We need some enthusiastic people to join up! The committee chooses shows, theatre venues, socials, runs the publicity, social feeds, manages the website, finances, decides group direction, there are lots of things to get your teeth stuck into if you would like to. And you get to see all our lovely faces at least once a month!
The existing committee is staying on, but we’re limited in number, and we want fresh blood to come drive things, new ideas, new perspectives. You don’t need to have experience, just enthusiasm and a little bit of time every now and then. You can run for a named role, or just join as a non-exec member and pick up whatever you fancy. Your Theatre Needs You!
Hoop & Grapes, 7.30pm Thursday 26 July 2018
We look forward to seeing you for our first Annual General Meeting as a Charity. Join us for a drink or two and meet up with old and new friends.
We need to appoint our trustees for 2018-2019, so if you want to get more involved in KDC, now is your chance. No specific skills required, just a bit of spare time and plenty of enthusiasm.
Whether it’s organising a social, scheduling rehearsals, balancing the books or being the voice of KDC on social media, we’d love to have you help out. A little or a lot, we don’t mind, and you can still help out without having to become a trustee.
We’ll be covering plans for the forthcoming year, and taking on ideas – so if you have a burning issue, or a fantastic idea for us to use, come along and let us know.
We look forward to seeing you there.
