News

New Show Dates (9th-12th September 2020)

A message to our Return to the Forbidden Planet audience….

Stone Revellers have agreed that the plan will be to perform our show between Wednesday 9th and Saturday 12th September.

Existing tickets will be valid for the same performance, in the new week. For example, if you have a ticket for Wednesday 1st April – your ticket is now valid for Wednesday 9th September instead.

If you are unable to attend the new dates, please email publicity@stonerevellers.org.uk and we will make the necessary arrangements, whether that is to change your tickets for another performance (subject to availability) or to issue a refund via the method you originally paid.

We are of course aware that the risk of the national situation may not be resolved by September, if this is the case we will consider rescheduling until Spring 2021. We sincerely hope that the situation improves as soon as possible and that you and your loved ones keep well through these uncertain times.

Stay Safe

STONE REVELLERS COMMITTEE

Show Postponed

It’s with great sadness we have to say that, as the result of today’s government advice, Stone Revellers have realised we are unable to perform Return to the Forbidden Planet later this month and we have had to make the decision to postpone. We really hope we will be putting RTFP on stage later in the year and we will keep our audience up to date through email, FB and other Social Media as soon as we have more confirmed detail. We will update you all further when we know more, please keep your eye on all our avenues of communication including this Facebook page for more detail …..

2020/21 Season Announcement

Stone Revellers are excited to announce the exciting line up of shows that we have for you in our upcoming 2020/21 season!

Return To The Forbidden Planet (1st-4th April 2020) is the final show in our current season, tickets are on sale now.

Following this,  we have 4 more shows lined up for your entertainment; A comedy (with a serving fish and chips), a play, a pantomime and a musical.

Murder Afoot – 10th-13th June 2020

An outrageous comedy whodunnit that is guaranteed to delight our audiences this summer, not least because we will be serving fish and chips in with the ticket price. Audience will be seated at tables and our team will cater for you through the evening as you enjoy this year’s comedy – split into 3 acts – with the first interval being for your food and the second interval for a cabaret style performance.

Dangerous Liaisons – 16th-19th September 2020

A dark drama that follows two rivals as they use sex as a weapon to hurt those around them. A The 1999 film Cruel Intentions was also an adaption of Les liaisons dangereuses, the french 18th century novel. Most recently revived by the National Theatre, where it was described as “one of the best stage adaptions ever written” by the Observer and “Theatre at it’s most seductive” by the Evening Standard.

12 days of Christmas – 2nd-5th December 2020

Every December, we present a popular Panto and this year will be no different. Our theme is the 12 days of Christmas and our production team have some wonderfully festive ideas up their sleeves for your family this year.

Our House – 24th-27th March 2021

Revolving around the hits of MADNESS (baggy trousers, it must be love and many, many more) – Our House (by Tim Firth) tells the story of London lad Joe Casey from a key moment on his 16th birthday. The audience are shown two parellel worlds, one where he chooses to be good and one where he chooses the wrong path altogether. Our House is heartwarming and hopeful with surprising depth.

Be part of it!

Seen something you’d like to be part of? All you need to do is audition. Auditions are open and transparent and we welcome new members every show. You’ll be seen on a “first come first seen” basis and often we host a pre-audition workshop where you can come to learn more about the show and what our production team is looking for. Sign up for our newsletter and follow our social media for details.

We’re always looking for production team members too – so please get in touch whatever aspect of theatre that you’d like to get involved in. From technical, to setbuild, to playing instruments to sewing costumes and everything in between – we need you! So come and join in.

You can get in touch with us via e-mail or facebook messenger.

How are our shows chosen?

Every year, we reach out to our members and ask for suggestions of the shows that they would like to perform, across our four genres. The committee chooses the most viable shows from those selections based on a number of factors including cost, do-ability whether enough of our members and paying customers will benefit. Committee votes upon this shortlist and the show with the most votes wins.

However, the musical is slightly different. The committee creates a shortlist but this is put out to our members to vote upon their first, second and third choice.  This year, unbelievably, it was a tie between the two most popular musicals and Our House won based on more people voting for it as their second choice.

Who’s Who? Meet the space crew…

Take a look at who’s who in our latest production: Return to the Forbidden Planet. Tickets are available now – simply click here for more information and to buy your tickets…

Captain Tempest: Sean Galloghly
Bosun: Dave Patrick
Navigation Officer: Mandy Gauge
Cookie: George Rogers
Science Officer Gloria: Amanda Brumley
Prospero: Rob Mincher
Miranda: Lucy Wild
Ariel the Robot: Mark Norris

Ship’s Crew
Newcaster / Communications Officer / Doctor: Judith Doran
Tactical Officer: Angela Whitney
Chief Engineer: Cat Mills
Helm Control: Hannah Patrick
Passenger Liason: Nichola Abbott

On Sale Now – Return To The Forbidden Planet

Take the plot of Shakespeare’s final play, the Tempest, add the setting of a science fiction B movie, characters and clichés from the original Star Trek series, throw in everyone’s favourite early rock and roll music including Great Balls of Fire, Good Vibrations and the Young Ones, and sprinkle a liberal helping of Shakespearean Dialogue.

That’s how Bob Carlton created the crazy, hilarious and unique musical The Return to the Forbidden Planet.

Stone Revellers first presented this show 20 years ago and it was the first musical we performed in our current venue. We are overjoyed to be revisiting a musical that has long been one of our favourites.

What is the X-Factor created by the mad scientist Dr Prospero? Who will Miranda choose? Will Arial the robot survive the monster and will Captain Tempest and his gallant crew ever escape from the forbidden planet?

Join us at St Michaels Hall in Stone from 1st to 4th April 2020 to find out.

BUY TICKETS – CLICK HERE

Audition Info: Return To The Forbidden Planet

Here’s what you need to know for this weeks Audition dates and times!

Non-compulsory workshop to introduce the show and go through audition pieces both singing and acting.

Perfect if you are considering auditioningor if you just want to know more about the show.
Everyone welcome.
Tuesday 10th December 19:30 St Michael’s Hall Stone

AUDITIONS

Audition 1 – Thursday 12th December 19:30 St Michael’s Hall

Audition 2 – Sunday 15th December 14:00 St Michael’s Hall

There will be a third audition if necessary on Tuesday 17th. If this is the only date you can attend please let Mark (Director – markdoran1@ntlworld.com) know.

Also contact Mark if you would like to audition but cannot make any of those times / dates – no promises but we will try to help.

Audition pieces will be available later this week and hard copies at the hall during Panto performances from Friday this week.

Any questions or queries set your hairdryers to stun and contact Mark for more details.

Cast Announced for Princess & The Pea

As one show ends, another one begins. Today, rehearsal’s begin for Stone’s only Pantomime – to be performed in the first week of December 2019. Following several auditions we were able to put together an excellent cast of local performers.

PRINCESS & THE PEA by Simone Plant – to be performed by:

Rosebud Nicola Abbott
Chester Matt Wright
Dame Rob Mincher
Prince Hannah Adams
Chamberlain Neil Norman
Eleanor Aimee Hull
Duchess Charlotte Andrews
Selena Caitlin Forrester
Travis Dennis Abbott
Three Ladies Maisie Mansell-Warren
Rebecca Harratt
Verity Summerfield
Company / Gypsy King John Wright
Company Jamie Summerfield
Andrew Hull
Ian Bowen
Dylan Galloghly
Jo Taylor
Emma Wallace
Chloe Wallace
Additional company awaiting confirmation

Tickets will be available soon here on the Stone Revellers website or as usual in Home & Colour.

Audition Information for THE PRINCESS & THE PEA

Stone Revellers are holding open auditions to be on stage in our Christmas production and we want you to be there!

Find below Character List, Character Descriptions, Synopsis and Audition Pieces!

At Audition you will be asked to read a character or two and sing a short tune of your choice. Read on:

Our next auditions will be held on Saturday 24th August 2019 at 2.30-4pm and Wednesday 28th August 2019 at 7.30-9pm at St Michael’s Hall, Lichfield Road, Stone. You only need to attend one – and you will see our production team individually and on a first come, first seen basis.

We are looking for the following roles and chorus/dancers. All ages & abilities welcome. If you are away and have been in touch with us, we will let you know a further audition date in the following week that you can attend. (Please message us via this website or on our Facebook page if this also applies to you).

Auditionees will be asked to perform snippets of the script (the Audition Pieces) which are below to download as a PDF – which should open in your browser and be easy to save and print. We’ll also ask you to sing (just a verse or a chorus) a song of your choice – if you’re unsure then why not sing a little bit of “I’m a Believer” (the Shrek version!) – our opening number – or we can walk through a vocal warm up. We just need to test your range.

PRINCESS & THE PEA is a Panto, based on the classic tale, but with an excellent brand new script – written by our own Simone Plant. The show will involve acting, singing, dancing and lots of jokes and laughs.

Your production team will be: Simone Plant (Director), Rob Stanway (Asistant Director & Co-Producer) and Nichola Abbott (Co-Producer).

Cast List & Character descriptions

Valiant (M/F) – the Prince. He is a pleasant, down-to-earth young man, loyal to his family and obedient to their traditions

The Lord High Chamberlain (M) – the late King’s chief servant, well intentioned & an honest man

Dame Dolly of the Bedchamber (M) – (dame) Prince Valiant’s nanny – ‘nuf said!

Chester the Jester (M) – (comedian) joke a minute

Eleanor (F) – a young Princess, pleasant, attractive, sensible, dignified and charming –everything a Princess is supposed to be

Fairy Rosebud (F) – Good Fairy, keeps a protective eye on the Princess ensuring the story proceeds in the right direction. She’s down to earth, not “frilly” or “posh”. Gets on well with everyone instantly

Dowager Duchess Wilhelmina (F) – very determined, & a nasty piece or work. Wants her daughter to marry the prince at any cost

Lady Selena (F) – her daughter, very conceited, inflated self-image and perceives herself as incredibly entertaining and wonderful. Far more important than her mother

Travis (M) – Evil henchman who works for the Duchess (secretly in love with her)

Lady Lavinia (F) – plain and completely absorbed in her mathematical studies, simply dressed, and looks like 1940’s movie “typical” spinster librarian

Lady Daphne (F) – more interested in singing and dancing than anything else

Lady Gwendolyn (F) – she finds her own reflection in the mirror much more fascinating than a mere Prince

Chorus

Dancers

Synopsis

A long time ago, just the other day a Prince needs to be wed in 3 days before he can be crowned King, but how to find a suitable wife. The solution comes in the guise of a Britain’s Got Talent style knock-out competition with the Evil Duchess Wilhelmina’s daughter Selena
as favourite.

During the pre-competition party the evening before, a young woman called Eleanor, drenched with rain from the storm, arrives at the castle to enter the competition. The next day as the other contestants get sabotaged by the Duchess’s henchman there are eventually only 2 ladies left.

The final challenge “suggested” by Eleanor’s fairy godmother, who is in disguise, involves all the mattresses in the castle and a handful of peas. That night Selena sleeps like a baby but poor Eleanor tosses and turns never once able to close her eyes and sleep.

Much to the evil Duchess’s disgust and everyone else’s delight, the result proves that only a real princess would have the sensitivity to feel a pea through such a quantity of bedding, so the Prince & Eleanor are married.

There is the usual mad cap humour involving the Dame and the comedian, and also a haunted suit of armour thrown in for good luck!

AUDITION PIECES

Rosebud: Click Here for your PDF

Chester: Click Here for your PDF

Dame: Click Here for your PDF

Prince: Click Here for your PDF

Chamerlain: Click Here for your PDF

Eleanor: Click Here for your PDF

Duchess: Click Here for your PDF

Selena: Click Here for your PDF

Travis: Click Here for your PDF

3 Ladies: Click Here for your PDF

Chorus/Dancers: Click Here for your PDF

NOTE: Female chorus/dancers can audition for any of the 3 ladies aswell as being chorus/dancers.

Cast Announcement: The Admirable Crichton

Stone Revellers are delighted to announce their cast for The Admirable Crichton, the comedy play that takes place Wednesday 4th until Saturday 7th September 2019 at St Michael’s Hall in Stone, Staffordshire.

The cast:

Bill Crichton: Jason Whitehurst

Earl of Loam: Tim Clegg

Eliza Tweeny: Jen Dixon

Lady Mary: Emma Wilson

Lady Catherine: Hannah Adams

Lady Agatha: Lauren Turner

Lady Brocklehurst: Sue Coles

Lord Brocklehurst: Alex MacIvor

Reverend John Treherne: Michael Duckworth

Ernest Woolley: Rob Stanway

Miss Fisher: Zoe Andrews

Lead Ensemble: Bill Coles

The Admirable Crichton (1902), a play by J. M. Barrie and adapted for Stone Revellers by Kath Walton, is a satirical comedy dealing with class and social structure, about a butler who rises to become the leader of his aristocratic employers after they are all stranded on a deserted island.

J.M. Barrie was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for the world famous Peter Pan.

This production follows the success of last year’s play – One Man, Two Guvnors (September 2018) directed by Harri Bailey, which delighted a record audience with an extra performance added and won the NODA award (Revellers 4th in 5 years).

The current production team aim to produce a show of similar caliber. Director Kath Walton makes her debut for Stone Revellers following her graduation from Liverpool Hope University with a Masters in Performance. She will be ably assisted by Charl Andrews – also making her directorial debut for Stone Revellers.

TICKETS are on Sale from Monday 1st July from The Home & Colour Centre on Stone High Street (01785 817307) or here on our website – checkout with your card securely and with no booking fee.

Stone Revellers

Stone Revellers have been producing theatre in Stone for 41 years and continue to thrive as a society, welcoming new members for every show through open auditions. On their 40th anniversary last year the group kick started the Crown Wharf Theatre Trust, a project in partnership with Joules Brewery to bring a 150 seater theatre to Stone by 2021 – with an ambitious £300,000 fund raising target.

Revellers are always looking for volunteers in the areas of Set Building, Technical (lights and sound), Stage Management, Costume design and all associated roles for our 4 shows each year. If you are interested in joining Stone Revellers then please contact us via the website, social media or e-mail: info@stonerevellers.org.uk.

Please like, follow & share our social media. Simply search Stone Revellers on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Producers for The Admirable Crichton: Joanne Whitehurst & Rob Stanway.

For Press enquiries please contact stonerevellerspublicity@gmail.com

Audition for our next Play – we’re particularly looking for men aged 20-35

Further auditions are to be held for our play: The Admirable Crichton on Tuesday 25th June 2019 from 7.30pm – 9pm at St Michael’s Hall.

All roles are still up for grabs, but we are particularly looking for male actors with a playing age of 20-35 as we have a wide range of brilliant roles available.

Character List:

CRICHTON – A Butler, early 30s, RP
EARL OF LOAM – Master of the Household, 40s/50s (3 grown up daughters), RP
LADY MARY – Loam’s Eldest daughter, approx. 22 years old, RP
THE HONOURABLE ERNEST WOOLLEY – Loam’s nephew, 20s, RP
CATHERINE – Loam’s Second daughter, approx. 20 years old, RP
AGATHA – Loam’s Youngest daughter, approx. 18 years old, RP
TWEENY – Servant, ‘In-between’ maid, late teens to 20s, Cockney or Other (not RP)
LORD BROCKLEHURST – Lady Mary’s Fiancé, approx. 20 years old, RP
LADY BROCKLEHURST – Lord Brocklehurst’s Mother, 50s-70s, RP
REVEREND JOHN TREHERNE – Clergymen, approx. 20 years old, RP
MISS FISHER (ENSEMBLE) – Maid, approx. 20 years old
TOMPSETT (ENSEMBLE) – Male Servant, 20-40 years old
ENSEMBLE – Servants & Other parts, teens-60s

The Admirable Crichton (by J.M. Barrie) will be performed here in Stone on Wednesday 4th September – Saturday 7th September 2019 with a Saturday matinee.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE AUDITION PACK (INCLUDING AUDITION PIECES)

In this Audition Pack you will find a Synopsis, Character List, Character Descriptions and Audition Pieces.

If you would prefer a smaller part, please see the Ensemble section of the Audition Pack. These roles will have a small amount of line learning and movement and are perfect for those who are looking for a smaller role.

Your production team:
Director: Kath Walton
Assistant Director: Charl Andrews
Co-Producers: Rob Stanway & Joanne Whitehurst

Synopsys

The Earl of Loam fancies himself a radical, modern thinker, a true futurist and intellectual, and to prove that class is non-existent and all men are equal, throws a tea for his household staff once a month, and forces his three indolent, fashionable daughters, and any guests
they might have at the time, to serve as hosts.

This social transgression annoys his entire household, especially Crichton, the butler, a man who holds strong opinions about the dignity of the British ruling class, the sanctity of the established order, and the tendency of Nature to have the elite few rule over the many. To
prove his point, Lord Loam takes a group composed of himself, his daughters — Mary, Catherine, and Agatha — his nephew (and suitor to Agatha) Ernest, and Treherne the clergyman (suitor to Catherine) on a sea voyage with only two servants — Crichton and
Tweeny, the humble “between maid” — to take care of them, a form of “roughing it” in the wild Atlantic waters.

When the party is shipwrecked on a deserted island, where a living can be hewn from the wilderness only by those with the skill to do so, the admirable Crichton proves to be the most intelligent, resourceful, and able man to command the party. After a brief resistance on everyone’s part, survival compels them to follow his lead, and after two years’ time, Crichton builds a utopian island home, an ingenious little civilization where he rules, kindly but firmly, believing that on an island, Nature requires him to step into the elite role of
master, and the formerly aristocratic others, now his worshipful servants, live a life composed of healthy exercise and willing labour.

Crichton’s happiness is nearly complete when Lord Loam’s eldest daughter, Mary, happily accepts his proposal of marriage. But when the party is rescued, the new social order crumbles as Lord Loam reasserts himself, Mary returns to her stuffy fiancé, and Crichton
steps back into his former role.

Will Mary’s mother-in-law to-be discover the scandalous events of the past two years? Will Crichton’s sense of self-sacrifice stand up to extreme insult? Will Ernest, who has written a thrilling memoir of the island, starring himself, ruin everything by letting slip the truth?

Hilarity and hypocrisy run rampant, and upstairs/downstairs meets indoors/outdoors in J. M. Barrie’s fantastical adventure comedy The Admirable Crichton, which explores divisions of social class, the strict hierarchical orders in place at the time — and indeed, in many times
— and the effects of Nature on all sorts of behaviours.