One Act Play Competition

One Act Play Competition

As part of our 50th celebration we are launching a competition to find a new one act play to be performed 1st to 3rd Oct and 10th Oct. The competition is open to all; both members and non-members.

Apart from the special reward of seeing your work performed there will also be a cash prize of £100 plus a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to the winning playwright. Closing date for submissions Friday June 5th 2020 (Terms and conditions apply) As long as it has never been performed before it will qualify. All welcome from 16 years to 100 plus.

One Act Play Competition

The winner will receive £100 cash and a script consultation with Victoria Ferguson to help develop their script and discuss careers in scriptwriting.

Victoria is a writer and script editor, and was the coordinator for the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition. She collaborates with emerging and established writers to develop their scripts for the stage and screen, and is currently working with production companies including Drama Republic (Doctor Foster), New Pictures (COBRA) and 42 M&P (Military Wives) to find projects to develop for film and TV.

So, let the creative juices flow.

Please email your entries to j-frankland@hotmail.co.uk 

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty

Description

The Sleeping Beauty – By David Ivall

January 2020
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU

The Group’s pantomime for its Fiftieth Anniversary Year is The Sleeping Beauty, written and directed by David Ivall, with songs by David Ivall and Peter Smith. It blends the stories of the beautiful enchanted Princess with those of Red Ridinghood and Jack and the Beanstalk (not to forget Daisy the Cow). We can be fairly certain that, despite the machinations of the Wicked Fairy, the Princess will be awoken by the kiss of a handsome Prince, but who will she actually marry?

With fifteen adults and twenty three children, this is our largest cast pantomime for some years. Add in colourful costumes, ingenious sets, original songs, comedy, dancing, and a talking goose, and you have fun for all the family!

Book your tickets now here.

Tickets

Tickets

Box office 03454 500296

Online (No booking fee):

Buy tickets online

Cast

Cast

Jack – Megan Johns
Princess May – Abi Holmes
Red Ridinghood – Bethan Robinson
Prince Cyprian – Megan Laval
King Faraway – Colin Groom
Melisend the Good Fairy – Charlotte Padmore
Mafalda the Wicked Fairy – Chris Breach
Big Bad Wolf – Mark Breach
Dame Durden – Sally-Anne Gretton
Granny – Ann Lejeune
Royal Chamberlain – Malcolm Grimsley
Assistant Chamberlain – Jasmine Lennard
Chief Guard – Grace Macindoe
Guard Chris – Grace Gurr
Guard Ash – Roby Goddard
Guard Sam – Klara Boehm
Guard Alf – Oliver Lawrence
Guard Bart – Luka Boehm
Griselda, henchwoman – Hannah Moorfield
Royal Cook – Sarah Wright
Cora, young villager – Olive Hilton-Meadows
Flora, young villager – Sophie Woodrow
Mrs Thomas, villager – Vron Spear
Mrs Richards, villager – Wendy Poole
Mrs Henry, villager – Anne Grimsley
King’s Page – Lavender Leishman
Royal Choir Mistress – Esther O’Bearagh
Royal Attendant Rose – Millie Padmore
Royal Attendant Marigold – Poppy Leishman
Royal Attendant Violet – Asha Robinson
Small Servant – Lily Broughton Rowe
Smaller Servant – Alice Hamilton
Slightly Bigger Servant – Steffi Wright
Hedgehog – Hannah Goodman
Rabbit – Vera Leuzzi
Mouse – Ellie Goodman
Voice of the Goose – Moo Burnett
Voice of the Giant and Daisy the Cow – Mike Stanger

Photos

Sisterly Feelings Launch Day

Spotlights

On Saturday 30th November we are holding a launch day and open audition for Sisterly Feelings by Alan Ayckbourn. This will be a Carnon Downs Drama Group Production to be performed at the Minack Theatre from Monday 18th May to Friday 22nd May 2020.

The launch day and auditions will take place at 2.00pm at The Perranwell Centre, South Room.

Please let John know if you would like to borrow a script or have any queries or if you are interested but can’t make the date.

And Then There Were None

AndThenThereWereNone Banner

Description

Agatha Christie’s

And Then There Were None

1st to 5th October 2019
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU

Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd

From the pen of Agatha Christie comes an intriguing murder mystery And Then There Were None.

Performances will take place from 1st to the 5th October 2019

Tickets

Tickets

The box office is now closed for this production.

Cast

Rogers – Alex Ould
Mrs Rogers – Samantha Kinney
Narracott – Nick Templer
Vera – Sophie Quick
Lombard – Jay Giblin
Marston – Jack Irving
Blore – Joe Quick
Mackenzie – Colin Groom
Emily – Gemma Wright
Wargrave – David Faulkner
Armstrong – Simon Bennett

Photos

Play in a week

Play in a week

Summer Drama Club has begun and we have a great bunch of youngsters that are putting together a Play in a Week. Check out what we have been up to.

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

Day 6:

… and now the trailer for the fantastic play that has been put together over the week:

The final performance! We are so proud of all the children! We want to say a big thank you to all of them for all their hard work, to all the adults who helped us and of course the parents for helping learn lines and lending us their children for the week! Enjoy!

To finish up what has been a fabulous week with a wonderful bunch of youngsters, here is what they and their parents thought!

Summer Drama Club 2019

Spotlights

Calling all 8-18 year olds. During the first week of the school summer holidays, Monday 29th July to Sunday 4th August, CDDG led by Zoe Vale will be hosting a “Play in a Week” workshop.

For existing CDDG members the cost will be £20. For non-members it is £30 (you can upgrade to an annual membership for an extra £5).

summerDramaClub2019
summerDramaClub2019

The Little Mermaid Jr

The Little Mermaid

Description

The Little Mermaid Jr

31st May – 2nd June 2019
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU

Music by Alan Menkin
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

Out on the open sea, Prince Eric’s ship is caught in big storm and hit by lightening, sending the Prince overboard. Prince Eric is rescued and taken to shore by a mermaid called Ariel.

Ariel falls in love with the handsome Prince and makes a deal with the sea witch, Ursula, to exchange her beautiful voice for human legs. However, Prince Eric must kiss Ariel within three days or she will turn back into a mermaid  and become Ursula’s slave forever.

Performances

Friday 31st May – show starts at 7:00pm
Saturday 1st June – show starts at 2:00pm
Saturday 1st June – show starts at 7:00pm
Sunday 2nd June – show starts at 2:00pm

Tickets

Tickets

£7 Standard
£5 Seniors and 16 & under

Box office 03454 500296

Online (No booking fee):

Cast

Cast

In order of appearance…

Sea Chorus Alice Hamilton, Lily Boughton, Lucy Padmore and Poppy Morris
Pilot Poppy Leishman
Sailors Keziah Lewis, Molly Worley, Reuben Lewis and Ruby Goddard
Prince Eric Grace Gurr
Grimsby Megan Johns
Seahorse Oliver Lawrence
King Triton Joe Lessiter
Sebastian Logan Martin
Mersisters Hayley-Jane Wright, Jasmine Lennard, Julia Grzywna, Millie Padmore, Olive Hilton-Meadows and Sophie Woodrow
Flotsam & Jetsam Ruby and Keziah
Ariel Bethan Robinson
Flounder Talitha Jarret-Kerr
Scuttle Asha Robinson
Gulls Hannah Goodman, Molly, Oliver, Reuben and Poppy L
Ursula Grace Benney
Tentacles Alice, Lily, Lucy, and Poppy M
Sea Creatures Alice, Amy Barker, Hannah, Joe, Lily, Lucy, Oliver and Poppy M
Carlotta Molly
Chef Louis Reuben
Chefs Alice, Hannah, Hayley-Jane, Jasmine, Julia, Lily, Lucy, Millie, Olive, Oliver, Poppy L, Poppy M and Sophie
Lagoon Animals Alice, Hannah, Lily, Lucy, Oliver, Poppy L, Poppy M and Reuben
Princesses Hayley-Jane, Jasmine, Julia, Millie, Olive and Sophie

Photos

Launch Day and Auditions for The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

Calling all Karnon Kidz

Just a reminder to all our young members that we have the ‘Fun Under the Sea’ workshop coming up on the 3rd February to launch ‘The Little Mermaid’. It will be an afternoon filled with plenty of fun activities where you’ll get to find out all you need to know about the production. Please bring along any friends that maybe interested in joining us too. By the end of the session you’ll be well prepared for the auditions that will be held on the following Sunday 10th February.

If you can’t make either date but would still like to be a part of this adventure then please let us know by ringing 01872 870216 or via the email address on the flyer.

All the times and details are below. So we look forward to seeing you there!

Performances will be on 31st May through to 2nd June.

Little Mermaid Flyer

Toot ‘n’ Come In

Toot-n-Come In

Description

Toot ‘n’ Come In – By Joyce Bassett

Toot n Come In
Toot n Come In

24-27 January 2019
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU

It’s panto time! School’s out for summer and the kids are off on a magical adventure.

Carnon Downs Drama Group is proud to present Joyce Bassett’s family pantomime, Toot ‘n’ Come In, an exciting adventure around the bazaars and temples of ancient Egypt.

Evening performances start at 7:30pm and matinees at 2pm.

Tickets

Tickets

£8 Standard
£6 Seniors and 16 & under

Box office 03454 500296

Online (No booking fee):

Cast

Cast

Miss Inge Bitte – Charlotte Padmore
Georgina – Lauren Northcote
Anna Bel – Abi Holmes
Charlie – Moo Burnett
Dick – Malcolm Grimsley
Sheldon – Ruby Goddard
Riddles – Millie Padmore
Artemis II – Nora De Cominges
Mr Ivor Badtemper – David Ivall
Mrs Mostofit – Linda Barker
Rattle – Miriam Loosemore
Roll – Chris Breach
Sheik Aleg – Colin Groom
Potiphar – Ann Lejeune
Pharaoh P – Mark Breach
Artemis I/Artie Facts – Martin Brett
Renee – Esther O’Bearagh
Princess Philly – Olive Hilton-Meadows
Jasmine – Mia Bossey
Pharaoh’s Aide – Grace MacIndoe
Pharaoh’s Servant – Jasmine Lennard
Ensemble – Lucy Padmore, Vron Spear, Ann Grimsley, Violet Blackburn, Hazel Blackburn, Klara Boehm, Luka Boehm

Photos

What the Butler Saw

What the butler saw

Description

What the Butler Saw – By Joe Orton

4-6 October 2018
The Perranwell Centre, Cornwall, TR3 7JU

Carnon Downs Drama Group is proud to present Joe Orton’s farce, set in a psychiatrist’s office where it is hard to find any sanity.

Book your tickets now here.

Tickets

Tickets

£10

Online (No booking fee):


Book now

Cast

Cast

Dr Prentice – Mark Breach
Geraldine Barclay – Stephanie Randlesome
Mrs Prentice – Ali Mason
Nicholas Beckett – Jack Irving
Dr Rance – Simon Oliver
Sergeant Match – Joe Quick

Crew

Director – John Frankland
Box Office – Mark & Chris Breach
Set Design – Mike Meer
Set Construction – Simon Oliver, Mark Breach, Colin Groom
Scenery Painters – Tracey Holmes, Pam Furnish
Front of House – Joyce Bassett & CDDG Friends
Lighting Design – Max Wingate
Lighting & Sound – Kellan Frankland
Makeup – Zoe Vale
Props – Pam Furnish & Cast
Programme – Pam Furnish
Publicity – John Frankland, Stephanie Randlesome
Photographs – Alison Randlesome, Elaine Gummow, Pam Furnish
Stage Management – Zoe & Nick Vale
Wardrobe – Vron Spear, Dot Hallam
Signed Interpreter – Patricia Joliat

Photos

Auditions for Toot ‘n Come In

Toot n Come In - Auditions

Join us on Sunday 30th September for open auditions for our family pantomime which this time is set in Ancient Egypt.

Large cast and chorus of mixed ages required. The performance dates are 24th – 27th January.

No previous experience necessary but must be 7yrs or over.

Adults (14yrs+) at the Barn, Nr Gwennap Pit, TR16 5HH from 10am to 1pm. Youths/Children (under 14) at The Perranwell Centre, TR3 7JU from 2pm to 5pm.

For further information contact us via Facebook or email secretary@carnondownsdrama.co.uk

Punch and Judy

Punch and Judy

Description

Punch & Judy

Punch and Judy
Punch and Judy

18 August 2018
Trebah Gardens, TR11 5JZ

He’s a rogue, he’s a rover, he’s selfish, he’s a bad’un, but don’t we just love him. Judy’s his wife and ain’t she gorgeous (but you might think she’s one of the Borgias). With his nose and his chin and his great big cudgel, he’ll knock you down flat, now ain’t that delightful. Scaramouche, Toby, Hangman and Constable, haven’t a hope when Punch gets at ‘em.

Carnon Downs Drama brings you the real thing, a live performance of murder and mayhem. It’s just the show, you must bring the kids to, appallingly funny and dreadfully frightful.

Performance included in cost of garden entry ticket or free for Trebah Members.

Show times: 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm

Suitable for all ages.

What The Butler Saw – Auditions

What The Butler Saw

Auditions 

Join us on 24th June 2018 to audition for our October play, Joe Orton’s farce ‘What The Butler Saw’.

Auditions start at 2pm at the Perranwell Centre, TR3 7JU.

You must be 18 or over to audition and you do not need to be a member of CDDG. If you are successful in your audition, you will be required to pay a £30 membership fee.

Open Space Meeting – Amateur Drama in Cornwall

Sunday 27th May at The Perranwell Centre 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm  Open Space Meeting ‘Amateur Drama in Cornwall’.

The things we love and the things we loathe, and all in between. This is hosted by CDDG but open to members from all am drama societies in Cornwall.

For information on Open Space Meetings view our Open Space Technology page here.

Punch and Judy Casting

Punch and Judy

Most of us at sometime have seen a Punch & Judy show on a beach or a pier. The main characters, as glove puppets, are well known: Punch, with humped back, squeaky voice, red and yellow costume, enormous hooked nose and chin; Judy, with similar features, a nagging hag; and all the others including Scaramouch, Constable and the Hangman.

If you took the story literally it would be a tale of child abuse and callous serial murder, but when presented as puppets the violence becomes just comic.

So, here’s the idea, take a puppet show and present it large as life with the stock characters played by real actors in the guise of costumed puppets retaining all their essential characteristics.

A live performance full of murder and mayhem and delivered as fun for all the family. Even Dickens approved of it as harmless street entertainment as the violence was so fantastical it could not be taken seriously. No blood is involved, but in our production, there will be a lot of slap-sticks, lightweight, painless, but noisy. And we’ll need some live music too.

The show calls for cast of 3 as a minimum, perhaps up to 5. There are never more than 2 characters on stage at once. Punch is there throughout, and the rest of the cast share the other characters. Assisted quick changes are required and as most of the cast wear whole- or part-masks then gender becomes unimportant. Punch could be played by an actress, Judy by a man. There will be individual amplification, but you still have to project.

Performances will be outdoors, we have bookings so far at Gwennap fete on 23rd June, Ponsanooth fete on 30th June and Trebah amphitheatre on 18th August with 2 or 3 performances at each. We are looking to fill the gap with a few others. The Perranwell Village open cricket match is a possibility – we were there last year in panto costumes.

We will be using an original script, now out of copyright, which has been edited; the running time is about 20 minutes … ish.

Rehearsals will start very shortly and take place on the actual transportable stage in the director’s garden in Perranarworthal, weather permitting of course.

… and, no, you won’t have to swallow a swozzle.

This show is to be directed by Mark Breach.

Henry IV Part 1

Description

Henry IV Part 1 – By William Shakespeare

19-21 April 2018
Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall

With Richard II’s death weighing heavy on his conscience, King Henry IV wants to make a crusade to the Holy Land to pay penance; however, the stirrings of rebellion force his gaze to civil matters.

As Harry ‘Hostpur’ Percy conspires with Wales and Scotland, the King’s own Harry is drinking his way through taverns and keeping less than savoury company in the form of Sir John Falstaff.

Carnon Downs Drama Group is proud to present Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I at the Minack Theatre this year.

Book your tickets now here.

Tickets

Tickets

Tickets are available directly from the Minack Theatre.

Book online: https://www.minack.com/event/henry2018/

Box Office: 01736 810181

Cast

Cast

King Henry IV – Guy Hanson
Prince Henry (Hal) – Nick Vale
Prince John – Jack Irving
Earl of Westmorland – Peter French
Sir Walter Blunt – Rose Bradley
Sir John Falstaff – Tabitha Lammas
Poins – Robert Dean
Peto/Chamberlain – Alex Wood
Bardolph – Colin Groom
Earl of Northumberland/Gadshill – Miriam Loosemore
Earl of Worcester – Simon Oliver
Hotspur – William Randlesome
Lord Edmund Mortimer – Tadhg Cullen
Owen Glendower – Mark Breach
Earl of Douglas – Stephanie Randlesome
Sir Richard Vernon – David Ivall
Archbishop of York/Sheriff – Martin Brett
Sir Michael/Second Traveller – Janice Smith
Lady Percy – Megan Tremethick
Lady Mortimer – Megan Strachan
First Carrier – Charlotte Padmore
Ostler/Messenger – Lauren Northcote
Hostess Quickly/Second Carrier – Chris Breach
First Traveller – Pam Furnish
Francis/Servant to Hotspur – Abi Holmes
Vintner – Jackie Hovell
Messenger – Effie French
Lords, Soldiers and other Attendants played by the company

Crew

Director – John Frankland
Assistant Director – Zoe Vale
Set Design – Michael Meer
Poster Design – Effie French
Composer – Russell Pascoe
Movement Director – Oriel Bennet
Fight Rehearsal – Will Richards
Set Construction – Peter French, Simon Oliver and company
Stage Manager – Tracey Holmes
Assistant Stage Manager – Pam Furnish
Costume – Vron Spear
Props – Joyce Bassett
Assistant Lighting and Sound – Paul Barker

Photos

Click to expand images.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood - The Panto

Description

Robin Hood – The Panto By David Crump

25-27 January 2018
The Perranwell Centre

Wanted – All ye children, peasants, lords and ladies to come and see Robin Hood – The Panto.

Book your tickets now here.

Tickets

Tickets

£7 (£5 – Concession 60+ or under 16s)

Online (No booking fee):


Book now

Box Office 03454 500296

Photos

Click to expand images.

Amy’s View

Amy’s View

By David Hare

5-7 October 2017

Everyone has a different view. Amy’s view is that love conquers all.

In 1979 Amy visits her mother, the West End actress Esme Allen, with a big favour to ask and a brash new boyfriend in tow. When the pair meet, Amy will find the views she holds so dear are painfully tested as she has to decide what’s worth fighting for. What none of them can know is that the events of that day will set in motion a chain reaction which will dramatically change their lives forever.

Spanning a period of sixteen years, Amy’s View is a play about women, family, love and loss, set in an England corroded by the political forces of the 1980s.

Written by acclaimed playwright David Hare, Amy’s View was first performed in 1998 at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End and Broadway.