Wellington Arts Association

The home of the arts in Wellington

Casey Street has it’s Residents – Our House Cast List Announced!

Following some fantastic auditions in December, the creative team and I are very pleased to announce the cast list of Our House, due to be staged in April at the Wellesley Theatre. This cast made up of new and some familiar WAA members, will deliver a fantastic show for the audiences of Wellington and beyond. Our rehearsals start in earnest in February and we will keep you up to date with our progress, as we go via this blog!

Rob Spurway

Director

CAST LIST

JOE CASEY – Jack Glanville

SARAH – Bonnie Thompson

JOE’S DAD – Steve Vellam

KATH CASEY – Stephanie Colman

LEWIS – Theo Smalldon

EMMO – Michael Cole

BILLIE  – Nicole Heritage 

ANGIE  – Kiera Chard

REECEY – Gethin Pye

MR PRESSMAN – Matt Dearsley

CALLUM – Kirk Shepherd

JULIE – Madison Bouchta

DANCERS 

Lily-Rain Fuller

Jodie Lewis

Megan Leslie

Maddie David

Madison Bouchta

ENSEMBLE DANCERS 

Mischa Veysey Milton

Casey Clements

Martha Vile

Evie Warwick

Emily Sellick

Harry Taylor

Madi Smith

ENSEMBLE 

Mary Lewis

Bridgette Sells

Katy Knowles

Shane Mace

Charlie Webb

Lynne Adams

Nancy Powell-Brace

Penny Bradnum

Lona Jones

Lesley Darlow 

Amy Eveleigh

OFF STAGE SINGERS

Jeremy Secrett

Jenny Rowe 

Agnieszka Adamska

Sue Gitsham

Georgina Legg

WAA Membership goes digital!

Rob Spurway The Arts Centre January 9, 2022 Leave a reply

Becoming a member of the Arts Association can now be done from the comfort of your own home. Complete the form that can be accessed through the button below and the payment. You will then receive member benefits and be eligible to take part in any of our group’s performances (on stage or off stage).

Genesis get made up!

Rob Spurway Genesis Youth Theatre Group December 15, 2021 Leave a reply

During the penultimate session of term company members get to grips with Special Effects make-up, the session was led by Jane from Fat Cat Theatre Company. The entire company really enjoyed themselves and will be utilising the skills learnt next term!

FINAL CALL FOR CASEY STREET RESIDENTS

It is not too late to get involved with this fabulous show!  The auditions are THIS SUNDAY! (12th December)

Please see below the time slots for the characters.  If you would like to audition, we must receive an audition form.
Here is the link to the youtube version on the west end.  We’re not doing exactly the same script, but it’s pretty similar so it will give you a good idea.
Here is the link to all the audition pieces along with the rehearsal schedule and character descriptions and FAQs sheet.
Here is the link to the audition form.

The times for the auditions are as follows:
JOE, EMMO, LEWIS – 10:00am – 11:30am
SARAH, BILLIE, ANGIE – 11:30am – 13:00pm
KATH, DAD – 14:00pm – 15:00pm
REECEY, CALLUM, PRESSMAN, JULIE
 – 14:30pm – 15:30pm 
DANCERS –  15:30pm – 16:30pm

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Cazz Redstone

Production Coordinator

Wellington Operatic Society

ourhouse@w-a-a.co.uk

IT MUST BE LOVE – Creative Team Update from OUR HOUSE

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

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.

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!

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.