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- Summer
Show 2004 "Conflicts of Interest"
(& Audition Procedures)
- ScriptShop
- Vacancies
- technicians/stage management
-
Hydrae Scriptwriting Prize
- There is currently no competition being run.
- Actors
Representative - Robin Middleton
-
Playreading groups (external)
- ***
SUMMER SHOW VENUE AND DATES, 2004 - "Conflicts of Interest"
***
Hydrae's 2004 summer show will be a 3 week run as follows:
Tue-Sat 7.45pm, Sun 5pm, 4-23 May 2004
(No performance Mon)
Technical GET IN will be Sun 2 May, TECH/DRESS Mon 3 MayThe Rosemary Branch Theatre & Free House Pub
2 Shepperton Road (Junction with Baring St & Southgate Rd)
Islington, London N1 3DT
Theatre Website:
http://www.rosemarybranch.co.ukTheatre and Pub full menu from 6.30pm and Sunday Lunch: (020 7704 2730)
Food at the pub:
http://www.rosemarybranch.co.uk/rmbfood.html
Tube & Bus:
76 from Moorgate, Old Street, Waterloo tube stations, stops 10m from the theatre • 38, 56, 73, 171A from Angel • 141, 271 from Old Street • 271 from Highbury & Islington
Map:
http://www.rosemarybranch.co.uk/rmbloc.html
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:Directors must NOT make any offers to actors until after the last audition on Sun 29 February 2004. Directors may arrange their own additional or second auditions at their own expense in the week following.
Actors are encouraged to defer decisions until the end of Sun 7 March, to attend any additional auditions they are interested in, and for all possible role
offers to come in, before committing to a role. Of course, if an actor is offered their first choice, they need not wait to say yes, but they have until Sun 7 March to think about it. Actors should note that Directors may leave it very late to offer a part if a play requires particular combinations of actors.Actors may COMMIT to one role only, but can express INTEREST in others. Actors must NOT commit to more than one. (Sharing a single role between 2 actors or more is a matter between the actors and directors, AFTER casting. Actors will only be allowed to play more than one lead role after all other options have been exhausted).
In all cases, Directors must make all their offers, and all actors must make their decisions by the end of Sun 7 March 2004.
Until the auditions, please will all Directors prepare rough requirement lists for set, props, lighting, sound and music. And actors please check and be ready to write down lists of their availability starting from Mon 8 March to Sun 23 May. At least indicate days, evenings and weekends which are good or bad. Any actor which commits to a part, but fails to mention their non-availability for rehearsals or part of the showrun risks losing the part, whereas we can usually work around availability for actors given sufficient advance warning.
*** Although unpaid we expect all Hydrae directors, writers and actors to behave in a professional manner, which includes not bailing out at the last minute for paid work (unless it really is THAT BIG BREAK!!) Please do not commit unless you are willing to keep to that commitment.
There will be a minimum of 12 actors cast in this show, but inevitably many will be disappointed. Remember, not getting a part is not a personal
reflection of your abilities, only each Director's view of the right person for that particular role. We would hope that actors will be willing to audition for
future Hydrae shows.
Please check your email, or the website http://www.hydrae.COM , or the Hydrae Information Answerphone 020 8400 7817, regularly for details and
changes. If any of this is unclear, call Steve Tyrrell on the Hydrae line, or one of the Directors.
Stay tuned. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!Hydrae Productions
- ScriptShop
(Top
of Page)
Please check here, or your email, the morning before each meeting, as there is a small chance meetings may be cancelled at short notice:
Upstairs at O'Neill's Irish Bar
4, Conway St, off Maple St
London W1T 6BA
Nearest tubes: Warren St & Great Portland St
Map
Next meetings 7pm start:
No meeting today and no further meetings currently booked.
We generally ask for a £1 per person contribution towards the venue.
- Vacancies
(Top
of Page)
- Technical Designer-Operators
- Stage Management
Gain valuable experience, improve your CV and establish contacts within the theatre world.
An opportunity for students/new graduates in Sound and Lighting design and operation, and in Stage Management, to gain experience with Hydrae Productions
More details >>>
- Hydrae
Scriptwriting Prize - currently suspended
(Top
of Page)
A consistent supporter of new writers and original work, Hydrae decided to launch a play writing prize for the Best Short Play of the Year in 2001. We are now running another competition for the 2002/3 period. Please be advised that competition closed at midnight Sat 30 Nov 2002.
We are currently finalising the arrangements for a panel of judges which intends to include theatre critics and other well known theatre professionals who will help select the winners. There are two categories:
1 - Short: not exceeding 15 minutes for which the winner will receive £300
2 - Short Play: a play between 16 and 50 minutes for which the winner will receive £300
Hydrae will use its discretion in deciding which category a play belongs in, if the timings are borderline.
Please note: The script must not have been performed in public before.
The awards are intended to be announced at a high profile event in 2003. Hydrae will also produce the winning plays along with others chosen from entries, over a three week run on the London Fringe.
All entries will be £10 per script entered. Writers can enter any number of scripts. Please only enter final draft "ready-to-go" scripts. Works in progress are not suitable for entry.
The author's identity will remain anonymous during the selection process, by use of pseudonyms.
In the first instance contact our Writers Representative, Mike Ayers for:
- Entry Form
- Full entry details and address, and terms & conditions
available by email from:
mdiamic@aol.com
Guidelines
We are looking for short plays of up to 50 minutes (time should allow for all stage movement and set changes).
When sending scripts there should be at least one copy for every major character, plus one for a director. We generally try (but cannot guarantee) to return scripts with SAEs, but please keep copies for yourself. Do NOT send the only original!
Hydrae regrets that it can only acknowledge receipt of scripts which include a stamped pseudonym-addressed postcard/SAE for that purpose. We sincerely apologise that previous wording in the guidelines on our website was erroneous and did not mention this requirement.
If the script looks feasible for a future production, we will attempt to schedule a reading at the ScriptShop writers group and if that goes well, it will be carried into a "knock-out" competition with other scripts that are considered for production. If your script is carried through this process, we will keep you informed on its progress. However, the whole process may take several months.
Copyright remains with the Writer, but submission and final selection cedes Hydrae exclusive performance rights for one show run of up to 8 weeks.
As a guide, scripts should be single-sided A4 numbered pages with double spaced, non-bold, non-italic, 12 point Courier text. Microsoft Word default margins and header/footer spacings are acceptable (eg. as follows in cm. Top: 2.54, Bottom: 2.54, Left: 4.06, Right: 2.29, Header: 1.25, Footer: 1.25)
Include title, author, contact details, date and copyright, and a breakdown detailing character ages, gender and brief descriptions if necessary, on the front page. Stage and acting directions and props should be kept to an absolute minimum, single spaced, in italics (not in capital letters) and on separate lines from dialogue. Avoid breaking sentences and dialogue across pages.
Scripts which do not conform to these guidelines are harder to read and assess for length and suitability.
As a courtesy to Hydrae Productions, writers whose scripts receive positive Hydrae input into further development / rewrites after initial submission and then go on to be performed elsewhere, should acknowledge Hydrae Productions' contribution in a reasonably prominent credit on the cover page.
-
Actors Representative (Top of Page)
Robin Middleton is Hydrae's Actors Representative. If actors have any concerns they want raising, or questions about auditions or Hydrae in general, he can be contacted at:
robin.middleton@virgin.net
07880 785 555
-
Playreading groups (Top of Page)
- Hammersmith
Actors and Writer’s Group (hawg):
The Polish Centre,
Bridge Room, 4th Floor (usually!)
238 King Street
Hammersmith
London
W6 0RF
Tube: Ravenscourt Park
7 pm for 7.30 pm (prompt)
Every fortnight with breaks at Christmas, and in the Summer months. See website for programmed dates.
Those who attend meetings are asked to make a £2 contribution at the door towards the costs of room hire, etc.
A licensed bar is available throughout the evening.
For further information about hawg, contact the Chairman, Simon Fisher-Becker
Email: hawguk@aol.com
Tel: 020 8689 7543 or at
10 Sutherland Road, West Croydon, Surrey CR0 3QG
Website:http://www.skipfoot.com/hawg.html
- Player-Playwrights
Group
Upstairs at the Horse and Groom
128 Gt Portland St
London W1N 5PH.
It's at the junction with New Cavendish St, just a step from Broadcasting House and midway between Great Portland St underground and Oxford Circus. Easy parking after 7pm.
Tube: Gt Portland St/Oxford Circus
7.30 pm, most Monday evenings, except for Bank Holidays
There is a 2 month Summer break and one over Christmas
It costs £10 to join and £6 a year after that, the first £6 being due on New Year's Day after joining. There is also £1.50 to pay at the door for every Monday meeting attended to cover hall rental.
Denise O'Leary (020 8847 0650) is in charge of competitions
Tony Diggle [020 8998 7660] collects dues
Peter Thompson [020 8883 0371] acts as secretary and manages the programme
Tel/Fax: 020 8883 0731
Email: P-P@dial.pipex.com
Website:http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/plaza/gen87/index.shtml
- Hammersmith
Actors and Writer’s Group (hawg):