How do
The Villagers choose their plays?We
don't have a chairman or a committee to choose plays, nor a program
set by a clique of members. What we do
have is a process which is possibly unique among drama groups in its
democratic approach.
Every
year, we mark the end of our production with a meeting at the
beginning of September, when we have our annual awards, The Grouchies.
During that meeting, we pick three or four plays as candidates for the
next year's production.
Over
the winter, we then read one play at each monthly
meeting. All meetings start at 8pm at 64 Foster Road. One Villager gives a brief exposition on the plot,
characters and possibilities of the play, and organises the
readthrough.
At
the end of the January meeting, we usually vote on which
play we have enjoyed most. Every member of the Villagers has
an equal vote, whether they have been a member for ten years or three
months.
Casting
is normally done in February and
then we begin our
rather relaxed rehearsal schedule. It's as simple as that!
EXCEPT
Next year, 2026 marks the Fortieth Anniversary of the Villagers first
play - Midsummer Night's Dream. Also, the three remaining members of
the original cast have decided that, after the 2026 production, they
will step back from taking major parts in future plays. To recognise
these events, the cast decided to make Misdummer Night's Dream our play
for 2026. Auditions will start in January.
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