ReAct will be the experimenting and training ground for mdg.
It is intended to focus on productions that seek active audience participation - hence the name Re(hearsal) Act(ing) and also ReAct(ion) that we expect from an audience. ReAct plays will be those that are less commercial and/or attract a more discerning audience.
It provides the opportunity for aspiring directors, stage managers, sound and lighting engineers, costumiers, actors and all other support cast to experiment and learn the art of stagecraft within some clearly defined parameters and with the support and help of the Guild.
We envisage that ReAct could be a whole play; two one act plays; a one act play and some readings; one key act from a play .... whatever. Any aspiring director or anyone wanting to try something different should discuss their ideas first with the Artistic Director and request a ReAct Pack . This pack will set out such details as suggested venues, production dates, budget, etc.
The choice of the play, activity, event will be published in the Committee minutes. We anticipate that this will compliment the cast chosen for the major Spring and Autumn productions e.g. 1998 Autumn requires 5 young men and one young woman; the ReAct production could provide more female roles for example some or all of Dancing at Lughnasa.
Parameters
ReAct runs: |
paralleling the Spring and Autumn productions |
Priorities: |
The Autumn and Spring productions always take first priority in terms of actors; support cast; publicity etc. |
Production dates: |
a selected Friday and Saturday a minimum of two weeks before the Autumn and Spring productions |
Financial: |
Operating within a strict budget aimed at recovering costs |
Venue: |
to be selected by the producer from a list supplied by the Guild e.g. Castle Hill, Norden Farm |
Costumes: |
blacks or from Guild sources |
Set: |
minimalist; use Guild items ‘as are’ |
Rehearsal venue: |
Guild houses |
Tickets: |
on sale at the door or by reservation |
Publicity: |
one advert in the Maidenhead Advertiser together with inclusion of leaflet in with principal mailing |
Programmes: |
Simple |
Lights, sound etc: |
minimalist - but remember training ground idea |