About the play…

A play within a play, some farmers are arguing over land and who should be in control of what happens to it. They are interrupted by a group of singers and actors who come to perform a play. The story is about a young maid, Grusha who is caught up in a rebellion and finds herself caring for the son of the Governor’s wife, who has fled with her best dresses, but forgotten her son. Grusha has to flee to protect the child and goes through a number of trials, ending up being judged by a seemingly unscrupulous judge when the real mother returns to claim her child in echoes of The Judgement of Solomon.… who will win?  

We have now have a cast of 60+ characters and set, costumes and artwork designed. We are excited to start rehearsals and see this moving story come alive at Orchard Dene Theatre.

BOX OFFICE

Tickets will be sold through a link on this website. More details will be posted nearer the time

Priority Box Office for Friends of Blewbury Players opens 5 June (using a code that will be sent to them)

General Box Office opens 7 June

Getting Involved with…

We would also like to encourage anybody interested in joining the production team in non-performing roles (e.g. technical aspects such as lighting, sound, set construction and painting, front of house, back stage, rehearsal team, publicity, etc., etc) to get in touch @ blewburyplayers@gmail.com or call 07795675146.. 

A General Guide to Blewbury Players Rehearsal Schedules

(Summer Productions - this is not year specific)

Auditions

January/February

Workshop / Readthrough

March/April

Weekend Rehearsals

We rehearse all weekends from end of May until production in July. We draw up a schedule and rehearsals take place in the daytimes every Saturday and Sunday. We ask cast to submit any specific dates and times they will not be available before the schedule is created. The schedule is drawn up as early as possible so that the director and company can work to it.

We occasionally rehearse on Friday evenings, when appropriate and agreed.

Final Weekend

There is an expectation that everyone is available for the last weekend. This is when we run the show and introduce the more technical aspects, use of costume etc.

Dress Rehearsals

We have two dress rehearsals on the Monday and Tuesday nights of the production week before opening night on the Wednesday. Everyone is needed for the dress rehearsals. These two dress rehearsals are vital due to the nature of outdoor performing. Actors, technicians and stage management need to become familiar with the lighting levels on and off stage and the practicalities of moving around the off stage spaces in the dark.

Performances

Performances start at 8pm and always finish by 10.30pm. Actors are usually called for 7pm at the latest. The auditorium is opened to the audience at 7pm so actors need to have cleared the stage and front of house areas by then.  We have two performances on the Saturday which includes a matinee at 3pm (call time 2pm).

Clear Up

The whole company are requested to take part in striking the set and returning the garden to its usual state on the Sunday morning. We aim to be finished and in the pub for lunch.