10th Rising Stars Awards – Sunday 6th September
Originally planned for the last night of our production of ‘Spamalot’ in March, the Awards were cancelled along with everything else. Due to the current guidelines preventing us all gathering in one place, Sunday’s rescheduled version has a theatrical twist.
Everyone will be able to follow the presentations and join in the congratulations via posts to this page.
All performances of Spamalot cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Following the most recent advice issued by the government to avoid social gatherings, Rising Stars have made the difficult decision to cancel our performances of Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ scheduled for Wednesday to Saturday this week.
This is devastating news for all of us at Rising Stars – both emotionally and financially. We have worked so hard over the last six months to produce an absolutely fantastic show, reaching a high standard of performance that deserved an appreciative audience. No-one is more upset than us about having to cancel, but the health and safety of the public and our cast & crew has to be our main priority.
Ticket refunds will be handled by Beccles Public Hall, but please allow them time to get their procedures in place as this most recent government advice is still very new.
However, as a registered charity, we invite our patrons to consider donating the cost of their ticket to show support for youth theatre in Beccles.
Please visit our website and social media channels for the latest information on future productions.
In these rapidly changing and uncertain times, just remember the words of a song from ‘Spamalot’…
If life seems jolly rotten,
There’s something you’ve forgotten!
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing,
When you’re feeling in the dumps,
Don’t be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle — that’s the thing!
And…. always look on the bright side of life.
Stay safe everyone.
WLOG Rising Stars
Tickets on sale NOW for Spamalot
Tickets are now on sale for Rising Stars’ next fully-staged production – ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ which will hit the Beccles Public Hall stage on 18th to 21st March.
‘Spamalot’ is lovingly ripped off from the classic film, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, but the musical diverts a bit from more traditional versions of the legend. Instead, Spamalot features shenanigans including the Lady of the Lake and her dancing girls, farting Frenchmen, killer rabbits and the Knights who say Ni. Join King Arthur as he travels with his hapless Knights of the Round Table on a divine mission to locate the illusive Holy Grail – with uproarious consequences. Funnier than the Black Death!
‘Spamalot’ is the next fully staged show in an ever growing line of successful musical productions by the Beccles-based youth musical theatre group, whose previous credits have included ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Romeo & Juliet – A Rock Musical’ and ‘The Evacuees’. Although the majority of the cast are under 18, they pride themselves on bringing the high quality and professionalism that you would expect of any theatre company to all of their performances.
Tickets for ‘Spamalot’ are priced at £12.50 for adults and £10 for Under 18s and can be purchased either by visiting Beccles Public Hall Box Office or by telephoning 01502 770060. The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm and accepts both debit and credit cards. Tickets can also be purchased online at any time from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/becclespublichall
Singing success for Rising Stars’ Rosie
We have another winner!
Congratulations to Rising Stars member, Rosie, who has won the 2020 Beccles Young Vocalist of the Year competition for the second time.
The competition is organised by the Rotary Club is part of a wider UK-wide singing competition. Last time, Rosie progressed through several further stages to reach the UK quarter-finals so we wish her all the luck for this year.
Rosie is just one of the talented and award-winning cast that will be performing with Rising Stars in Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ next month. More details of how to get tickets to see this talent-packed production can be found here.
NODA Award success for Rising Stars
FANTASTIC NEWS FOR ANYONE INVOLVED WITH RISING STARS
We’ve recently learnt that Rising Stars’ production of ‘Romeo & Juliet – A Rock Musical’ in March last year has been nominated for an award by the National Operatic & Dramatic Association (NODA). We are on the shortlist for ‘Best Youth Production 2019’ in District 6.
NODA are such experts in amateur theatrical productions that to be recognised by them in any capacity is a real achievement. The overall winner won’t be announced until a Gala Awards Ceremony next month, but just being nominated means that ‘Romeo & Juliet – A Rock Musical’ was one of the top three youth productions in the area.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS KEEPS COMING!
At the Gala Award ceremony, Rising Stars member Amelia Parker will be presented with the NODA District 6 Award for ‘Best Young Performer’. Her performance as Juliet’s Nurse in ‘R&J’ was noted as showing style and expression with excellent stage awareness and we are delighted that her outstanding performance has been recognised in a particularly competitive year.
These nominations and awards are a testament to the talent and hard work of all the young cast, the production and technical teams and to everyone involved with Rising Stars so I hope you are all as absolutely thrilled as we are.
AGM date announced
Please be advised that the Annual General Meeting of WLOG & Rising Stars will take place at 7:30pm on Monday 3rd February 2020.
All members of Rising Stars who have paid their 50p membership fee since February 2019 (cast members of The Evacuees and Spamalot) are invited to attend, but only members who have reached their 14th birthday will be eligible to vote.
The agenda, minutes of the last AGM, some reports and other documents will be circulated in due course.
Best regards
The Committees of WLOG & Rising Stars
Christmas Greetings
Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2020Auditions slots available NOW for Spamalot
We are now taking bookings for audition slots for Spamalot.
Auditions will take place on Friday 4th and Sunday 6th October.
To book your place, please complete and return an Application to Audition form.
Audition rehearsals start next Friday evening (20th September) from 7-9pm in the Blyburgate Hall, Beccles for anyone who would like to be in the cast as a principal and/or a company member.
Full details of Pre-audition rehearsals
Friday 20th September, 7pm – 9pm
Company & principal audition practice / guidance
Sunday 22nd September, 2pm – 4pm
Principal audition practice / guidance
Friday 27th September, 7pm – 9pm
Dance / movement workshop and Company & principal audition practice
Sunday 29th September, 2pm – 4pm
Company & principal audition practice / guidance and audition techniques
(anyone auditioning for Company only may leave at 3pm if they wish)
All rehearsals are in Blyburgate Hall, Beccles.
Don’t panic if you can’t attend all the pre-audition rehearsals as the character descriptions, audition pieces and rehearsal backing tracks can be downloaded from the Rising Stars’ downloads area for you to practice at home.
We look forward to meeting you at a rehearsal and hope you take advantage of this opportunity to perform with our friendly and talented group.
Information Evening for SPAMALOT
Less than a week to go until the Information Evening for Spamalot!!
The Information Evening will be held at 7pm on Friday 13th September in the Blyburgate Hall in Beccles, where there will be the opportunity to find out more about the show, meet the production team and get more details about how to audition to be in the cast or for a principal role.
If you can’t make it to the Information Evening but are still interested in being involved with the show, just CONTACT US and we’ll make sure all the information given out on the night is emailed to you.
We look forward to meeting you.
Rising Stars Workshop – Limited spaces available
Don’t forget that this Sunday is the WORKSHOP – a chance to work with 3 amazing professional tutors.
Those who have paid in advance has been emailed the details.
There are still a few limited places left for anyone to turn up on the day but it is first come first served.
Anyone thinking about joining us for this exciting opportunity must arrive just before 10am at Blyburgate Hall bringing your form (which can be downloaded from here) and money.
We are looking forward to working with you