Update: Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are having to move the Director’s Talk about “Chess” back one day from Monday 23rd September to Sunday 22nd September. It will still take place at Durham Amateur Rowing Club, but will now start at 2.00 pm. There is a bar at which drinks can be purchased before, during and after the talk. We are sorry about this change of date, but hope you are still able to attend.
As we have previously announced, we will be performing the ABBA/Tim Rice musical Chess from 19th-23rd May 2020 at the Gala Theatre, Durham; evenings @ 7.00 pm, Wednesday & Saturday matinees @ 2.00 pm. The show will be directed by Fred Wharton, musically directed by Malcolm Moffat and choreographed by Kathleen Knox – the same team that master-minded our recent highly successful production of Evita.
The production team will be introducing this new show to the company with Fred’s talk on Monday 23rd September at Durham City Rowing Club at 7.00 pm. Fred will discuss the show and play some musical extracts. He will also explain the characterisations of all the principal parts that are available for audition – if you are wanting to audition for a part, it is therefore strongly advised that you attend. As in the last show, there will be some chorus principals needed. It is hoped that the audition pieces for all these roles will be available at the talk.
Singing rehearsals will then begin on Tuesday 24th September at Plawsworth Community Centre at 7.15 pm and will continue every Tuesday until Christmas.
The auditions will take place on Saturday 19th October, hopefully at St. Leonard’s RC School, Durham. (This venue is still to be confirmed.) Malcolm wants to start singing rehearsals with the principals on Sundays (afternoons) following the auditions, so please, if you are auditioning, try to keep your Sundays free (not everyone will be required at every Sunday rehearsal).
Chess has a very large score and there is a very extensive choral component to it. We therefore need a big chorus to make the required sound world come alive and do justice to the piece. The committee hopes that you will want to take part in this new, wonderful experience. If you know of anyone who is not a member but would like to take part in the show, please encourage them to come along and join us, especially if they are young and male!
