Actors wanted for Arundel Theatre Trail

Anyone wishing to take part should get in touch with Drip Action founder and artistic director Bill Brennan on [email protected].

As ever, the theatre trail will be offering eight plays for eight days in eight different venues.

You can see all eight in one day if you wish, or you can dip in and complete the set over successive days, running from Saturday to Saturday, August 18-25.

“This is our 18th year,” Bill says. “It was based on the art trail really, the idea that you can go around different venues at different times, and I think eight is a good number. It just fits neatly into the day.

“In the early days, we put it around local writers and writers’ groups, and then we realised that the best way to advertise was the BBC Writers’ Room, something that anybody worth their salt would know about.

“There is a space for new opportunities there, and that has been a good source ever since.”

This year Bill received just over a couple of hundred entries: “Really what we are looking for is surprise. We want a new slant on things, we want to be thinking: ‘Where did that come from!’ We are looking for things that are going to be different.”

Inevitably, Bill is also looking for plays that meet the requirements – not too many performers, not too long and nothing too elaborate by way of staging: “These are plays that need to be easily staged with minimal lighting effects.

“In total we are looking for about 20 actors this year, and several will be doing more than one play. We have got a good pot of actors, but each year we usually have one or two new people.”

In choosing the plays, Bill kicks off with a serious read-through to see which plays are actually possible. He reduces the entries to around 30, which are read by the selection committee, which includes Bill himself and author Simon Brett.

“There is then a little bit of too-ing and fro-ing. We will each have our favourites, and there is a bit of horse-trading as we come up with the final list.”

This year’s programme

11am, Arundel Town Hall: The Apprentice’s Sorcerer by Simon Brett. Is it possible to teach old dogs new tricks?

12pm, Arundel Football Club: Captive Audience by Keith Lipscombe. Laugh? I thought you’d never ask.

1pm, Victoria Institute: Final Report From Cell Cell X32 by Gabriel Chanan. Walls have ears.

2pm, Arundel Youth Club, School Lane: About Abi by Cathy Eva Bennet. Hit and Run. Still running.

3pm, India Gate Restaurant, Mill Lane: Death Does Larry by Cary Pepper. Death arrives and informs Larry he was supposed to kill him yesterday, but forgot.

4pm, St Mary’s Gate Inn: What Would You Do If I Sang Out Of Tune? by John McDwyer. Three marriages, two generations, a falling out of love.

5pm, The Cathedral Centre: Sheep For A Lamb by David Weir. Guilty by a majority verdict…

6pm, Venue TBA: Respite by Fraser May Karen, and her Mother, caring and sharing.

Season tickets are now available from The Book Ferret, 34 High Street, Arundel, BN18 9AB, on 01903 885727.

Those wishing to have tickets sent to them should include a SAE (tickets cannot be reserved without payment). Eight-day seasons for August 18-25 are £30 (no concessions); three-day seasons for August 18-20 are £25 (no concessions).

Season ticket holders are guaranteed a seat up to 15 minutes before the play starts. Tickets can be bought at the door, space permitting. £5 (£3 students).

Drip Action are also offering an evening performance, Saturday to Friday, August 18-24: The Children by Lucy Kirkwood.

It’s a play about two ageing nuclear scientists in an isolated cottage on the coast as the world around them crumbles.

This show is at The Victoria Institute, 8pm. Tickets are £12 (£8 students) from The Book Ferret, 34 High Street, 01903 885727, [email protected].

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