· How do I become a member?
· Audition? Sounds Quite A Challenge
· When is a good time to join?
· How Do Auditions Work?
· Is it possible to rehearse for the audition?
· When do auditions take place?
· When Are Rehearsals?
· How long do your shows run for?
· Do I have to pay a show fee?
· Who is KVODS’s audience and how many shows do you do every year?
· What opportunities are there for non-acting members?
· So it’s all on and back stage?
· What are the benefits of becoming a Patron?
· How do I become a member?
To join KVODS there is a membership fee of £20 per year for acting members, and £10 per year for non-acting members.
If you plan to become an acting member (take part in shows on the stage, rather than helping backstage) you are required to audition.
For the audition you will be expected to sing a song of your choice and you will be asked to read a part from a libretto of a play or show. The audition will take place in front of a number of committee members, including the Chairman of the Society and the Musical Director.
The audition takes place at a date convenient to everybody (usually on a Wednesday evening, before or after the usual rehearsal time). Some people prefer to attend KVODS for a number of weeks before auditioning, others prefer to audition as soon as possible.
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· Audition? Sounds Quite A Challenge
It is quite a harmless process, so don’t be put off. It’s a guide for us, to see what you can do well, what you might be able to do better, and whether you might need help in some things. Don’t worry if you’ve never done anything beforehand – we will help and guide you in the audition process, and you will also have the opportunity to go through the song of your choice together with our Musical Director (before auditioning).
Many people choose to sing a song from the show we are currently rehearsing, and if that is the case you will have ample opportunity to go through the music and get to know the music and the words before auditioning.
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· When is a good time to join?
Many people choose to join when we are about to embark on rehearsals for a new show, and this is generally a good time to join, as it gives you the opportunity to get to know the show (if you don’t already) and it will also give you the opportunity to audition for a part in a particular show.
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· How Do Auditions Work?
Generally audition pieces are available approximately one month before the audition date. KVODS usually perform musicals, but we occasionally do plays, usually one every two years. We try and cater for the interests of the current members of the Society, so if people are more interested in putting on a play, then we do a play.
For the audition for a musical, you will be required to sing a song from a particular show (if it is a musical) and read a selected piece of dialogue from the libretto in question. There will be someone reading in other parts during the audition. Sometimes, depending on the show in question, and what part you intend to audition for, you will be required to do a dance audition. This usually takes the form of learning a short dance routine.
Auditions take place in front of an auditioning committee of three, together with the Director of the current show, the musical director, choreographer and Chairman of the Society.
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· Is it possible to rehearse for the audition?
The whole society rehearses musical audition pieces every Wednesday prior to the auditions. This gives everybody a fair chance of getting to know the show in question and to learn the music properly before having to do an audition in front of the Auditioning Committee.
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· When do auditions take place?
Between shows, auditions for the society take place on Wednesdays. Auditions for shows, however, usually take place on a set date on a Sunday, and the committee will give an approximate time when a particular role will be called. In order to audition for a show, you have to be a member of the Society and paid your £20 membership fee.
Once a decision has been made concerning the casting of a particular show, audition candidates are usually informed by telephone or email as to whether they have been successful or not. Occasionally you might be offered a different role from the one you auditioned for. Some smaller roles may not be auditioned, and will be given out during the rehearsal period.
Once you have auditioned into the Society, and wish to sing in the chorus, you do not necessarily have to audition again, unless you wish to try for a named part.
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· When Are Rehearsals?
During the run of a show, rehearsals take place every Wednesday, at the Village Hall, Kingston Vale and begin at 8 pm (sharp) and finish at 10pm. There will be a rehearsal schedule available, so everyone will know in advance when they are likely to be called etc. The Wednesday rehearsals are generally rehearsals devoted to chorus scenes, but principals may also be called as necessary, depending on the scenes being rehearsed.
Principal rehearsals generally take place on Mondays.
Rehearsals usually run for approximately 5 months, and three weeks before the show opens, all cast and chorus are required to attend some Sunday rehearsals – when the show is run from beginning to end.
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· How long do your shows run for?
Shows in a purpose built theatre usually run for 4 nights – Wednesday to Saturday.
Shows held in Kingston Vale Village Hall usually run for 8 nights -Friday and Saturday of one week, and Monday to Saturday the following week.
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· Do I have to pay a show fee?
Once successfully auditioned into a show, you will be required to pay a show fee of around £40 per show (this may vary depending on the specific show budget).
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· Who is KVODS’s audience and how many shows do you do every year?
We perform the majority of our shows in the Mini Theatre, Kingston Vale (otherwise known as the Village Hall). The capacity of the theatre is not particularly large, but is know for its atmosphere and intimacy. The audience is seated cabaret style around tables, and generally a cheese platter is served prior to the show beginning, or sometimes a light supper is served in the interval. We run our own bar during the show week, and look after all the catering.
A number of our regular supporters come from the Kingston Vale Residents Association. We also have a number of regular patrons who support us, as well as friends and family of cast and chorus.
We are extremely lucky, as we can rehearse in the venue that we will actually perform in.
KVODS usually perform two major shows a year, in May/June and November. Sometimes we also do a review or smaller show or play sometime in between.
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· What opportunities are there for non-acting members?
Non-acting members help to prepare the stage for shows, and organise the smooth running of the shows.
Non-acting members get involved almost as soon as a new show is announced. The building in which we perform is a listed building, and so as a result, we make and build our own scenery to suit the specific nature of the stage.
People are involved in designing, building and painting scenery. Work on scenery building generally takes place on Friday evenings, but some work can be done on other nights, depending on when members with the necessary skills are available. Basically anyone who can hold a hammer or a paintbrush will be put to good use.
We have quite a number of our own costumes in the KVODS wardrobe, but many are hired and some are made – so likewise anyone handy with a needle is useful, especially when it comes to altering costumes.
We require a stage manager and crew for each show – to help set up the scenery and props for each of the scenes. Some shows are more difficult than others regarding the staging, so anyone with a bit of brawn, who can remember where a chair gets placed in a particular scene will be useful.
Lighting – well we don’t like to perform in darkness – so you need to be specially skilled in this department or you could incur the wrath of the entire cast!!!!
During the week of the show we need additional help in the kitchen. All the food for the show is bought and prepared by KVODS on site. So obviously we rely on a team of people who can cook, serve food, wash-up and clear away. So even if you thought you’d never become a member of a theatrical group – if you can but help wash and dry, then you’re a hit as far as the Society is concerned. You won’t be alone because all the acting members are helping out as well.
There’s a lot more to do. Perhaps you could help run a raffle, or put together a design for a programme cover, or help front of house, or with the Box Office. There are many things you can get involved in.
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· So it’s all on and back stage?
No, we do more than sing and dance. The Society runs quite a number of social events which range from attending trips to attend shows from other Societies in the area, or professional shows. Here are some of the things we have arranged in the past:Quiz nights, BBQ’s, Barn Dances, Karaoke evenings, Race Nights, Bowling, going out for a Curry, Rounders in the Park, Rally Drives, Go-Karting, River Boat Cruises, Fireworks party, – basically if you’re interested in something, and we can get enough people together for a fun night out, then we’ll do it. We’ve even had the challenge – Drink the Monopoly Board – but not many people can remember very many details about that!
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· What are the benefits of becoming a Patron?
For an annual fee of £20.00 for a single Patron and £30.00 for a double Patron, you are entitled to 2 (single) or 4 (Double) reduced price tickets for the two main shows performed in May/June and November in each year. Patrons, like the cast members, are given one week’s priority booking for each show before the Box Office opens to the general public. We also try to advise Patrons of the many activities of the Society. At Christmas, Patrons are invited, free of charge, to join us in celebrating Christmas with a Carol concert.
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