Opening Night of Strictly Musicals by Darlington Operatic Society

After months of prep, weeks of intensive rehearsals, a few bruises and a couple of dropped flags, Darlington Operatic Society's Autumn spectacular, Strictly Musicals, opens tonight and I've not been this excited for a show to start.

Bringing the hits of Broadway & The West End from over 50 years of musical theatre, the North East's premier amateur theatre company are guaranteed to receive a huge reception - lets face it, with almost 100 people involved in one way or another, there's a lot of family & friends to come and support the 1st night but what is testament to the pedigree of this group is the number of tickets sold to those from outside the area.  

Sister amateur companies, Darlo ex-pats, stars from professional touring companies and repeat visitors who happened on previous shows almost by chance are all coming to see one of the 10 shows.  With local & national radio, BBC & Sky TV and of course the social media networks all buzzing about this 2 hour extravaganza there is no shortage of focus and rightly so.  With songs & dance from Chicago, Blood Brothers, Evita, Les Mis, Phantom, Miss Saigon, Wicked, Carousel, Disney's Lion King, Hairspray, Matilda plus many more, it's like the best ever pick 'n' mix musical.

Director and choreographer Joanne Hand has created a celebration to musical theatre paying homage to the great and the good whilst retaining an individuality which will leave the audience in awe at how you can pack so much action into a small, intimate stage.  Add to this some simply stunning vocal performances and the 10 piece live orchestra and everything is in place for the water cooler moment of the year - just make sure you're the one talking about it at work the next day.

There are still some tickets left - see the website www.darlingtonoperaticsociety.org.uk for full details and come have the best evening of your year so far.

Strictly Musicals by Darlington Operatic Society - interview with Samantha Morrison

It won't be long now .........................

Time is ticking and the excitement is certainly building.  Continuing on with my preview of the build up to Darlington Operatic Society's Autumn spectacular, Strictly Musicals, this week there have been plenty of tears shed as rehearsals for one of the shows most emotional numbers took place.  This piece comes from one of the more modern shows and whilst I might be slightly biased as Becca played the lead in her GCSE production, I have to admit that it's hard not to cry when you hear this one, especially when it follows the high tempo, upbeat numbers.

Whilst at this weeks rehearsals, I was really lucky to bump into Samantha Morrison, a well established member of the Operatic Society and a real favourite leading lady of mine.  Sam was just waiting to start her rehearsal of ...... (come on, should know by now I won't give too much away) but I managed to grab a few minutes to find out what it's like to be a part of the North East's {premier Amateur Theatre Companies.

AB – When did you join Darlington Operatic Society and what prompted you to ?

SM – I studied performing arts at Stockton and Billingham College.  After that I took a year out to decide if I wanted to pursue an acting career full time and move down to London.  During this time I got a job and started to enjoy the freedom of life.   It was around this time I joined Darlington Operatic Society and took my first part as a chorus girl in Sweet Charity.  This gave me the avenue to continue performing without having to take the plunge and make it my career.  It also meant I could act without the pressure of it being my job and I think that has helped keep it more enjoyable.

AB – You have been a member of the society for quite a while now (obviously starting very young means you are still young!), what was it like when you joined?

SM – When I started, the Operatic Society was like many other societies in Darlington; the WI, the Round Table, the Lions etc – they were all made up of Darlington people and were social and cultural hubs.  Members of the operatic society were very active in the community and our audiences were heavily made up of members from these other groups.  We were supported because we were Darlington Operatic Society, the town’s amateur theatre group, and felt quite a connection to and with the town.  As such the shows we staged were quite traditional to appeal to the audience we had.

AB – How has the society changed over the years ?

SM – Culture in general has changed an awful lot over the past 10 or so years.  Theatre has had to compete with so many other leisure pursuits all vying for time and money; cinema, home movies, the change in drinking habits, even video gaming have all drawn on people so theatre in general has had to up its game and come up with more innovative shows to grab the audiences’ attention.  Being an amateur production company means we really have to be on the ball in show choice to try and appeal to as many people as we can.  When the society’s long standing director left we had a series of guest directors, each of whom had to try and appeal to new audiences whilst not alienating our traditional fans.  It’s not been easy as there is a real fine balance between staging the long established shows (Sound of Music, Guys & Dolls, Sweet Charity) which will appeal to a more mature audience with the more modern ones (Full Monty, Footloose, Blood Brothers) needed to capture the younger theatre goers, but with Jo (Hand) and the team we have a great understanding of how to deliver the best and most exciting shows.

AB – Picking up on your point of being an amateur company, how difficult is it to compete with other, professional theatre productions?

SM - we don’t have the time and resources to compete directly with the professional touring companies, yet when someone comes to see our show they need to feel that they have had a great evening, value for money and want to come and see our next production.  We are very lucky to have a wonderful theatre to perform in which always give us such a buzz come opening nights but with it comes the pressure to make sure we don’t disappoint (ED Which you never do!).  Like any production company we are reliant on our cast being committed to putting in the hours in rehearsals, the back stage crew building and running the sets and of course our Director and Choreographer giving us a great show to present.  It is perhaps because, rather than in spite, of us being an amateur company that we can tackle the shows we do as everyone is here because they want to be not because it is their job.  We have a great team and whilst many of the society have been with us for years, we still attract a good number of people auditioning to join.

AB – For someone thinking of applying to join Darlington Operatic Society, what is it like to be a member?

SM – I guess we are the epitome of one big family; we are such a diverse group of people that there will always be someone around to talk to, laugh with, help with steps, practise, rehearse or just listen.  There are times when you’ve had a really bad day at work but when you walk into rehearsals you can forget all about it and just throw yourself into performing.  Often when we start preparing for a new show we will spend time at someone’s house, watching DVDs and just practising steps or singing.  Think of the fun you had at school with your group of friends extended into adult life – in fact after the thrill of performing on stage it really is the best part of being a member.

AB – Personally, I loved your portrayal of Vi in Footloose but which has been your favourite role to play ?

SM Having been a Chorus girl first time around, it was great to be able to play Charity in Sweet Charity when we next performed it.  I really enjoyed playing Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and also as Mrs Barnum opposite Julian (Cound) – me & Julian have played opposite quite a few times now so we have a good understanding of each other’s’ style.  I do find that I am getting offered the ‘more mature’ roles now ….. (ED – yeah but these young girls need someone to show them just how it’s done!)

AB – Finally, rehearsals for Strictly Musicals are well underway – without giving away too many secrets, what’s it going to be like?

SM – 'Strictly' is an amazing show, packed with some of the biggest stage numbers which normally we wouldn’t get chance to perform.  Jo (Joanne Hand, Director & Choreographer) has worked so hard on designing some really fantastic numbers, challenging to perform but really exciting and powerful – the audience will be amazed and moved throughout the show. The best thing is that in a normal show there will be perhaps 5 or 6 lead characters with the rest of the cast taking chorus line roles etc, in this show there are over 24 numbers which are shared around so lots of us get to take centre stage for a bit – it gives the younger members a chance to lead without the pressure of carrying a whole show.

So there we have it from the lovely Sam;  the Operatic Society is much more than just a production company putting on two shows a year, it's a club, a school, a family, an institution and one which Darlington should be very proud of.

Strictly Musicals, a show packed with the biggest hits from the biggest musicals of the past 70 years is on from October 23rd until November 2nd at the wonderful Darlington Civic theatre.  Check out the website for tickets and make it a night to remember.  http://www.darlingtonoperaticsociety.org.uk/

September in The Rain @ Darlington Civic

Thompson and Sweeney are utterly believable and totally charming

The latest in a long line of John Godber plays to be staged at Darlington Civic, September in the Rain is a delightful memory trip back to days of pre-M62, pit weeks, the tower ballroom and, ultimately, what is there to do in Blackpool, in September, in the rain?.

Told in flashback, Liz (Claire Sweeney) and Jack (John Thomson) relive instances over the years from their annual summer trips to Blackpool; the wide eyed innocence of their first holiday together, the playful arguments as they settle into a knowing routine, the challenges of trying to keep their relationship together once the kids have grown and left and then the resigned acceptance that they really are perfect for each other.

Don't think for one moment that this is simply a love fest charting an unrealistic ideal of prefect harmony; the arguments will ring true with everyone who has ever been in a relationship and gone on holiday and provide a delicious yet sobering recognition that we've all been there, done that, said those things.  Acutely accurate in even the tiniest of details, September in the Rain is never preachy about how relationships should work, it simply provides a mirror upon which the audience can see themselves.

Claire Sweeney once again proves that she is a wonderful actress, her performance never seeks for pity or sympathy and remains, with an inner strength enough for the both of them, still obviously in love with Jack despite his seemingly lack of romance or feelings.  John Thomson has in Jack a perfect role through which he can deliver his northern 'charm', often slipping towards one of his early stand up characters of Bernard Righton but never played simply for comedic effect and always remaining truthful and believable as a hard working, hard playing guy (especially his offering of a 'oncer').

If you have ever taken a break to a British seaside resort or have family members who have a routine of doing so year after year (I have!) then you will instantly recognise Liz & Jack - depending on your age they maybe the couple who used to come on the works coach trip, they might be the couple who you see every year at the same boarding house or they just could be you, yourselves.

September in the Rain is on at Darlington Civic until Saturday 28th September.

Strictly Musicals by Darlington Operatic Society - interview with Leighton Taylor

"It's like the motion of the ocean and the sun in the sky"

There are some things in life that you just can't stop; Sun rise in the east, newspaper headlines denoting “Phew, Wot a Scorcher!” when we’ve had a reasonably warm Saturday, Sunderland’s inevitable slide down the premier league,  Christmas TV adverts in September (yes, I’ve already seen one this week).  Well now add another to the list - the momentum and excitement surrounding Darlington Operatic Society’s autumn show, Strictly Musicals.

Following on from my previous blogs, I popped down on Sunday to watch the latest rehearsals, and once again I left with a childlike impatience for opening night – one which is probably not shared yet by the cast & crew as there are still 4 full weeks of rehearsals, dress, set & tech to run through.

The first number was a duet from Phantom which halted everyone coming into the hall mid step.  Whilst many of the pieces in the show are big, stage filling show tunes, this one is as intimate as you can get in any theatrical production and yet, instead of it providing a respite from the intensity of the high octane dancing, will serve to only heighten the audiences’ involvement and embrace with the stage.  It wasn’t until after the last note had ended that I realised I had been holding my breath and that will undoubtedly be the same effect come opening night.

The second number we watched was the stage filling finale; a riotous conclusion to the
2 hours of singing and dancing worthy of closing any production.  Once again, Jo Hand has produced a number which is so very much more than the sum of its parts (and there's 47 on stage by the end) – I was lucky to be able to see it built and then ran through a few times and I needed a few watches just to catch sight of all the layers of movement, interaction and timing – this one will give the audience every opportunity and reason to get up out of their seats and will be, without doubt, a water cooler moment for the day after.

While at rehearsals I caught a quick chat with one of the Society’s newer members, Leighton Taylor who kindly answered a few questions:

AB - Firstly, when did you start with DOS and what prompted you to get involved ?

LT - I joined DOS in 2011 though due to work commitments in Cleethorpes I did not take part in a show until Titanic in 2012.  The reason I joined was due to the fact that my partner had moved back to the north east and was looking for something to fill the void left by not performing during his studies. As a performer myself I came along to tap class and chorus rehearsal and found the people very welcoming. This might be because I somehow managed to tap dance into a wall backwards.

AB - Which of the shows that you have been involved with has been your favourite (and why) ?

LT - It's hard to say which show has been my favourite as they each have very special memories.  Titanic was my first show which makes it very significant. It was also a show where not only did you want to entertain the audience but honour the memory of those who you are portraying. As it was also 100 years after the actual event it made it even more special.  Footloose was an amazing experience. The atmosphere throughout the whole of rehearsals was electric. Every member of the cast was excited to be in the show and the reaction from the crowd every night was nothing I had ever experienced before. The Sound of Music was a show which I had to be a part of due to the sheer popularity of the musical. Even though it there was not much to do, I enjoyed the backstage banter with other cast members and had a chance to shine by hosting the warm up for the sing-a-long, drawing on my experience as a presenter for Haven Holidays.

AB - What do you find the biggest challenge when starting prep for a new show?

LT - The biggest challenge for any actor is perfecting the character you have been given to play. You can learn the words, harmonies, dance routines and direction, but without a convincing character, the performance can fall apart.  The support we receive over the months and weeks of rehearsal makes the learning less stressful.

AB - ‘Strictly’ is a different type of show with so many musical numbers – how are you coping with remembering the setting for such a variety of different styles ?

LT - Luckily for DOS, we have a very talented cast for Strictly Musicals. We also have a director who understands that people have different capabilities and strengths that are stronger in different areas of performance.  The only things I am having trouble with at the moment is the dance moves (ED really ? cos your freestyle in the finale looks spot on good). But hopefully they will be smoothed out in the next five weeks.

AB - Which number are you most looking forward to  (don’t worry, I won’t give any secrets away  ) ?

LT - If I tell you I would have to kill you. (ED - gulp!)

AB - What would your dream role be, and just as importantly, which leading lady would you most like to star alongside?

LT - My dream role would be the Emcee in cabaret. I wouldn't like to choose just one
leading lady as I feel it would make the others jealous.

AB - What advice can you give to someone who is interested in theatre but doesn’t feel that they can sing or dance well enough to be in a show ?

LT - If you have the passion and the willing to learn then I would always say that a society like DOS is always a good place to start. You will find people that have the same interests as you and are passionate about the same things as you are.

I have met some of my best friends through joining DOS.

Thanks to Leighton for spending time out of a hectic schedule to give an insight into life as a 'DOSser'.

This next week the cast will be performing the first full non-stop run through and also finalising their costumes.  Things are certainly moving at a pace so if you haven't got your tickets yet , don't delay - miss it, miss out !

Strictly Musicals is on at Darlington Civic theatre from October 23^rd until November 2^nd.  Tickets are available through the website www.darlingtonoperaticsociety.org.uk

Strictly Musicals by Darlington Operatic Society - interview with Joanne Hand, Director

5 weeks to go ...............

Following on from last weeks initial preview of Darlington Operatic Society's forthcoming production, Strictly Musicals, I was allowed back to watch another number being set.  This time is was an evocative and rousing piece from Evita.  Director Joanne opened the session by exclaiming that this was one of the easier numbers (!?!) but nonetheless needed absolute concentration to ensure it continued to look easy.  All I know is that after a 2 hour workout of both the mental & physical the component parts came together into another stunning and exciting number adding to the already bulging set list.

Again, I marvelled at the ability of the cast to focus on their stage positions, remember their dance moves (which for this piece have a tango/flamenco feel) and still manage to sing, in harmony and in breath.  Of course, this is only one of over 24 numbers that will be performed, proving that staging and performing a show like this is as much a test of memory & mental ability as it is of song & dance.  I couldn't help but feel a swell of excitement akin to the build up to Christmas - you know it's coming, you know it's going to be great but you still aren't sure exactly what you're going to get (well, I have a better idea than most but I'm not telling !)

As promised last week, I was able to grab a little time out of Director & Choreographer Jo's very busy diary to ask a few questions:

AB - Strictly is a full-on musical review / concert – how different is it to design & set this type of show compared to a traditional show with dialogue and a few musical numbers ?

JH - the main difference is that from the outset you have no set parameters to work from.  For normal 'book' shows eg 'The Sound of Music' you are provided with the libretto and associated songs and for this kind of show you are literally starting with a blank page.  For a book musical you know the songs come in a particular order, there are certain key companies who provide the set, the orchestrations demand a set number of instruments and musicians, the parts are fairly defined for the performers and the costumes need to fit a set period or look demanded by the piece.  In this kind of show none of those are in place.  You determine the songs, the order, the theme, the look, the staging and set and cast required.  In many ways its a lot more work than a book musical but provides great opportunities for large numbers of performers to be featured.  In most musicals there are a limited number of lead players whereas this kind of show allows us to showcase the breadth of talent that exists within the company.

AB - What was the process for deciding which numbers made it into the show, were there any you knew immediately to avoid, and any which you wished you could have included ?

JH -I think this was probably the hardest choice.  There are so many great songs in musical theatre and I could have easily had a show that lasted 6 hours if I wasn't careful!  I worked the concept around a loose theme of songs from shows that were nominated or had won Tony and / or Olivier awards.  If nothing else it helped me to start cutting things down.  In a show like this its important to consider the balance of content so - ballads vs upbeat numbers, dramatic pieces vs lighthearted pieces, full company numbers vs solos, duets and trios.  You also have to consider what will work for the band you have.  We wanted there to be a comfortable balance of the classics and also provide some pieces from lesser known musicals to give the audience something new as well.  You also have to consider what songs work 'out of context' of a show.  There are many shows that I adore but the songs are quite specific to the storyline and therefore don't necessarily work in a concert style setting.  There are still songs now that I wish I had been able to include but they would have had to be at the expense of another number - maybe we will have to consider 'Strictly Musicals 2' (ed - you heard it here first, folks)

AB - You’ve worked with DOS since Oliver! in 1993, what changes have you seen in the past 20 (gulp) years ?

JH - The society has changed a lot since my initial association but the constant has been the quality of productions which has always been incredibly high and something the society has prided itself on.  Like any good organisation, DarlingtonOS had had to modernise to keep up with things like technological changes.  20 years ago I am not sure we even knew what a website was - now I don't think we could do without it.  We communicate with the cast in a number of different ways as well regarding social events, changes to rehearsals etc eg SMS messages, Facebook, online surveys etc which solely relied on someone making loads of phonecalls when I first started.  I think we try to celebrate our heritage and are very proud of where the society has come from but at the same time know that we all have a duty to make sure the society is here in another 50-100 years.

AB -The ratio of girls to boys looks around 2:1 – does this have any influence when deciding on which shows to put on ?

JH - The cast for Strictly Musicals is only a selection of our full membership.  As we stage 2 musicals per year we hold auditions for each show and then select the cast to meet the specific demands of that show.  We are quite fortunate in Darlington that we have a relatively high number of young men involved in the society.  Women still outnumber men but we always get new men wanting to join us every 6 months when we hold our new members auditions.

AB - I’ve watched as you set a couple of numbers and the preparation is phenomenal - What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in getting Strictly ready for rehearsals ?

JH - I think as with most musicals 50% of the work is done before you even get to the first rehearsal.  By the time it comes to setting you have to have been able to visualise how the number will look in its finished state with the lighting, staging, performers and any other effects.  In Strictly Musicals we have a cast of 47 so the full company numbers take a lot of planning of how to move the cast from A to B ensuring the soloist is where they need to be by a specific bar of music.  I think the biggest challenge for Strictly has probably just been ensuring that the running order allows for costume changes, mic changes and balancing out the voice parts in the various numbers.  As I love a good spreadsheet once that was cracked it really is just business as usual

AB - Do you have any superstitions or lucky routines for opening night ?

JH - No - I don't believe in superstitions.  I think I am too practical.  I believe more in hard work and organisation and those things will see you right on the night.

AB - If you could stage & direct one show (regardless of cost, venue needed, production etc) which would it be ?

JH - Probably a few different ones for different reasons so its difficult to tie it down to one.  Les Mis as a 'biggie'  - its the show that really turned me onto musical theatre and I love the various interweaving storylines and the music and of course to stage this with a fantastic full working set and large company would be fantastic.  On the other extreme I would love to direct 'Parade' in a black box with a small cast or 'Drowsy Chaperone' which is a fantastic show within a show.

AB - Have you any advice for someone who is interested in theatre but feels that they could never sing, dance, act well enough to take a part ?

JH - There are so many ways to be involved other than being on stage which are just as rewarding if not more so.  As well as the people taking part on stage, DarlingtonOS has a range of backstage helpers ranging from props and costume departments to crew, lighting and sound.  All of these departments are vital to the final production that the audience sees and we are always on the look out for willing volunteers.

AB - Which number are you most excited about

JH - Gosh - not really sure.  I think I am looking forward to just in general seeing all the bits coming together so when you get the choreography on stage with the lighting, costume and LED screen and it looks somewhat like it did in your head then thats always exciting.  I liked xxxxxxxxx when I was setting it and am pleased with how that is turning out as I have a solid group of really good girls.  I also like how the xxxxx number is coming along from a dance perspective.  Of course the sheer power of 47 people singing 'xxxxxxxx' always brings a tingle to my spine. (ED - you really didn't think I was going to let you know which ones Jo chose - you'll just have to come and see for yourself !!)

Well folks, that wraps it up for this blog, the excitement is definitely building and we have yet to see costumes, set and the use of some very clever tech - look out for the next preview blog where I will have caught up with some of the society's members & cast to get their thoughts on preparing for autumn spectacular.

Strictly Musicals is on at Darlington Civic from 23rd October to the 2nd November - check out the website for more details and to purchase tickets (better hurry, they are selling like the proverbial cakes of heat)  http://www.darlingtonoperaticsociety.org.uk/