KDC, Author at KDC Theatre - Central London based amateur theatre group

Richard III Cast & Crew List

The Cast List for Richard III is confirmed as:

Richard III: Thea Beyleveld
Buckingham: Ben Waring
Lady Anne: Laura Hymers
Clarence/Richmond: Monica Ibe
Edward IV: Wayil Eisa
Hastings: Douglas Baker
Queen Margaret: Judith Barbeler
Queen Elizabeth/Prince: Sarah Ratner
Catesby: Lisa Bender
Tyrrel: Nick Dastoor
Scrivener: Christopher Dascalopoulos

Director: Christopher Warren
Assistant Director: Douglas Baker
Producer: Juliet Colbert
Lighting Operator: Prasan Modasia
Costume, Hair, Make-up: Karlya Parnell, Tanveen Panesar
Lighting Design: Matt Hudson
Sound: Matthew Partridge

The Early Bird Cast & Crew List

Thank you to all those who auditioned this week. The cast of The Early Bird is confirmed as:

Jack: Thom Petty
Debbie: Kate Sketchley

Director: Zoë Thomas-Webb
Producer: Stephanie Urquhart
Designer: Edith Webb
Stage Manager: Charles Golding

Richard III Audition Notice

Tuesday 9th – Saturday 13th April

Richard is Shakespeare’s most charismatic, self-delighting villain, revelling at every moment in his homicidal, hypocritical journey to absolute power.

1. Auditions

2. Show Dates

We’ll be performing from Tuesday 9th to Saturday 13th April at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. The shows will start at 7.30pm and you’ll need to be at the theatre at least an hour beforehand.

3. Synopsis

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined that she should wear the crown of England. She has already dispatched one king and that king’s son; now all that stand in her way are two credulous brothers and two helpless nephews, the Princes in the Tower. And woe betide those – the women she wrongs, the henchmen she betrays – who dare to raise a voice against her.
Monstrous, but theatrically electric, Richard is Shakespeare’s most charismatic, self-delighting villain, revelling at every moment in his homicidal, hypocritical journey to absolute power. This production will bring the story into the present day with a focus on modern politics and re-imaging the role of Richard as a woman.

The play has been edited down into a swift 2 hours and amalgamating a number of the characters to offer the whole cast plenty of text and character to contend with. We are looking for dynamic actors who are keen to be part of a physical ensemble and explore Shakespeare’s language fully.

4. Cast

Richard (F)
A real challenge, deformed in body and twisted in mind, Richard is both the central character and the villain of the play. he is evil, corrupt, sadistic, and manipulative, and he will stop at nothing to become king. His intelligence, political brilliance, and dazzling use of language keep the audience fascinated and his subjects and rivals under his thumb. We are looking for someone who is able to learn the lines quickly and tackle this head on. It is a huge, difficult part and the person has to be willing to throw themselves in wholeheartedly and not be afraid to look deeply unattractive!

Buckingham (M)
Richard’s right-hand man in his schemes to gain power. The duke of Buckingham is almost as amoral and ambitious as Richard himself. Someone wise and scheming but perhaps not as overt as Richard.

Clarence/Henry Tudor (M)
The gentle, trusting brother born between Edward and Richard in the York family. Also playing Richmond who eventually takes Richards crown. Looking for someone with the ability to create two very distinct characters.

Lady Anne (F)
The beautiful young widow of Prince Edward, who was the son of the former king, Henry VI. Lady Anne hates Richard for the death of her husband, but for reasons of politics and for sadistic pleasure, Richard persuades Anne to marry him.

Elizabeth/Richard Duke of York (F)
The wife of King Edward IV and the mother of the two young princes (the heirs to the throne) and their older sister, young Elizabeth. After Edward’s death, Queen Elizabeth is at Richard’s mercy. Richard rightly views her as an enemy because she opposes his rise to power, and because she is intelligent and fairly strong-willed. Also to play the Duke of York (Prince)

Duchess/Edward Prince of Wales (F)
Widowed mother of Richard, Clarence, and King Edward IV. The duchess of York is Elizabeth’s mother-in-law, and she is very protective of Elizabeth and her children, who are the duchess’s grandchildren. She is angry with, and eventually curses, Richard for his heinous actions. Also to play Edward (Prince)

Margaret (F)
Margaret was the wife of the king before Edward, the Lancastrian Henry VI, who was subsequently deposed and murdered (along with their children) by the family of King Edward IV and Richard. She is embittered and hates both Richard and the people he is trying to get rid of, all of whom were complicit in the destruction of the Lancasters. A small but brilliant part.

Hastings/Norfolk (M)
A pompous sweaty lord who maintains his integrity, remaining loyal to the family of King Edward IV. Hastings loses his head for making the mistake of trusting Richard. Also Norfolk who is an ally of Richards at the end of the play.

Edward /Stanley /Lord Mayor (M)
Edward is king of England at the start of the play. He was deeply involved in the Yorkists’ brutal overthrow of the Lancaster regime, but as king he is devoted to achieving a reconciliation among the various political factions of his reign. He is unaware that Richard attempts to thwart him at every turn. Stanley is the stepfather of Richmond, he secretly helps Richmond, although he cannot escape Richard’s watchful gaze and the Mayor is a gullible and suggestible fellow who is in one scene. We are looking for a versatile older actor.

Catesby (F)
One of Richards main flunkies. A number of parts have been rolled into Catesby to make this a real challenge. In this production Catesby is a devoted PA to Richard. Devil wears Prada style but perhaps a little sickly and strange.

1st Murderer/Scrivener (M)
The murderers take on a number of roles (Brakenbury, Rivers, Grey, Messengers, Scrivener, Ratcliff, Tyrell etc) The 1st murderer is the tougher more knowing of the two. These roles are pretty constant throughout the play and offer a chance to develop and discover a fascinating character.

2nd Murderer/Tyrell (M)
The murderers take on a number of roles (Brakenbury, Rivers, Grey, Messengers, Scrivener, Ratcliff, Tyrell etc) The 2nd murderer is the less experienced younger of the two who struggles to kill Clarence and is eventually responsible for the death of the Princes. This role has some fantastic speeches throughout the play. These roles are pretty constant throughout and offer a chance to develop and discover a fascinating character.

Stag Nation Audition Notice

Tuesday 2nd – Saturday 6th April

“Gentlemen. This is a stag night.” A new writing piece for 4 females, 2 males. Also known as ‘The Lads’.

1. Auditions

Auditions will take place from 6.30pm for a 7pm start on 28th and 29th January 2013 at the St Brides Foundation, 14 Bride Lane, City of London, EC4Y 8EQ. You do not need to register for auditions or prepare anything in advance. Please come on whichever day suits you.
Recalls will be on Saturday 2nd February from 11am-3pm at the St Brides Foundation, 14 Bride Lane, City of London, EC4Y 8EQ. If we’d like to see you at the recalls we’ll call you on Thursday 30th January to let you know.

2. Show Dates

We’ll be performing from Tuesday 2nd – Saturday 6th April at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. The shows will start at 7.30pm and you’ll need to be at the theatre at least an hour beforehand.

3. Synopsis

Gentlemen. This is a stag night. Not just a stag night, not just John’s stag night, but a link in the longest of long chains that bind men together. Another stag night in the history of millions… So begins the story of the Lads, four manly, strapping young men, who have just celebrated their virulence – sorry – virility, and overabundance of testosterone on the eve of their Alpha Dog John’s wedding. They wake, hungover, bleary eyed, yet satisfied knowing that they once more, they got more bloody wankered than anybody, ever. Unfortunately, this headache-y euphoria is shattered when they discover that, to their horror, they have awoken in a strange new world; and not in a good way. They, like Kafka’s Gregor Samsa, have been inexplicably transformed. A strange alignment of the planets, or a quirk of the gods, who can say, but the Lads have a painful day ahead if they’re to come to terms with this shocking new development.

4. Cast

John – The stag. Alpha male type. Angry, confused, vulnerable, extremely hung over
Dave – The intellectual. Cool, aloof, dismissive of events as ludicrous
Terry – The best man. Spirited, slight chip
Steve – The cute one. Overly emotional and a bit scatty, still drunk
Rachel – The sex worker. Overwhelmed and frustrated, analytical, wary of a sudden surge of self-confidence.
The Voice – One of the lads pre-transformation. Stentorian, self-impressed, a cross between Movie Trailer Voice Guy and (he thinks David Attenborough, but it’s a bit more) Jeremy Clarkson.

The Player Played Audition Notice

Tuesday 2nd – Saturday 6th April

The Player Played is a one-act play in rhyming verse. It is a fun and light-hearted comedy about the games we play whilst pursuing or escaping love and matrimony.

1. Auditions

2. Show Dates

3. Synopsis

Charles has returned home from travelling about in Europe with his friend Belleur only to be confronted by Anna – the girl he left behind. Despite her brother Doug’s insistence that Charles is a cad, Anna is determined that he is her man and will do whatever it takes to get him. As well as trying to escape that entanglement, Charles has also been ambushed by his father who has decided that it is time for him to settle down and has found Rose through the services of a professional matchmaker to be his wife. If Charles will not go accept Rose then his father is willing to cut him off. Rose captivates Belleur and he bumblingly attempts to woo her.

Chaos and comedy ensue as each character use their own tricks (and the sometimes misguided advice of others) to either snare their love or escape the shackles of matrimony.

4. Cast

Anna – mid 20s, head in the clouds, in love with Charles, bit ditzy

Doug – late 20s, older brother to Anna, practical & down to earth

Charles – late 20s, The Player, wealthy, a rake

Belleur – late 20s, friend to Charles, quite shy but genuinely nice guy

Henry – 50s, Charles father, wealthy but is tired of Charles playing the field and spending his trust fund and wants him to settle down with a nice girl

Rose – mid 20s, dresses to impress, confident, forward and foxy

Miss Nantolet – late 20s–30s, professional matchmaker (employed by Henry for Charles), elegant, speaks with a French accent

Maid – 20s, maid in Henry’s household, observant and opportunistic

The Early Bird Audition Notice

Tuesday 26th – Saturday 30th March

“She’s got on her little orange mac. With the hood pulled up. Turns the corner and goes to catch the bus. . . You don’t think, do you? You don’t think anything’s going to happen.”

1. Auditions

Auditions will take place from 6.30pm for a 7pm start on 21st, 22nd and 23rd January 2013 at the St Brides Foundation, 14 Bride Lane, City of London, EC4Y 8EQ. You do not need to register for auditions or prepare anything in advance. Please come on whichever day suits you. When you arrive you’ll be given a scene from a modern play to prepare. We will also play a couple of warm up games.
Recalls will be on Sunday 27th January from 10am to 2pm and you will be told the venue if you are recalled. If we’d like to see you at the recalls we’ll call you on Thursday 24th January to let you know. You will be called in a groups of 10 and paired with a Debbie or a Jack. Then we will work on some partnering exercises and a couple of the key scenes from the play.

2. Show Dates

We’ll be performing from Tuesday 26th – Saturday 30th March at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. The shows will start at 7.30pm and you’ll need to be at the theatre at least an hour beforehand.

3. Synopsis

The Early Bird taps into the darkest fear of any parent – the dissappearance of their child – to brilliantly capture the nightmare of recrimination and loss. Debbie and Jack blame each other and themselves, and in doing so reveal the innner secrets of their own relationship. What I think is so brilliant about this play is the ambigouity of it all we never know how Kimberley, the daughter has dissapeared we don’t know how old she is, this leads us to focus on Debbie and Jack and the way they deal with their loss and how it effects their love for each other.

4. Cast

Debbie: (28-45) The mother. From Jack’s point of view she is a lazy, watches too much day time tv and feeds Kimberly too many Mars bars and packets of Monster Munch. From Kimberly’s point of view Debbie is a fun and loving mother who tickles her when she’s feeling down. Debbie is forgetful, she can’t remember the day her daughter went missing, she thinks she knows what happened, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. Debbie just wants her daughter back and until she gets what she wants she’ll blame anyone but herself.

Jack: (28-45) The Father. From Debbie’s point of view he is a lad about town, who only cares about work and who swears too much in front of Kimberley. From his daughter’s point of view Jack is distant but not so much so that he forgets to tuck his daughter up in bed and tells her ghost stories. Jack forgets his daughter is missin

g, he hears her call out in the night and he still goes to her room to tuck her in. Jack just wants his wife back, the wife who he fell in love with on holiday.

“So it’s my fault.”

Script extracts (please read)

Rehearsals

Some of the rehearsals will not fit the standard Monday, Wednesday and Sunday format of a KDC show, so a full list of dates is shown below. Weekday rehearsals are 7pm to 9.30pm, and weekend rehearsals are 12pm to 5pm.

3rd Feb
6th Feb
9th Feb
13th Feb
18th Feb
20th Feb
23rd Feb
25th Feb
27th Feb

3rd March
9th March
11th March
16th March
18th March
20th March
23rd March
24th March

Cutting Edge: an interactive fairy tale

Cutting Edge is a morbid, modern fairytale centered around a young woman named Hera, back from for the summer from uni to find that her wicked stepmother has moved in the house and her dad is working for the big bad wolf. As if that weren’t terrible enough, Hera receives a strange and cryptic message from someone she least expected. Will she save the day? This is where you, the audience, come in!

The audience will help define the show from the very beginning by suggesting crucial details and then voting at major turning points as to which way the plot will go. Part scripted and part improvised, this show will be a playful and unique night out and no two shows will be the same!

Hera: Louise Bastock
Dad: Richard Williams
Sammy: Kim Morrison
Mr. Wolf: Carl Fletcher
Sonja: Trina Hasthorpe
Mother: Emma Rolf

Written & Directed by Sarah Provencal

Cutting Edge will have a strictly limited run from Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th January. Performances start at 7:30pm at The Pirate Castle, Camden (Camden Town).

Tickets are £8. To reserve them in advance email: cuttingedge@kdctheatre.com

Christmas 2012 message from the Chair

Hello there KDC!

I hope that, unlike myself, you are well, and have no tickles in the throat, or sniffles to irritate your colleagues and loved ones!

Another year done for one of the hardest working theatre companies in London! Who would have thought that just about 12 months ago we were thanking the directors of our 2011 Winter Season, and preparing for an exciting Spring!

It’s been a great year for us, with some amazingly popular shows and some exciting stuff in general! We’ve had 11 shows (one of which performed in a total of FOUR different venues!), one new season, and two new venues! From our Shakespearean Spring of Measure for Measure, The Tamer Tamed and War of the Waleses, all three Assistant Directors went on to direct for our Summer Season of one act plays. Richard Williams brought back the ever popular Devised Piece. Sarah Heenan took War of the Waleses to Camden, Ealing and STRATFORD UPON AVON. Duncan Moore helmed our very first Halloween play in Dracula! We had some adaptations of Dickens Ghost Stories which we WON’T have seen the last of! We’ve said goodbye to some of our great committee members, Anna Marx and Sandy Nicholson, and said hello to others, Aruna Buchanan, Kim Morrison and Dave Balfour. And our amazing year finished off with the fantastically funny and appropriately seasonal productions of The Lying Kind and The Priory!

So as it tradition, my thanks go out, not just for this season, but for the year in total to YOU, our community and membership for your continued support, and ALSO, to those who’ve thrown so much in for 2012, so thank you…

Duncan Moore, Emma Knott, Dan West, Charles Golding, Steph Urquhart, Doug Baker, Sally Wilks, Lucy Hill, Fiona Thomas, Juliet Colbert, Tracie Laurinaitis, Alan Maddrell, Jimi Odell, Will Baltyn, Chris Stooke, Marcus Mollan, Mark Ewins, Anna Marx, Catherine Kolubayev, Kate Moore, Su Vigus, James Laing, Ronan Fitzgerald, Tracey Pocock, Bernard Doogan, Dawn Williams, Richard Evans, Imogen Levy, Adam Moulder, Chris Warren, Stephen Russell, Neil Duggan, Fran Rafferty, Layla Estasy, Sophie Head, Isabel Eriksson, Pip Brewer, Matthew Partridge, Kathy Robbins, Charlotte Blake, Zoe Ashdown, Ernesta Vainovskaja, Michael Barry, Zoe Thomas-Webb, Mary Groom, Amy Bird, Julia Collier, Kathy Petrakis, Sarah Hennan, Carl Fletcher, Frances Bushe *DEEP BREATH* Helen Niland, Katherine Wootton, Richard Williams, Ciara Robley, Sian Davies, Carrie Johnston, Amy Jackson, Helen Jackson, Peter Cabrera, Trina Hasthorpe, Govind Hodgson, Bernard O’Sullivan, Michael Johnston, Lisa Moore, Nick Dastoor, Jeremy Small, Alex Waddington, Samantha Merrydew, March Fothergill, Fiona O’Sullivan, Anna Whitelock, Catherine Ion, Kevin Morin, Oli Wilson, Caleb Watson, Francis Whittaker, Invo Dinkov, James Tulley, Kim Morrison, Maeve McClenaghan, Vanessa Okello, David Balfour, Nick Franco, David Crackles, Jacqui Adams, Asma Mani, James Killeen, Tracie Laurinaitis, Sarah Beebe, Jess Battersby, Matt Hudson, Elizabeth Daly, Hayden Bennett, Ida Scofano, Marlies Kunnen, Lucy Walker, Sky Bembury, Alice Jeffrey, Jules Cross, Tash Muntoni, Chris Penney, Eddie Register, Clive Eliot, Alexis Coward, Cara Baressi, Abi Deffee, Beccy Reese, Rob Timbrell, Ciaran Cunningham, Matt Matravers, Simon Hill, Julia Collier, Alex Wheeler, Rebecca Ison, Alexandra Mackenzie-Smith, Catlin Homes, Nigel Barker, Sarah Lowes, Leila Mountford, Rebecca Shoot, Rob Britton, Melissa Reardon, Tom Mannings, Claire Stone, all our contacts at Questors and the RSC, Charlotte, Martin and Ryan and the other guys at the Etcetera Theatre and George, Bianca and all of the Giant Olive guys at The Lion and Unicorn!

We’re already off to a flying start for 2013 too! You Decide is a VERY cool new thing we’re trying in the shape of an audience interactive theatre pieve – Auditions are TONIGHT Monday 10th. Details are on the website! We also have two of our plays in place for our Spring Season! A Spotlight Showcase for two actors, in the form of The Early Bird, to be directed by first time collaborator, long time friend, Zoe Thomas-Webb, and our Ensemble Classic, Richard III, to be directed by Chris Warren, formerly of The Priory, Measure for Measure and Anna Karenina! You can find out more from THEM at our pub quiz in The Hoop and Grapes on Thursday!

Phew! If you’ve made it this far, treat yourself to a cookie.

My fingers are numb, but my note is complete!

See you ALL very soon!

Bring on 2013!

Andy Marchant

KDC Chair

Audition Notice – You Decide

Audition Notice for a new KDC production tonight Monday 10 December.

You Decide is a modern fairytale and an audience interactive theatre piece. During the play, the audience will help the hero make major decisions, sending the tale into a new direction so that no two performances will be the same. The play is largely scripted, with some improvisational elements. The improvisational aspect is very structured, so actors do need to be comfortable with improvisation but complete proficiency is not required. This exciting and innovative project has been workshopped by KDC members over the last month and will perform before the Spring season begins next year, allowing actors to appear in both this show and audition for next season as well. This tight timeline means that the show will be a considerable commitment; actors will need to be available for 2-3 table work rehearsals the week of December 17 and regular rehearsals will begin on January 2.

Performances will be on the evenings 24, 25, and 26 of January at the Pirate Castle in Camden. Auditions are next Monday evening (10th December) at Ocean House (near Mansion House tube, see www.kdctheatre.com/venues). They will run from 6pm in 30 minute slots and will consist of improvisation exercises, so no preparation is required.

E-mail Director Sarah Provencal to register your interest and get your 30 minute time slot or with any questions. Callbacks will be Tuesday, December 11, by invitation only and will consist of readings from the script.

The Priory – Cast Biographies

Adam Moulder (Adam)
Adam is privileged to be involved in The Priory with a great group of people, except one. He hopes he has brought a lot of hints and essences to his part. The last time Adam worked with the directing team he was poking them both with his sword, at the same time.

Christopher Warren (Ben)
Christopher’s first starring role was as a cold Shephard in Chesham Preparatory Schools 1990 nativity play, although his mother missed the performance, his line ‘put another log on the fire’ won him a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He graduated in 2007 having inhabited a meerkat for sixth months, performed the part of Donalbaine and affected an impressive posh accent.
Recently he played Karenin in ‘Anna Karenina’ The Duke in ‘Measure for Measure’ with KDC and Pimp in Sink the Belgrano with Seedos. Christopher has genuinely no idea why he was cast as Ben and urges everyone to audition for Richard iii which he is directing at KDC next year and promises to be baffling.

Stephen Russell (Carl)
Having just finished an acclaimed run as Tony Blair in KDC’s lauded War of the Waleses, Stephen is looking forward to playing someone sweet, honest and who keeps their promises. Playing a failed actor who’s lost his looks and is suffering relationship crises may be his most stretching character part to date.

Neil Duggan (Daniel)
This is his first production with KDC. Neil spent the summer stalking the alleyways at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival trying to drum up business for Sedos’s ‘s ‘As You Like it’. He would like to thank everyone for buying a ticket and coming out on such a chilly night. Lastly, Merry Christmas.

Fran Rafferty (Kate)
By day the Ugly Betty of the West End, by the evening all singing-ish, sometimes dancing, knitting fanatic who one day hopes to own a dog called Digby or Yogi Bear or Karenin.
Current productions: Edwin Drood in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at the Theatro Technis 18th – 22nd December, 2012 [dir. Ruth Sullivan Tower Theatre Company].
Previous productions include: Rosalind in AS YOU LIKE IT [dir. Zoe Thomas Webb, SEODS & Edinburgh Fringe], Gloria/Matti in THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT [dir. Zoe Thomas Webb, SEDOS], Anybody ‘s in WEST SIDE STORY [dir. Kim Barker, SEDOS], Betsy Boo in FEMME [dir. Ed Walsh, Von W Productions], Tribe in HAIR [dir. Matt Prince, SEDOS], Soloist in LIFE IS JUST A BOWL OF CHERRIES [dir. John Hill, Tinhatters], Whore/Physio in PIAF [dir. Ian Cray, NTP], Kate in THE MATCHGIRLS [dir. Chris Clarke, Tinhatters], Rita in BILLY [dir. Tom Goodluck, HCG], Juliet in ROMEO & JULIET [dir. Liz Crane, NTP], Navigation Officer in RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET [dir. Ian Cray, Tinhatters], and Eva in THE ACCRINGTON PALS [dir. Ian Cray, NTP].

Layla Estasy (Laura)
Layla is delighted to be acting in London again, having just returned from a stint in The Land Down Under, where performances included The House of Bernarda Alba, Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila and Lee, Vanity Fair and Othello. As research for the role of Laura, Layla had a lobotomy.

Sophie Head (Rebecca)
Having completed a Foundation Course in Acting at the Arts Educational in 2009, Sophie has enthusiastically embraced the amateur theatre circuit and played Angelika in Sedos’ Push Up (2012), Catherine in Questors’ The Winslow Boy (2012), Lady Capulet in Sedos’ Romeo and Juliet (2011) and Gilda in KDC’s Alfie (2010). Sophie’s also performed at the Edinburgh Festival and in NYMT productions (Limbo, Tin Pan Ali). A classically trained singer, Sophie is also a keen singer/songwriter, having performed her own material at gigs and festivals in and around London.

Tracie Laurinaitis (Monk)
Proud to be the ‘sister-in-the-hood’ in The Priory, Tracie couldn’t resist adding Monk 3 to her stage credits. It’s all about the robe. Among shadowy religious figures, she has also treaded the boards most recently in Measure for Measure The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and The Blue Room in the amateur world. This spring she looks forward to ADing Enron for Sedos.