An Introduction to Cambridge T
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getting started With over 40 shows entirely run by It couldn’t be easier to get involved in students every term there is always the theatre scene; just keep an eye out something to match your interests for auditions and adverts for technical and availability. From stand-up positions. All adverts are posted comedy to musicals, and from Greek on camdram.net, and most are tragedy to new writing, Cambridge advertised in the Cambridge Theatre theatre provides opportunities to Facebook group (bit.ly/cam-theatre). actors, comedians and directors Weekly email lists can be subscribed (regardless of experience), and there to at cuadc.org/get-involved, which are hugely rewarding jobs to be found summarise any show opportunities, in technical theatre, production and as well as all the other fun activities design. And as if that wasn’t enough, that go on in the theatre scene. every year there are opportunities for students to perform at the Edinburgh The Freshers’ plays which run mid Fringe Festival, and to tour America, way through Michaelmas term are a Europe or Asia! great way to get started, so keep an eye out for auditions and tech team This booklet lays out all the different applications. roles available in Cambridge theatre and offers advice on how best to get Have fun in one of the most popular involved in each of them. This guide is student activities in Cambridge, produced by the Cambridge University and enjoy the chance to learn and Amateur Dramatic Club (CUADC), the develop together. oldest and largest theatrical society in Cambridge. On the CUADC committee is a rep for every aspect of Cambridge theatre who will be glad to answer any questions and offer advice. Photos by Johannes Hjorth, Amelia Oakley, Charlie Eardley, Jay Parekh, Oscar Yang, and Benedict Flett 3 how does cambridge theatre work? The Cambridge theatre scene can be If you want to put on a show in a bit tricky to get your head around at Cambridge, applications open midway first, as it’s a little more complicated through the term before. You’ll be than at other universities. Instead interviewed by an applications panel of having a single theatrical society, where you will pitch your idea. If they Cambridge has many; in fact, most like your pitch, you’ll be assigned a colleges have one! As well as all the slot for the next term! You can then college societies, there are also larger apply to the theatre societies for intercollegiate societies. CUADC is funding, and once that’s sorted you’re the largest and oldest society, and good to go! Plan auditions and open is a resident company in the ADC applications for a tech team. Theatre. The Footlights are the famous comedy group, CUMTS is the musical theatre society, and there are other societies, such as the Marlowe society, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Relaxed Theatre Company. The ADC Theatre is the main theatre in Cambridge, and hosts two shows a night; a Mainshow and a Lateshow. The Corpus Playroom is also managed by the ADC, and is a smaller theatre just off King’s Parade. A few colleges have their own theatres as well, such as the Fitzpatrick Hall at Queens’, and the Pembroke New Cellars. 4 5 diversity in theatre There is a large community of The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic The trans and non-binary community women and non-binary people who (BAME) theatre community has also Cambridge Theatre strives to be at the ADC is small but supportive, are involved in Cambridge technical grown rapidly over the past few years, an environment where all types of and you can find us being fabulous theatre. From lighting designers and with numerous BAME shows each people are represented and valued. both onstage and behind the sound designers to stage managers term and plenty of opportunities Send an email to Sophie, the CUADC scenes. Please contact Avi Velevski and technical directors, they cover all both on and offstage. Please contact Social and Outreach Officer at ([email protected]) or message areas of technical theatre. The female Andrew Tan ([email protected]) [email protected] if you have any them on Facebook if you would like and non-binary techie community is or message him on Facebook if questions. to be added to a secret group for incredibly supportive and we can’t wait you’d like to be added to the BAME trans/nb/gender questioning people to welcome any new female and non- Facebook group or if you have any interested in participating in theatre, binary techie freshers, so come along questions and want to get involved. and feel free to contact them if you to our drinks event in the ADC bar at CUADC will be hosting BAME Freshers’ have any concerns or just want a 8pm on Saturday 7th October - we’d drinks on Tuesday 10th October at friendly chat. love to meet you! Whether you’re and 8pm in the ADC Bar, so feel free to English student, an Art Historian, or come along and meet some current Find links to all the CUADC a Natural Scientist, technical theatre BAME students. is for everyone and Cambridge is the Facebook groups at perfect place to try it out. cuadc.org/resources 6 7 the venues There are two main venues in technical theatre. Beneath the stage Cambridge: the ADC Theatre and is the workshop where all the sets the Corpus Playroom. The ADC are built, as well as the props and is the largest student theatre furniture stores. The ADC also has its space in Cambridge, seating 228 own clubroom, which is open only to audience members in the traditional students and is yours to use; whether proscenium arch layout. The stage is that be as a space for production fully equipped with a counterweights meetings, or just to hang out in. system for rigging lights and flying-in set pieces, making it an excellent venue for people interested in The Corpus Playroom is a smaller, more intimate venue, where the audience flanks the stage on two sides. Shows at the Playroom are generally shorter than at the ADC, making it a great venue for comedy and new writing. As well as these theatres, many colleges have their own, such as the Fitzpatrick hall at Queens’, and theatres at Robinson and Pembroke. 8 9 acting stewarding There are so many opportunities to Getting involved in Cambridge theatre act in Cambridge. With upwards of 40 does not have to mean getting near shows every term, there is something the stage at all! Every show at the ADC for everyone. You can find auditions Theatre and Corpus Playroom needs listings on camdram or on the volunteer stewards. You get to see Cambridge Theatre Facebook page. the show for free (and sometimes a Most auditions happen either at the free ice cream) in return for checking ADC Theatre, the Corpus Playroom or tickets and showing people to their in one of the colleges, and there is seats. always an email address to contact if you don’t know the way (or ask a To sign up for stewarding, head to porter/friendly passer-by). the Google Doc for Michaelmas term (bit.ly/adcstewarding). Remember to For most auditions the director will show up with plenty of time and find leave an extract outside the door for a replacement if you suddenly can’t you to have a look at and then ask make it. For more information email you to come into the audition room Jamie at [email protected]. and read the piece through before giving you a bit of direction to see how you react. For musical auditions, you should prepare a song and bring along Get Involved some sheet music if you have it. If you Sign up to the actors’ list to are interested in acting in Cambridge receive details of all auditions. or just want a friendly face to talk to, speak to Adam or Ellie. Email Adam and Ellie at [email protected] if you have any questions. 10 11 directing writing Cambridge Theatre offers unique Cambridge is a brilliant place to try opportunities in directing. You can out new writing. From sketch comedy be given the resources to stage to longer dramas or devised pieces, whatever your mind might conjure. Cambridge theatre provides the Make the most of it! Directors are perfect stage to realise your ideas the initial driving force behind almost and share them with an audience. If every show in Cambridge, the people you’ve written something longer, you who pitch the ideas that become can apply to put your show on at the performances. The opportunities for ADC Theatre or the Corpus Playroom, freshers are plentiful: there are three just look out for programming freshers’ shows which will all have a applications, which open in the fresher director and assistant director. first half of every term. If a script A lot of directors also start by working demonstrates potential the ADC as an assistant director with another offers a public rehearsed reading of more experienced student. If you want the work as part of the Papercuts to find out more, contact Eva. programme. Get Involved Get Involved Sign up to the directors’ & Email any questions to Eva at Get writing! You stand a much producers’ mailing list for details [email protected] better chance of getting a slot if of when venues are programming, you apply with a completed script. and for opportunities to take on ‘assistant’ positions to gain Keep an eye out for programming valuable experience.