Wellington Arts Association

IT MUST BE LOVE – Creative Team Update from OUR HOUSE

Rob Spurway Uncategorized December 1, 2021 Leave a reply

We, the creative team, have had such a great reception from everyone about this show so far. Since this process began there have been numerous production meetings, the launch night and our first workshop; We are just getting ready for our second. The team are really loving the buzz from this show already! Here are just three reasons why:

1 – New members have joined us because they’ve done OUR HOUSE before and loved it so much they want to do it again!

2 – People who came to the launch night to support someone else, had so much fun they signed up themselves!

3 – The singing under the direction of our MD Joe is sounding awesome!

Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of this show. Auditions are on the 12th of December for more information email ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk.

Audition Form Here: https://forms.office.com/r/ZgRTXYYEUN

Audition Pieces Here: https://www.dropbox.com/…/AACx7IXEMPVR1csexrfpF2ufa…

Rob Spurway

Artistic Director

Wellington Operatic Society

WAA Programme November – December 2021

Rob Spurway Genesis Youth Theatre Group, The Arts Centre, Uncategorized, Wellington Operatic Sociecty November 1, 2021 Leave a reply

November

Event	Location	Date/Time	Contact	Notes
“A Walk Down With Shaftesbury Avenue”	A	Tues 16th – Sat 20th Nov (7.30pm Daily + Matinee 20th 2.30pm)	opsoc@w-a-a.co.uk	Buy Tickets: In person at Odettes Tearoom, Wellington High Street Telephone 01823 240063 Online at ticketsource.co.uk/wellingtonartscentre
Our House – Launch Night	A	Mon 22nd Nov, 7.30pm	ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk
Our House – Workshop 1	A	Mon 29th Nov, 7.30pm	ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk

december

Event	Location	Date/Time	Contact	Notes
Our House – Workshop 2	A	Thurs 2nd Dec, 7.30pm	ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk
Christmas Cabaret	A	Sat 4th Dec, 7.30pm	genesis@w-a-a.co.uk
Being Berlin – charity show	A	Sat 11th Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm	John W (01823 667112)
Our House Auditions	A	Sun 12th Dec, 09.00 onwards	ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk
Acoustic Music Club	M	Sat 18th Dec, 7.30pm	acousticclub@w-a-a.co.uk
WAA Christmas Evening	A	Sun 19th Dec, 7.30pm	critics@w-a-a.co.uk

Locations:

A= Arts Centre, main hall

M = Arts Centre, multi-function room

Join the House of Fun!

Rob Spurway Wellington Operatic Sociecty October 21, 2021 Leave a reply

We have some dates for your diaries. Firstly, our Launch Night! It will be an informal evening where you will get to hear Rob, our Director’s artistic vision and Joe, our MD will play some of the brilliant Madness songs from the show. Beth the Choreographer will be on hand to chat about her dances and of course, the bar will be open and you will be made very welcome!

We also have 2 workshops where we will be going through the audition songs, characterisations and Beth will teach you the dances you need to know for the auditions. You don’t have to attend both workshops, but if you want to, you’re more than welcome! All of these events will take place the Arts Centre, Wellington.

DIARY DATES

LAUNCH NIGHT: Monday 22nd November

WORKSHOP #1: Monday 29th November

WORKSHOP #2: Thursday 2nd December

AUDITIONS: Sunday 12th December

Follow this link to find the character descriptions, audition pieces, a rehearsal schedule, a FAQ sheet and also, the very important Audition Form to complete ASAP! The audition form can be found by clicking the button below.

Audition form

We think we’ve covered everything you need to know in the FAQs but if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Cazz Redstone

Production Coordinator

OUR HOUSE 2022

Wellington Operatic Society

ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk

Spectrum has returned!

Rob Spurway Spectrum Arts & Crafts October 18, 2021 Leave a reply

An afternoon at Spectrum is a very relaxed affair with members learning skills from one another. It is good to share ideas and learn new techniques. Some of these are gleaned from the internet or TV craft channels as well as magazines and books. Our numbers are small and since the lockdown, some of our previous members have got out of the habit of meeting up. We make new members welcome and would encourage prospective members to share their skills in a friendly group. We meet in the Arts Centre at 2.00 pm on Mondays

A Genesis for Genesis – A Bright New Start for Wellington’s Youth Theatre Group.

Rob Spurway Genesis Youth Theatre Group September 22, 2021 Leave a reply

Following their recent EGM, required due to the majority of previous committee members moving away to pursue other interests or having Covid-related changes to their circumstances, the youth theatre group of Wellington Arts Association, GENESIS has a new committee, led by Rob Spurway and is pleased to announce that sessions will re-commence on Wednesday 6 October 2021 at the Arts Centre, Eight Acre Lane, Wellington, 7pm to 9pm.

The Youth Theatre Group is for children in school years 7 to 11. They always have an amazing amount of fun learning all aspects of theatre – stage craft, singing, characterisation, how to make and use props, understanding and using sound and lighting effects, script writing, choreography, costume design, slap-stick and much, much more. They will perform a Christmas cabaret in December this year and a summer show in 2022.

The Arts Association is a non-profit community organisation which supports the youth members of Genesis and all these rewarding experiences, delivered by experienced people with many years in the theatre environment, both onstage and behind the scenes, can be enjoyed for the junior annual membership fee of just £7.00. That’s around 30p per week, term time for quality and fun theatrical education.

If your child would like to be involved, please email genesis@w-a-a.co.uk and they will contact you.

It is AGM time!

Rob Spurway Genesis Youth Theatre Group, The Arts Centre, The Critics Club Bar September 3, 2021 Leave a reply

The WAA and Critics club are holding their Annual General Meeting on 7th September, starting promptly at 7.30pm. On the same night, Genesis will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting.

AGMs and EGMs are a good time to take stock of the previous 12 months, hear from the Chairmans of the groups, find out what money has been spent on and elect a new committee for the next 12 months.

To be able to become a committee member or vote on matters at the meeting you must be a paid-up WAA member!

The notices of the AGMs and EGMs are attached below.

AGM-Management-2021-Notice Download

Critics-AGM-notice-21 Download

Genesis-EGM-7th-September-21-Notice Download

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF CASEY STREET AND OUR NEW SHOW DATES!

Rob Spurway Wellington Operatic Sociecty August 30, 2021 2 Comments

Firstly, we have some important news…. our show dates have changed slightly to

Wednesday 27^th– Saturday 30^thApril 2022

(with a Matinee on Saturday)

This is because we perform our shows at our fantastic Wellesley Theatre. Most of the year, the building is used as a cinema by Merlin Cinemas, until we transform it into a theatre to perform in. In May 2022, Merlin Cinemas have secured a Disney film on it’s release date (look out for details in the press nearer the time) so we thought this was exciting and have moved our show week dates a week earlier!

So here’s the buzz… during lockdown we were fortunate to be able to completely refurbish the Arts Centre! It’s nearly completed and the association have the wheels in motion to get going with all of our shows – in our brand new, swanky rehearsal space!! Excited is an understatement!

The first events for OUR HOUSE, are the workshops and auditions in December, followed by a social night / admin night in January, before we hit the road running with rehearsals in February. More details soon!

However, we know what you really want to know is; “Who are the characters and what can I audition for?”

So… we have attached a character description list and a synopsis of the show.

If you follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bap8r-UZgE it takes you to the West End version on YouTube. Whilst the version we’re doing isn’t exactly the same, it’s pretty close. Have a watch – it’s great for research!

The Production Team

Cazz Redstone (Production Coordinator)

Rob Spurway (Director)

Joe Beckhelling (Musical Director)

Beth Swan (Choreographer)

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS Download

OUR HOUSE SYNOPSIS Download

WAA Programme September – October 2021

Rob Spurway Genesis Youth Theatre Group, The Arts Centre, The Critics Club Bar, Wellington Acoustic Music Club, Wellington Operatic Sociecty August 26, 2021 Leave a reply

SEPTEMBER

Event	Location	Date/Time	Contact	Notes
AGMs: WAA, Critics Club + Genesis EGM	A	Tues 7^th Sept 19.00	secretary@w-a-a.co.uk	Open to the public but must be WAA members to vote/stand for committee positions
“Last night of the Proms”	M	Sat 11^th Sept 18.00	rob.spurway@w-a-a.co.uk	Members-only
Acoustic Music club	M	Sat 18^th Sept 19.30	acousticclub@w-a-a.co.uk
Opsoc in the park	Park	Sun 26^th Sept	opsoc@w-a-a.co.uk

OCTOBER

Event	Location	Date/Time	Contact	Notes
“The Elements – Songs of Fire Earth and Water” – John Walker Band.	A	2^ndOct evening & 3^rd Oct matinee	John W (01823 667112)	There will be a bucket collection for Wellington Hospital League of Friends.
Acoustic Music club	M	Sat 16^th October 19.30	acousticclub@w-a-a.co.uk

Locations:

A= Arts Centre, main hall

M = Arts Centre, multi-function room

Pantomime Group ready to begin Treasure Hunt!

Rob Spurway Wellington Pantomime Group August 14, 2021 Leave a reply

The committee and the creative team would like to thank all that auditioned, I loved seeing lots of new faces as well as regular cast members. I know, with the talent involved, we can put on the show that Wellington deserves to see after an enforced absence! We look forward to sharing our journey through this blog to the stage!

Kirk Shepherd, Director

The cast is as follows:

Mrs Hawkins/Dame Ian Jones

Jim Hawkins Kiera Chard

Squire Trelawney Rev Andrew Norris

Jenny Trelawney Lizzie Harvey

Seadog Sam Annalise Houghton

Seaweed Willy Shane Mace

Ben Gunn/Billy Bones Pete Meredith

Long John Silver TBC

Blood Boiler Chris Barrett

Gizzard Slitter Jeremy Secret