Auditions – Jack and the Beanstalk (pantomime)

The Nomads will be presenting Jack and the Beanstalk by Peter Forbes in December 2019, directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke.

  • Musical Director: James Marr
  • Production Manager: Annabelle Lawrence
  • Performance dates: 10-14 December 2019 (inc Matinee on 14th)
  • Rehearsal days: Sundays from September, weeknights to suit the cast from October
Auditions will be held in the Bob King Room on:
  • Sunday 30th June – 2:30 PM
  • Thursday 11th July – 7:30 PM
  • Monday 15th July – 7:30 PM

If you are interested in auditioning and/or would like to know more, please contact Annabelle Lawrence, Production Manager on [email protected], or call Andrew, Director on 07447 527180.

A chuckle-full adventure of a show this year at The Nomad Theatre! In the village of Ample Bottom, Jack and his friends and family live in fear of the Giant and his nasty crew. After a bit of a mix-up with some beans and the family cow, will Jack’s visit to the cloud land end in victory?

A very popular show locally, the pantomime at Nomads is often full to the brim with theatre-goers enjoying our festive treats. With excellent reviews for both Cinderella in 2015 and Dick Whittington & his cat in 2017, plus a NODA accolade for Drama recently awarded to A Christmas Carol following the production in December 2018, the Nomads team are very much looking forward to the challenges and potential for fun that Jack and the Beanstalk will bring this year!

Characters – playing age ranges are flexible, as always:

  • Grotweasel: A thoroughly wicked, villainous person. Singing. | Male | Any age
  • Fairy Godmother: Young, ditsy. Singing. | Female | 18-30 (or, younger than the FGG)
  • Fairy Greatgodmother: Traditional fairy. Singing. | Female | Older than the FG
  • Sally: Silly Sally, Jack’s sister, tomboyish and a bit of a mess. Singing. | Female | 18-30
  • Jack: Principal boy, swagger required. Singing. | Female | 18-35
  • Dame: “Flower” Pott, the widow, mumsy but witty. Singing. | Male | 30-60
  • Daisy: Cow, 2-people
  • Squire: Typical sneering swine, Jill’s father. Singing. | Male | 30-60
  • Dogbreath: Squires man, scruffy. Singing. | Male | 18-40
  • Hairball: Squires ‘other’ man, hairline-meets-eyebrows-meets-beard. Singing. | Male | 18-40
  • Jill: Principal girl, Squire’s daughter, sweet on Jack. Singing. | Female | 18-35
  • Villagers: All ages, singing required. Dancers will be specifically chosen, for all others, some movement required.
  • Mummy: Not your mummy, a mummy.
  • Cook: Food lover but slovenly and unlovely | Female | 25-60
  • Giant: Sometimes a voice, may be seen | Male | Any age
  • Big Chicken: Now then, not what you were thinking.
  • Voice over artists: TV Chef, Sarcastic Harp

We welcome anyone to register their interest for the show, let us know what date you’ll be attending the auditions!

Carmen presented by Rogue Opera

In February 2019, The Nomads in association with Rogue Opera present

Bizet’s Carmen

Saturday 23rd February at 7:30pm

Tickets: £14 for adults, £12 for students

https://rogueopera.co.uk/aboutcarmen

Passion….obsession….ruin….

FORMER SOLDIER STABS GYPSY EX-LOVER TO DEATH

Carmen – fiery, daring and uncompromising – meets José, a soldier with a past…

Carmen and the Gypsies live a bohemian life, seeking freedom outside of the law.  José, drawn to Carmen and this unconventional world, is torn between love, duty and honour.  Micaëla, innocent and pious, represents a simpler way of life and the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo soon becomes a rival for Carmen’s affections.

Set against some of the most recognisable music in opera, this drama is a serious and still-relevant examination of violence, obsession and the struggle of a complex and spirited woman striving for independence and choice in life and love.

Rogue Opera’s fully staged intimate production is sung in French with English surtitles. Our cast of 6 singer-actors perform multiple roles and, along with our dancer and pianist, strip away the pomp and pageantry to present a raw and intimate piece of theatre. With the audience close enough to see blood, sweat and tears and to feel the vibration of every note, Bizet’s thrilling and captivating music is raw, powerful and intimate. Our talented cast and creative team are all professionals with backgrounds including Longborough Festival Opera, Royal Opera House Chorus, English National Opera Chorus, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and all perform regularly as soloists throughout the UK and Europe.

About Rogue Opera

Passionate about bringing top-class opera productions to diverse spaces and communities, Rogue Opera creates intimate touring productions for new venues and audiences, offering a different experience of classic opera.

Rogue Opera was established at the end of 2017 by Bronwen Stephens-Harding – director, singer and marketeer.

Passionate about bringing Opera to new spaces and audiences, Rogue Opera creates intimate productions which can be staged almost anywhere. Through our strong focus on acting and staging, we aim to present the composers’ incredible music – and the performers’ incredible voices – in ways which are accessible to both first-time audiences and connoisseurs. Our productions are sung in the original language, with English surtitles, for audiences of 50-150 people, with piano accompaniment. Close enough to see blood, sweat and tears and to feel the vibration of every note, a Rogue Opera performance is live theatre at its most personal. As well as presenting shows in traditional spaces in London, St Albans, Bournemouth and Deal, we’ve also transformed a 15th-century barn in Kent into a theatre for 90 people and brought a special show to a north London Synagogue.

Rogue Opera’s talented cast and creative team are all professionals with backgrounds including Longborough Festival Opera, Royal Opera House Chorus, English National Opera Chorus, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and perform regularly throughout the UK and Europe. Director and singer, Bronwen Stephens-Harding, returned to music in 2012. She is delighted to now be able to call on her years of corporate events and marketing experience to fulfil Rogue Opera’s mission to bring top-class intimate productions to audiences around the UK and Europe.

In our first production of Bizet’s Carmen,  for 6 singers, dancer and piano, we stripped away the pomp and pageantry to present a raw and intimate piece of theatre, examining the power dynamics between people and Carmen’s struggle to find independence and control in her life, love and friendships. Carmen and the Gypsies seek a bohemian life, finding freedom outside of the law. José, drawn to Carmen and this unconventional world, is torn between love, duty and honour. Micaëla, innocent and pious, represents a simpler way of life, and the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo soon becomes a rival for Carmen’s affections. The dramatic resolution of the story was shocking and unconventional in depicting such violence on stage at its 1875 premiere and the drama is still relevant today – a serious and thought-provoking story underlying some of opera’s most recognisable music.

Gym & Tonic

Gym & Tonic

By John Godber

Directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke and Moyra Brookes

5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th March at 7:30

Tickets: adults £14, students £10 (adults £12 on Tuesday 5th)

Don and Shirley Weston have come to the Scardale Hall Health Hydro to relax, pamper themselves and just possible rescue their ailing marriage. Don’s experiences with exercise and therapy are far from positive and the rifts in the marriage widen as his mid-life crisis becomes more and more evident, and moments of reconciliation do little to improve the situation!

BOOK NOW – call box office 01483 284747 or www.nomadtheatre.com/book-now

The cast:

Auditions – Funny Money

The Nomads will be presenting Funny Money in April 2019, directed by Jeff Wightwick.

  • Performance dates: 9-13 April 2019 
  • Rehearsal days: TBC

Good friends Betty and Vic arrive for Henry’s birthday dinner and Jean is frantic because Henry is late. When he eventually arrives, he wants to emigrate immediately, and with good reason: the briefcase he accidentally picked up on the Underground is stuffed with £735,000 – not his sandwiches! Hilarious innuendo and cruelly funny turns of fate ensue as the two couples assume various identities in their battle to keep the money.

Auditions will be held on Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th January at 7:30pm, to get involved please contact: Jeff Wightwick, 01483 280085 / [email protected]

Characters

  • Jean Perkins – a pretty but ordinary woman in her forties
  • Henry Perkins – an insignificant man in his early fifties
  • Bill – a middle-aged London taxi driver of spirit
  • Davenport – (police officer) a sparse, middle-aged man with a knowing glint in his eye
  • Slater – (police officer) a solicitous and kindly soul, until provoked
  • Betty Johnson – a buxom and cheerful woman in her late forties
  • Vic Johnson – a brash man with feet of clay
  • Passer-by – a large man

Audition pieces can be viewed…

Audition pieces

Bouncers

Bouncers

By John Godber & Jane Thornton.

Directed by Hayley Clines.

Wednesday 23rd to Saturday 26th January at 7.45pm in the Studio.

Bouncers is set in and around Flamingo Joe’s – a nightclub, with the action focusing on the exploits of the four doormen and their customers. The play creates a vivid picture of the relentless antics of nightlife with its raw energy, flashing disco lights and raucous lads and lasses out on the town. The quartet of actors switch with pin-sharp precision from charismatic doormen to giggling girls to lads on the lash and back again.

Four decades after John Godber’s Bouncers was first staged at the Fringe it remains one of the most popular and performed comedies.

Tickets: adults £12, students £10

Box office: 01483 284747 – or Book Online

The cast:
Guy Shirley – Judd
Chris Butler – Eric
Dan Shepherd – Ralph
Ian Creese – Les
 

Casting – Bouncers

The Nomads will be presenting Bouncers by John Godber in January 2019, directed by Hayley Clines.

  • Performance dates: 23 – 26 January 2019 
  • Rehearsal days: One mid-week and Sunday for a few hours, exact details to suit company

Audition dates:

  • Tuesday 9th October – 8-9.30pm
  • Sunday 14th October – 6:30-8pm
  • Tuesday 23rd October – 8-9.30pm

Auditions will be held in the Bob King room at The Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6RT (click here). Please email the Director to confirm you’ll be attending.

Contact details: Hayley Clines
E: [email protected]

About the show
This is a depiction of a nightclub through the evening as told by 4 bouncers, each with a  different take on the nightlife world. This will have a twist as it will not be set “up north” but daaaaaaawn south, so bring your best east end accents with you. Our January 2018 production of Shakers (the female partner production) was set in the ’80’s, so we’ll be choosing a different decade for this one.
Characters
Can you dance, can you rap, can you have a laugh and make sure that the life of one of the following bouncers can become your own for 4 nights only….? Read on:
Eric – Recently separated from his wife. Can be older than the other bouncers. Gives the impression that he is a deeper, more thoughtful character than some of the others. His monologues show his distaste as the objectification of women within the nightlife.
Also plays Baz ( Group fo lads) and Maureen ( Group of ladies) and a Buxom Swede.
Les – Eager to get into fights. Hot-headed and temper runs high.
Also plays Kev ( Group of lads), Rosie( Group of girls).
Judd – Wheeler and dealer sort of chap. Involved in petty theft. Judd knows Eric from gym and training and tries to pick a fight with him regularly in the show.
Also plays Barber and Hairdresser when we meet new characters first. Then becomes Terry and Elaine.
Ralph – Calm and reflective one of the group. Also plays Jerry and Suzy ( Sexy and flashy), DJ and Nobby the Swedish Postman.
Audition Pieces: CLICK HERE
  • Eric – Pg 25-26
  • Ralph – Pg 37
  • Las – Pg 28-29
  • Judd – Pg 7 – 8, Pg 9
  • Everyone Pg 11-13.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens

Adapted and Directed by Graham Botterill

Tuesday 11th to Saturday 15th December at 7.30pm, matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm

Tickets: adults £16, children/students £10 (£12 for adults on the 11th)

Box office: 01483 284747 or Book Online

The famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from miserable miser to generous benefactor, has been a popular feature of Christmas since it was published in 1843. Scrooge’s redemption is prompted by the visitation of a succession of spirits. By turns exciting, terrifying, amusing and always moving; this story is a wonderful prelude to Christmas.

Trivial Pursuits by Frank Vickery

Trivial Pursuits

By Frank Vickery

Directed by Michael Ayres

Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 September at 7.45pm

Tickets: adults £12, children/students £10

At the summer meeting of the local am dram society, next season’s play is to be announced. The society’s business manager, Nick, runs into trouble, having promised a different show and the plum roles to four different people.

In this comedic look at the world of ‘am-dram’, the audience may find the scenarios of hidden agendas, scores to be settled and all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans which go into a production, a little familiar.

All in all, this play will make you chuckle and chortle, perhaps even raise the odd wry eyebrow or groan! Now, does anyone know how to light a barbecue properly?

A comedic look at the world of amateur dramatics!

  • Derek – Paul Asher

Casting – A Christmas Carol

The Nomads will be presenting Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in December 2018, directed by Graham Botterill.

The famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from miserable miser to generous benefactor, has been a popular feature of Christmas since it was published in 1843. Scrooge’s redemption is prompted by the visitation of a succession of spirits. By turns exciting, terrifying, amusing and always moving; this story is a wonderful prelude to Christmas.

  • Performance dates: 11-14 December 2018 at 7:45pm, 15 December 2018 at 2:30pm and 7:45pm
  • Rehearsal days: from 2nd September, Sundays at 2:30pm, Wednesdays at 7:30pm plus most Mondays from 17th October

Audition dates:

  • Sunday 15th July at 2:30pm
  • Monday 16th July at 7:30pm
  • Wednesday 18th July at 7:30pm
  • Further dates will be announced…

Audition pieces can be found here: Google Drive

Auditions will be held in the Bob King room at The Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6RT (click here). There’s no fixed order; but, if possible, children will be auditioned first.

If you are interested in auditioning and/or would like further information, please contact Graham on [email protected]

There are over 60 characters, so cast members will be doubling and trebling parts. There are lots of fun roles including an ensemble of Carollers, Country Folk, Party Guests, Townspeople, Children, Businessmen, Sailors etc.

Characters (in no particular order):

  • Ebeneezer Scrooge: Playing age 60+ – A mean, unhappy loner who recovers his humanity and a fine sense of humour.
  • Bob Cratchit: Playing age 30+ – A gentle, downtrodden clerk who adores his family and desperately tries to provide for them.
  • Fred (Scrooge’s Nephew): Playing age 30’s – A warm, humorous man who is determined to redeem his uncle.
  • Charity Ladies: Playing age 40+ – Respectable ladies who can be doubled with the un-respectable Charwoman and Laundress.
  • Street Urchin: Playing age 12+ – crossing-sweeper, message-runner, etc.
  • Jacob Marley: Playing age 50+ – The ghost of Scrooge’s dead partner. A booming, terrifying character. Can be doubled with Old Joe the rag and bone man.
  • Ghost of Christmas Past: Female – Playing age 30s – Initially frightening but sympathetic to Scrooge’s plight. Can double with Mrs Cratchit and/or Ada (Mrs Fred)
  • Boy Ebeneezer: Playing age early teens – can double as Peter Cratchit
  • Fanny Scrooge: Playing age early teens – Ebeneezer’s sister
  • Schoolmaster: Playing age 40+ – a fierce bully who made Scrooge’s schooldays miserable.
  • Mr Fezziwig: Playing age 50+ – Scrooge’s first employer…a jovial, generous man who knew how to celebrate Christmas. Can double with Ghost of Christmas Present.
  • Mrs Fezziwig: Playing age 50+ – Fashionable, enthusiastic and adores her husband. Can double with Charwoman or Laundress.
  • Young Ebeneezer: Playing age 17 to 25 – An enthusiastic apprentice and fiancé of Belle. Can double with Undertaker.
  • Dick Wilkins: Playing age 17 to 25 – Fellow apprentice. Can double with Fred’s friend Topper.
  • Belle: Playing age 18 to 25 – Young Ebeneezer’s fiancé. Can double with Young Wife and/or Ada’s Sister.
  • Ghost of Christmas Present: Male – Playing age 40+ – Big and cheerful…a sort of prototype Santa Claus. Can double with Mr Fezziwig & Businessmen.
  • ParcelMen (2): Any age – Diamond geezers.
  • Mrs Cratchit: Playing age 30+ – desperate to keep her family alive on Bob’s pathetic wages. Can double as a Charity Lady.
  • Martha Cratchit: Playing age mid-teens – oldest of the Cratchit children. Works long hours for little reward.
  • Peter Cratchit: Playing age early teens – can double as Boy Ebeneezer
  • Tiny Tim: Playing age about 8 – the much-loved baby of the family. Could be played by boy or girl. Must have the “Aaah” factor.
  • Ada (Fred’s wife): Playing age 20+ – Suffers Fred’s ‘sense of humour’
  • Ada’s Sister: Playing age 20+ – Unmarried, as yet.
  • Topper: Playing age 25+ – Keen to marry Ada’s Sister…or anyone.
  • Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: – Tall and terrifying. Non-speaking role…but bags of non-verbal communication.
  • Old Joe: Playing age 50+ – Filthy, Fagin-ish rag and bone man. Ideally doubled with Jacob Marley.
  • Charwoman: Playing age 40+ – Coarse, grasping harridan…doubles nicely with Charity Lady.
  • Laundress: Playing age 40+ – Coarse, grasping harridan…doubles nicely with Charity Lady.
  • Undertaker: Playing age 17 to 25 – Pond life. Can double with Young Ebeneezer.
  • Plus Carollers, Country Folk, Party Guests, Townspeople, Children, Businessmen, Sailors, etc.

Auditions – Trivial Pursuits

The Nomads will be presenting Trivial Pursuits by Frank Vickery in September 2018, directed by Michael Ayres (Artistic Director, The Nomads).

  • Performance dates: 12-15 September 2018 at 7:45pm
  • Rehearsal days: Tuesday and Thursday

Audition dates:

  • Tuesday 31 July – 7:30
  • Thursday 2 August – 7:30
  • Sunday 5 August – 1:00

Auditions will be held in the Bob King room at The Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6RT (click here)

If you are interested in auditioning and/or would like further information, please email us to let us know on [email protected] 

Characters (playing ages are flexible):

  • Teddy – Often insensitive and selfish, he sees himself as a joker. Very friendly with Joyce.
  • Joyce – Roz’ sister. Once talented and well-meaning; a lush, she gets drunk during the play.
  • Mona – the choreographer. With no real sense of humour, she takes herself very seriously and has a hard edge. Maybe fancied Teddy in the past, but was ignored. Bitter?
  • Pearl – the Treasurer. Sensible and straightforward.
  • Roz – Nick’s wife and Joyce’s sister; the sensible, organised person behind Nick’s power.
  • Jessica – pretty and younger than the other members.
  • Derek – Boring and pathetic, but harmless. His divorce from Deirdre is about to be finalised, but he is missing her and is miserable without her. He has been involved with the Operatic Society through Deirdre.
  • Nick – Roz’ husband. The society Business Manager. He feels pressured from all sides, and is in a no-win situation, but does find opportunities to get something positive out of it, however. Fancies Jessica.
  • Deirdre – happy to be getting divorced from Derek, as she feels she can start living life now.
  • Eddie – not part of the society, he has tagged along with Deirdre. His only interest is television.

Auditions – Much Ado About Nothing

The Nomads will be presenting Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in October 2018, directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke.

A sharply witty romantic comedy – a battle of the sexes. As soldiers memories of conflict give way to a life of parties and masked balls, two fall madly, deeply in love, while another two reignite their own altogether more combative courtship.

  • Performance dates: 9-13 October 2018 at 7:45pm
  • Rehearsal days: Sunday, Monday, Thursday evenings – some daytimes can be arranged if a appropriate

Take a look at the reviews of the previous two Shakespeare plays presented by The Nomads and directed by Andrew, here:

Audition dates:

  • Please contact to arrange a date

Auditions will be held in the Bob King room at The Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6RT (click here)

If you are interested in auditioning and/or would like further information, please email us to let Andrew know on [email protected] 

Note: The Nomads are a not-for-profit, non-professional group residing in a well designed theatre building. We are unable to offer expenses or payment for actors, all roles on and backstage are voluntary.

Casting still open for:

  • Claudio –  Male – Playing age 20 – A young soldier who has recently returned from war.  Claudio falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. He is easily manipulated., wears his heart on his sleeve, and too quick to believe rumors, and reacts emotionally without enough thought.
  • Margaret – Female – Playing age 20 – Hero’s serving woman, who unwittingly helps Borachio and Don John deceive Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful.  Margaret is lower class, full of life and a bit sassy.   She unwittingly becomes involved in Don Johns plot.
  • Ursula –  Female – Playing age 20’s – One of Hero’s waiting women.
  • Borachio –  Male – Playing age 25 – An associate of Don John. Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. He conspires with Don John to trick Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking that Hero is unfaithful to Claudio. His name means “drunkard” in Italian
  • Antonio –  Male – Playing age 60’s – Leonato’s elderly brother and Hero’s uncle. He is Beatrice’s father.

Other characters (already cast):

  • Balthasar –  Male – Any age – A waiting man in Leonato’s household and a musician. Balthasar flirts with Margaret at the masked party and helps Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice. Should be able to sing.
  • Benedick –  Male – Playing age 25 – Our Male lead…must be able to deliver a three dimensional character full of energy, humor and honestly.   Benedick is a soldier  recently returned from the war along with with Don Pedro and best friend Claudio. Benedick is quite charming, always making jokes and puns and carries on a “merry war” of wits with Beatrice.  Chemistry with female lead is paramount.
  • Hero – Female – Playing age 20 – The beautiful young daughter of Leonato and cousin to Beatrice. Hero is lovely, gentle, and kind.  She also needs to have a well rounded character.  She has the lead in the prank that is played on Beatrice, she is scorned by her betrothed, and the actor who wins this role must be able to portray a wide range of emotions through the course of the play.
  • Beatrice – Female – Playing age 25 – Beatrice is a strong willed woman, with a sharp wit and spirit.   Our Female lead must deliver a well rounded character with honesty and intellect.  She wages a war of wits against Benedick and often wins the battle. At the outset of the play, she appears content never to marry, however, she is in love with Benedick, just unwilling to admit it.  Chemistry with the male lead in paramount.
  • Don Pedro –  Male – Playing age 50 to 60 – An important nobleman, sometimes referred to as “Prince.”  Don Pedro is a longtime friend of Leonato, Hero’s father. Don Pedro is generous, courteous, intelligent, and loyal to his friends. He is the most politically and socially powerful character in the play.  This character needs to be very charismatic.
  • Leonato –  Male – Playing age  50 to 60 – A  well-to-do, elderly noble.  Leonato is the father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. As governor of Messina, he is second in social power only to Don Pedro.
  • Don John – Male – Playing age 45 -55 – The illegitimate brother of Don Pedro; sometimes called “the Bastard.”  He is the villain of the play; his actions are motivated by his envy of his brother’s social authority, (or jealousy if cast as a female).
  • Dogberry (/Hugh Oatcake) –  Male – Any age 30+ – The constable in charge of the Watch, or chief policeman, of Messina. Dogberry takes his job seriously, but isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Middle class, with a desire to appear higher, which creates great humour in his choice of words.   Comedic timing is a must with this role.
  • Conrad –  Male – Playing age 25 – One of Don John’s close associates, entirely devoted to Don John.
  • Friar Francis – Male – Any age 30+ – The priest who married the lovers, and is the voice of reason in the show.   Compassion, patience, (humor) and stability are keys to his character.
  • Sexton – Male – Any age 30+ – Leads the trial against the villains.

NODA review: Dick Whittington & his cat

NODA representative, Mark Allen, reviews the recent production of  Dick Whittingon and his cat by The Nomads at The Nomad Theatre in Surrey (find us).

The NOMADS – “Dick Whittington and his cat”

Nomad Theatre – 13th December, 2017

Author – Peter Denyer
Director – Andrew Hamel-Cooke
Choreography – Samantha Potten
Musical Director – Gareth Alber

Warmly welcomed by the front of house I was ushered into the bar and awaited meeting with Andrew, the director who extended his good wishes and requested we remain to meet the cast later. A refurbished and (purpose) rebuilt theatre, it was gratifying to see it almost full.

dick whittington review pantomime
Greeted with a relatively simple set which worked very well, the changes as they were, were slick and without much fuss. Well lit and with good sound too, the diction was clear and could be heard well above the three-piece band offset stage left.

dick whittington review pantomime surrey fairy

In true fashion the pantomime started and we were introduced to a motley cast of characters ably led by Sophie Johnstone as Dick, Daniel Shepherd, very boo worthy as
King Rat and the sweet and innocent Hayley Clines as [Fairy] Bow Bells, all three confident and audible.

dick whittington pantomime review dame
Michael Ayres played the dame Sarah the Cook, and seemed to be enjoying the role too, as was fairly evident. I liked the enthusiasm, it rubs off well!

dick whittington pantomime review
The cast and chorus were well drilled by Andrew Hamel-Cooke and the choreography (Samantha Potten) was well performed, and in the main all in time too! Again like Sarah the Cook, the chorus and associated cast (too many to mention) (Ed: see below for our comments!) were really enthusiastic and this came across well, helping the audience to a very good evenings entertainment.

dick whittington review pantomime surrey
Overall a really enjoyable evening, and well worth the drive to see it. Well done Andrew and well done Nomads.

Mark Allen
December 2017

The Nomads are members of NODA, which has a membership of 2500 amateur theatre groups and 3000 individual enthusiasts throughout the UK, staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of performing venues, ranging from the country’s leading professional theatres to tiny village halls.

 

Editors comments

Unfortunately, the large cast meant that not everyone got a mention by name, but we wanted to add a few notes on their amazing performance!

Millie Jane Franks as Idle Jack was punchy, energetic and had fabulous stage presence!

Iain Watson (Alderman Fitzwarren) and Jeff Wightwick (Captain Cuttle) both embodied their characters with sincerity and humour.

As The Sultan of Morocco, Richard Peachey‘s accent work and nimble movement made for very lively scenes!

Sasha Plaché brought grace and wonderful singing to the part of Alice Fitzwarren.

King Neptune and his mermaid (Ricky Powell and Tilly Winford – not to be mixed up) were ethereal and deserving of the audience “oohs” and “aahs” under the sea.

Our not-very-dynamic duo of baddies, Gnashfang (Lisa Arnold) and Gnawbone (Johnny Diamond) were suitably nasty, horrible and comedic in equal measures.

Tommy The Cat played by Karolina Sepiak presented an amazing solo self-choreographed dance piece as well as plenty of laughs and cheers!

All the adults and children in the ensemble clearly worked very hard to present coordinated and energetic group songs and dances which the audience loved.

All of the production team should have a huge pat on the back too – costumes were fantastic as always,… make-up was striking and a great display of what Guildford College students can do,… props convincing and consistently well placed,… lighting enhanced the audience understanding of the story locations and sentiment,… sound kept the pace and humour of the scenes,… staging, flying and scene changes were slick,… and the chaperones kept all of us in check… not just the children!

dick whittington pantomime review surrey millie jane franks idle jack

Millie Jane Franks as Idle Jack

Sophie Johnstone and Karolina Sepiak as Dick and Tommy

dick whittington pantomime review baddies king rat

Daniel Shepherd, Lisa Arnold and Johnny Diamond as the baddie rat pack

dick whittington pantomime review band gareth alber

The band (L-R) – Vito, Ryszard and Gareth

dick whittington review pantomime

Richard Peachey as The Sultan of Morocco

Ricky Powell and Tilly Winford under the sea

Love Me Slender by Vanessa Brooks

Love Me Slender

By Vanessa Brooks

BOOK ONLINE

Directed by Andrew Hamel-Cooke

Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th July at 7.30pm

Tickets: adults £14, students £10

Box office: 01483 284747 or book online

A perceptive and comedic look at a modern issue… Siobhan, the ‘Achiever of the Year’ inspires her hopeful new recruits in the Slim For Life dieting club. Siobhan has lost seven stone, found a new self, a fulfilling job and a wonderful husband. Now, she encourages others to achieve the same.

These are seven very contrasting women – Siobhan, the leader of the group and a total control freak, who struts around the stage in her ‘Achiever of the Year’ banner and her ever faithful Kelly, quiet and deep and heading for disaster from the moment the play opens. Claudette the Liverpudlian, with an obsession for food, attractive, confident and loud, who is the exact opposite of Rosie, the dowdy and lank-haired loser. There is Lucinda, who feels far more at home with a large gin and tonic, is sophisticated , smart and could organise any office in the city. Celia is a jolly hockey sticks lady and everybody’s friend with a perfect marriage, or so we are lead to believe, initially, and Jean who is being ripped off by Siobhan and cannot afford to be.

The cast

  • Siobhan – Moyra Brookes
  • Claudette – Cheryl Chamberlain
  • Rosie – Laura Spalding
  • Lucinda – Sarah Gage
  • Celia – Susan Monteregge
  • Jean – Nikky Kirkup
  • Kelly –  Emily Ingold

Casting – Tommy and Jake – Annie Get Your Gun (with BLOS)

Casting for Tommy and Jake – Annie Get Your Gun

Bookham Light Operatic Society‘s summer show will be ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, performed at The Nomad Theatre w/c 14th May 2018. Featuring classic show tunes such as ‘Anything You Can Do’ and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, this musical is one of the greats!

View the cast and show details

  • Director: Andrew Hamel-Cooke
  • Musical Director: Selena Hegarty

Auditions & rehearsals:

  • Fridays at 7.30pm – Eastwick Road Church (URC), Eastwick Road, Great Bookham, Surrey KT23 4BE

Male characters yet to be cast – (with playing ages)

  • Tommy Keeler – Male 18-30 – Supporting – Tenor. A dashing young knife-thrower with the Wild West Show, part Native American.
  • Little Jake – Male 11-14 – Featured – Alto. Annie’s 8-to-10-year-old brother, her “bird dog” who flushes out game for her to shoot.
  • Ensemble men – come and get involved, all ages welcome!

Audition pieces can be found at:  http://www.bookhamlightoperatic.co.uk/blosauditions.htm

If you are interested in auditioning and/or would like further information, please contact the Director on 07747 527180 , or email [email protected]

Synopsis

Rough-and-tumble Annie Oakley is the best shot around. A backwoods gal, Annie uses her skill to support her family by selling the game she hunts. When she’s discovered by Buffalo Bill and persuaded to join his Wild West Show, Annie is plucked from obscurity and becomes the toast of Europe. Annie meets her match in Frank Butler, Buffalo Bill’s leading man and star marksman. She falls head over heels for Frank, but soon eclipses him as the main attraction in the show. Her success with a gun makes trouble for Annie’s chance at romance. Annie Get Your Gun follows the journey of Annie and Frank, revealing their competitive natures as they vie for best shot – and each other’s hearts. This fictionalized version of the life of real-life sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her romance with Frank Butler boasts a score of Irving Berlin gems including “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “I Got Lost in His Arms”, “I Got the Sun in the Mornin’”, “Anything You Can Do,” and “They Say It’s Wonderful.”

All characters – adults (with playing ages)

  • Frank Butler – Male 25-35 – Lead – Baritone. A suave sharpshooter in Buffolo Bill’s show – he enjoys his status
    as a heartbreaker and star.
  • Annie Oakley – Female 18-25 – Lead – Mezzo-Soprano. Strong singer-comedian who carries the show,  she immediately falls head over heels for Frank, who prefers a more dainty type of woman.
  • Tommy Keeler – Male 18-30 – Supporting – Tenor. A dashing young knife-thrower with the Wild West Show, part Native American.
  • Winnie Tate – Female 18-25 – Supporting – Mezzo-Soprano. Dolly’s 17-year-old sister. Tommy throws knives at her and hopes to marry her as soon as she turns 18.
  • Dolly Tate – Female 18-40 – Supporting – Alto.  Frank Butler’s “lovely” assistant, an ambitious and mean-spirited, but funny, woman.
  • Buffalo Bill Cody – Male 35-50 – Supporting – Baritone. Middle-aged soldier/Indian scout turned showman, runs the “Wild West Show”.
  • Chief Sitting Bull – Male 35-55 – Featured – Spoken.  leader of the Sioux Nation, adopts Annie as his daughter and puts his money into show business with the Wild West Show.
  • Charlie Davenport – Male 35-50 – Featured – Baritone.  Middle-aged manager of the Wild West Show, always setting the scene for this show-within-a-show.
  • Foster Wilson – Male 40-60 – Featured – Spoken. Hotel Manager,  strong personality with dry wit.
  • Pawnee Bill – Male 35-55 – Featured – Spoken.  Owner of the Far East Show; Buffalo Bill’s former partner and
    current rival.

Characters – youngsters

  • Little Jake – Male 11-14 – Featured – Alto. Annie’s 8-to-10-year-old brother, her “bird dog” who flushes out
    game for her to shoot.
  • Mary/Jessie/Nellie – Female 11-16 – Featured – Alto. Annie’s 10-to-14-year-old sisters, also part of the family hunting business.

Songs

  • Colonel Buffalo Bill — Charlie Davenport, Dolly Tate, and ensemble
  • I’m a Bad, Bad Man — Frank Butler
  • Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly — Annie Oakley and her siblings
  • The Girl That I Marry — Frank and Annie
  • You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun — Annie
  • There’s No Business Like Show Business — Frank, Buffalo Bill, Charlie, Annie, and ensemble
  • They Say It’s Wonderful — Annie and Frank
  • Moonshine Lullaby — Annie and siblings
  • I’ll Share It All With You — Winnie Tate and Tommy Keeler
  • Ballyhoo — Riding Mistress and Show People
  • There’s No Business Like Show Business (Reprise) — Annie
  • My Defenses Are Down — Frank and ensemble
  • Wild Horse Ceremonial Dance — Wild Horse, Indian Braves and Maidens
  • I’m an Indian, Too — Annie and ensemble
  • Adoption Dance — Annie, Wild Horse and Braves
  • I Got Lost In His Arms — Annie
  • Who Do You Love, I Hope — Winnie and Tommy
  • I Got the Sun in the Morning — Annie and ensemble
  • They Say It’s Wonderful (Reprise) — Annie and Frank
  • The Girl That I Marry (Reprise) — Frank
  • Anything You Can Do — Annie and Frank
  • There’s No Business Like Show Business (Reprise) — Ensemble

Dick Whittington – pantomime by Peter Denyer

Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 December
Evenings 7.30, matinee at 2.30 Saturday
Tickets: adults £16, children/students £10, £12 adults on 12th

Box office 01483 284747

BOOK ONLINE HERE

dick whittington panto pantomime surrey horsley leatherhead

Presented by The Nomads – a traditional pantomime which follows the story of Dick Whittington, his cat and his rise to fame in London. This show has got it all – from shipwrecks to streets paved with gold! With barrels of laughs, slapstick, great musical numbers and plenty of audience participation there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Our intimate, comfortable theatre auditorium seats 120 so you’re always close to the action… we are entirely run by volunteers so you’ll find a friendly welcome and relaxed atmosphere (don’t worry if your children might be noisy, the more noise the better!) … and we have a warm and cozy new Greenroom bar to relax in!

Call now or book online for what promises to be our biggest and best pantomime yet!

Take a look at what NODA thought of our last pantomime, Cinderella –  http://www.nomadtheatre.com/noda-review-cinderella/

BOOK ONLINE HERE

dick whittington fitzwarren fairy tommy cat rat panto pantomime surrey horsley leatherhead

Production team

choreographer director production musical pantomime panto surrey horsley leatherhead

The story:

The origins of the story of “Dick Whittington” will not be found in any book of fairy tales. The pantomime is the only one based on a true subject. There actually was a  Richard Whittington, and he did become (Lord) Mayor of London in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

Dick Whittington is a poor boy who has travelled to London to seek his fame and fortune. He has been told that “The streets are paved with gold”. He arrives penniless, and without a friend in the world.

In the pantomime it is often the Fairy – Fairy Bow Bells who introduces “Tommy” the cat to Master Whittington. He now has a true friend, but what he and Tommy want most is to earn an honest living.

Dick Whittington and Tommy the Cat are invited on board the ship to seek their fame and hopefully their fortune. A great storm brews up. The ship is in danger and the characters are washed ashore-bedraggled, wet and lost. The Dame, Idle Jack, the Captain and the Mate, and finally Dick and Tommy arrive safe and sound.

Will Dick find any treasure on the island? How will they get back to London?

Join us and you’ll find out… Oh, yes you will!

BOOK ONLINE HERE