Category: Upcoming

CTC COVID PROOF and BEYOND!

Find out how we are fighting off infections of boredom with covid safe activities and special offers!

It’s midwinter 2020 and here in Victoria we are still facing restrictions that make it very difficult to produce shows in the traditional way.

NEVER FEAR! we are still going to bring you some great drama experiences, and some awesome offers. First up:

SPECIAL COVID PRICES! In 2020 we have super cheap memberships available at only $10 for a year! Yes that’s right. Why join? You get to support the incredible resource that is the Castlemaine Theatre Company; You get to promote your COVID SAFE drama/performance activities on our socials and our 400 strong mailing-list; you get the latest updates about upcoming activities and auditions; you get our brilliant newsletter Headliner 4 times a year. All for just $10. Amazing, right? To celebrate our freedom, we also hope to bring you discount ticket prices for our first show after lockdown. Membership forms are here as a docx file: CTC COVID discount membership form or as a pdf here: CTC COVID discount membership form  Send your form to us here: castlemainetheatreco@gmail.com

BROADCASTING on 94.9MainFM We are bringing you some wonderful excerpts from previous CTC shows that will be broadcast on our beloved local radio station 94.9MainFM. Our first one was on Sunday 5 July at 10.30am on Suzanne Donnisthorpe’s Artswank show. It’s an excerpt from Shakespeare’s As You Like It, which we produced in 2018, directed by Rob Jorritsma. This excerpt is from Act II Scene 7, concluding with Jaques’ very famous ‘All the world’s a stage’ speech. The actors are in order of appearance Claire Shamier as Duke Senior, Stephen Mitchell as Jaques, and Gabriel Lillington as Orlando.

The following excerpt features Tim Ratcliffe performing his ‘Stan’ speech from our 2013 production of Aftershocks, by Paul Brown and the Newcastle Workers Committee. This is a verbatim play about the 1989 earthquake that destroyed the Newcastle Workers Club. It was first performed in 1991. Our production was directed by Trisha O’Hara.
In this speech Stan describes how he was rescued from the rubble, and the ongoing struggles he has with his mental and physical health in the aftermath of the disaster. Terrence Jaensch reviewed the production, and commented favourably on Tim’s performance: “…standouts are Tim Ratcliffe as Stan…Ratcliffe has a very natural, almost improvisational mannyer on stage, which is a perfect for the peice.” 3’s A Crowd member Lyn Grehg commented “I think Aftershocks is one of the best CTC production I have seen…”
This excerpt was featured on ArtSwank on Sunday 16 August 2020:

 

Peter Panto

or One Flew Over the Second Star on the Right (adapted and directed by Kate Stones)

Currently on hold until further notice

About the Production

This is the story of Peter Pan told in the form of a traditional Pantomime. Which means a Dame in drag, plus lots of audience participation, local references and slapstick humour. A traditional aspect of Panto is that characters from different stories can show up. We’ll be drawing on One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest to source our Dame (guess who!), and find other places to weave in themes from the iconic movie/novel. JM Barrie will no doubt turn in his grave! We will also interrogate outdated aspects of the story, the ‘Redskins’ will be a local footy team, the Pirates will be female, and Wendy will be a child prodigy animal psychologist. Our story begins in the youth psych ward of Castlemaine Hospital…oh yes and there will be a few songs.

 

Characters and casting

Peter (can be played by a male or female), Wendy, John, Michael and the Lost Boys will hopefully be played by young people aged 14-30. Or those who can play ‘young’

There are 6 Lost Boys

Instead of ‘Redskins’ we will have Castlemaine’s Magpies footy team, with Tiger Lily their captain. Can be male or female. Minimum 3. Any gender. As much diversity as possible amongst them.

Captain Hook is the leader of the Pirates. Mature female, tallish

Other main pirates include Smee and Starkey (all female, any age)

Tinkerbell – A sassy man in a sharp suit

Nana – a therapy dog (think Wilfred)

Crocodile

Nurse Ratched (our Dame) – male actor, large stature. Should be played butch rather than overly camp

Chief Bromden (Asian man)

Mermaids

 

We are looking for an ensemble of about 15 with some doubling up

 

Production week and performance dates (you must be available for all these dates):

TBC until post Covid

Tech run: Sat

Dress: Sun

Dress: Tues/Thu

Opening night: Fri

Evening perf: Sat

Mat perf: Sun

Evening perfs: Fri /Sat  /Mat Sun

Final weekend: Fri /Sat /Mat Sun

 

Rehearsal days:

Monday and Thursday evenings, 7-10pm beginning Thursday

plus additional Sundays as required (approx. 3)