Auditions

Do I need to do dancing, singing and acting auditions?

It depends on what part you are auditioning for. Please see the table on the Character List page.

Will/can I use the backing tracks in the actual audition?

Yes, we will be using the same tracks as those provided on the Singing page.

Casting

How many people will form the company and how will the casting work?

It very much depends on who shows up! We suspect that we’ll attract a lot of interest, potentially enough for two separate casts. We will be casting younger children as Matilda and her friends and older teenagers as the adults – Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and the Wormwoods etc.

What happens if I get a part/my child gets a part I/they don’t want?

You should note on the audition form if you or your child is prepared to be considered for other roles – we expect hot competition for the lead part! We would very much encourage everyone to be open to other opportunities but please do say if it’s that part or nothing as there will be others who may not be cast initially.

Will everyone auditioning be cast?

It depends how many people come to audition! We try to include as many people as possible in our productions.

Rehearsals

When will rehearsals be held?

Rehearsals will be held 11am-5pm on Sundays in September and October, after the summer holidays. The venue is Ettington Community Centre. Again, the number of people in the cast will affect the timings so we’ll be confirming these once casting is complete, but no one will be needed for the full day.

Where will rehearsals be held?

We’re planning on holding the majority of rehearsals at Ettington Community Centre, Rogers Lane, CV37 7SX which is a really spacious venue with lots of parking. For some weekends this won’t be available but we’ll keep it as consistent as possible.

Is there anything else I need to know about rehearsals?

We have a rehearsal agreement which we'll ask every member of the cast to read and sign before rehearsals begin. You can read it on the links below.

SMTC Rehearsal Agreement (Over 16s)

SMTC Rehearsal Agreement (Parents of U16s)

The show

What are the show dates?

The run is from Wednesday 2 - Saturday 5 November 2022 at Stratford Play House. We are currently planning for there to be eight shows between those dates but this will depend on the size of the cast as above.

How much are tickets and when will they be on sale?

Ticket prices are to be confirmed. We will get tickets on sale as soon as we can once we know which performances the children will be taking part in as there may be more than one cast.

How much does it cost to be part of the production?

Show fees are £120 and it's £30 to become a member of SMTC (you must be a member to take part). This includes the cost of your child’s script which will belong to them to keep after the show. Fees and membership must be paid by the first rehearsal. Should this be unaffordable, we are happy to have a confidential chat with you as we do not want anyone not to be able to participate on the basis of cost.

Will my child need a performing licence?

No – we have a Body of Persons Approval – a BOPA – agreed with Warwickshire County Council which means we have an overall licence for our performances featuring young people. We will need to provide lists of participants at a later date but this is a much less onerous process than licensing each child.

What can I do to help?

What help do you need with the production?

Lots! We have a great production team and committee supporting them but will welcome help from parents as chaperones at rehearsals and during show week, prop providers, set builders, backstage helpers – whatever you have time for or the skills to perform. DBS checks or (even better) chaperone licences are needed to perform chaperoning activities so if you have these, so much the better. We’re happy to fund people going on chaperoning training.

Do you ever look for sponsors?

We’re always interested in speaking to sponsors and will be putting together some packages offering differing levels of recognition and freebies. We’ll definitely be in touch!

If you have any other questions, you can contact us at stratmusicals@gmail.com