Parent Information - Please read carefully Show Information: If your child auditions successfully you will be notified by email on Monday 13th or Tuesday 14th January 2025. Then... Please read all information below very carefully before committing. Important show dates When: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025 Where: Harriet Walter Theatre, Bearwood Rd, Sindlesham, Wokingham, RG41 5BG Important rehearsal dates When: Every Sunday from 19th January - 27th April 2025 - 10.30am-3pm (excluding Easter Sunday, but inclusive other school holiday weekends) This is 14 weeks of rehearsal in total. Where: St Nicholas Church, Suttcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN Not all children will be needed for every rehearsal. A full schedule will be sent out once casting is complete. Principle roles will be expected to be available for all rehearsals. Please note, the schedule is subject to change. Show Fee There will be a show fee of £180 per child to be paid before the first day of rehearsals - Sunday 19th January. There will be an option to pay in 3 payments through stripe of £60 if that is more convenient for you (January, February and March). This covers all rehearsals, costumes, time at the theatre and all performances. All fees are NON REFUNDABLE. Additional costs If your child is cast in a speaking role, you will be able to purchase a script to keep for £10. Ensemble will not need a script. Although the majority of costumes will be provided, you may be asked to provide small items such as tights/socks or shoes. This will be confirmed nearer the time. Filming Photos and videos will be taken during the rehearsal process. We may use these for marketing and social media. If you do not want your child to appear on social media, please make sure you mark this on your audition booking. Commitment Taking part in a production like this is immensely rewarding, but also a big commitment of time and energy. If your child has been cast in the show and has accepted their role, we expect exemplary levels of commitment. They must be available for all rehearsals where they are called unless previously agreed with the production team. Absence could result in dismissal. Open Audition Day: Sunday 12th January 2025 This is an open audition for both members and non members of First Impressions Theatre. Where: St Nicholas Church, Suttcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN When: Ages 6-10 - 10.30am-1pm Ages 10-18 - 1.30pm-4pm There is a £10 audition fee to secure your slot Children taking part must be 6 years old by show weekend and cannot have turned 19. ATTENDING THE AUDITION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOUR CHILD WILL BE CAST IN THE SHOW. What will happen in the audition: 1.Dance call All children will take part in a group dance call. They will learn the choreography from part of the show and perform it in small groups. 2. Singing All children should choose one song/character to prepare for. They should prepare one of the following songs, which they will be asked to perform on the day: Matilda - ‘Quiet' (whole song) Miss Honey - ‘The Little Girl’ (whole song) Miss Trunchball and all other male ‘adult’ roles - ‘The Smell of Rebellion’ (whole song) All other named roles - ‘When I Grow Up’ section below. Ensemble - ‘When I Grow Up’ section below in small groups: “When I grow up I will be tall enough to reach the branches that I need to reach to climb the trees you get to climb when you're grown up. And when I grow up I will be smart enough to answer all the questions that you need to know the answers to before you're grown up. And when I grow up I will eat sweets every day on the way to work and I will go to bed late every night! And I will wake up when the sun comes up and I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square and I won't care 'cause I'll be all grown up! When I grow up! 3. Acting We will play some fun drama games with the students based around the character and may use small parts of the script to hear them read. They do not have to prepare anything for this section. FAQs: Q: What should my child wear? A: Members: First Impressions uniform Non Members: Comfy clothing (leggings or joggers). Trainers or dance shoes. Q: What should my child bring? A: A water bottle and snack (no nuts). Q: Could my child be cast in a role they haven’t auditioned for? A: Yes, we may think that a child is more suitable for another role and cast them accordingly. Q: When will we find out if my child has been successful? A: The cast list will be emailed to parents once the final decision is made. This will be no later than Tuesday 14th January 2025. Q: What if my child doesn’t want the part they have been offered? A: If after the cast list has been issued, your child does not want to take part in the show, you must let us know as soon as possible and by Wednesday 15th January at the very latest so the role can be offered out to the next child. Q: What does it mean to be double or triple cast? A: This means a child will share a role with another and they will do one performance each as their character and will be in the show as ensemble in the other performances. Q: Will I know exactly how much my child will be in when seeing the cast list? A: Not exactly. During the casting process we will cast all the lead roles and decide who will be in the ensemble. However, putting on a show is fluid, things change depending on a whole host of things! There are a number of smaller parts for all ages within the script that we will give out during the rehearsal process, so there’s always an opportunity for more if a child is working hard and showing commitment in the rehearsal space. This show is particularly ensemble heavy, so everybody involved will have lots to do! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at info@firstimpressionstheatre.co.uk

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