Membership
We are always keen to hear from potential new members! The cost of membership is £15 annually, regardless of age.
Adults
If you're over 18 and interested in getting involved please contact us either by using the contact form on this website or by emailing us at sherstondramagroup3@gmail.com
This could be if you're interested in acting, but also if you're interested in helping in an offstage role - there are loads of ways to get involved, from costume sewing to scenery painting, directing, prompting or operating the lights, there's a role for everyone!
Under 18s
We love having young people involved in our productions and our Junior actors (aged 9-18) are key members our pantomime casts. At Sherston Drama Group we aim to create a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which children can learn new skills, grow in confidence and benefit hugely from acting in a cast alongside adults.
Whilst we’re delighted that Junior interest in taking part in panto has been growing steadily over the last few years, we’re also becoming concerned that we may unfortunately be coming to a point that we’re not able to accept everyone who wants to take part. There is, of course, an upper limit to the number we can take, for both practical and safety reasons.
As a result we’ve decided to open a waiting list for new Junior members. Each year, places in panto will first be offered to existing members (those who have taken part in a production within the last two years). Following this, we’ll work out how many spaces are available for new members and then invite individuals selected from the waiting list to attend the audition night (held in summer term). Selection from the waiting list will be based on the length of time spent on the waiting list and suitability for available parts. We are committed to taking some new Junior members every year (this will be possible because there is always a natural drop out as children get older or prioritise other commitments).
The audition night will therefore become more about who receives which part rather than who is in or out (although we do reserve the right to reject following the audition night - an example of when this might happen would be if we feel the child is not yet behaviourally mature enough to cope with our rehearsals). Please note that siblings of existing members must apply through the waiting list.
We feel that this system has many advantages including:
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Not causing upset and disappointment to young children by allowing everyone to come to audition night, getting them excited about the idea but then having to reject them
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Enabling parents to manage expectations
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Protecting the organising committee from being placed in very difficult situations
To take part in panto, children must be in at least Year 5 (aged 9 on 1st September of the year the panto is in). Children may be entered onto the waiting list any time after they have started Year 4. If your child is interested in taking part in panto, please have a read of the box below which outlines the commitment.
Panto takes place in October half term (Wiltshire council dates). The commitment Juniors must make to take part is as follows:
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Rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday evenings in September and October. These will typically start around 6.30pm and finish at 9pm in September and 10pm in October.
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Technical rehearsal starting mid-afternoon the first Sunday in half term.
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Every evening from 6.30pm until roughly 10pm between the Monday and Friday of half term week for dress rehearsal and performances
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On the Saturday of half term we do a matinee and an evening performance, so the cast are needed between 1.30pm – 10pm (we have a bit of a party between performances).
Please note that the 10pm rehearsal finishes in October are not really negotiable, as we have a very tight rehearsal schedule. Our experience is that some 9-10 year olds are more able to cope with the late nights than others, if you feel your child may struggle then we’d ask you to consider waiting a year. Similarly we are not able to accomodate your child missing some rehearsals for other committments e.g. football or ballet - for this half term you have to choose which you want to do! The cost of taking part is £15.
Please press the button below to fill out the form to join the waiting list.
You will receive email confirmation within a week, if you don’t receive this please contact us to ensure that we have received your application. Everyone on the waiting list will receive some contact in the summer term, even if it is just to confirm that unfortunately you do not have a place that year. If you are not offered a place you will remain on the waiting list for the following year unless you request otherwise.
We very much hope that we’ll be able to continue taking everyone who wants to take part, however we feel that this system will give us the fairest way forward if this is not possible. Thank you for your understanding, and we can’t wait to keep making great productions!
