Do Not Go Gentle – The Project

The Project:

The Boards of both theatre companies agreed production budgets for performances of the play by a joint cast during the later months of 2015. This was followed by a ‘read-through’ in Chapter in December. In January 2016, nine out of the nineteen or so members of Everyman who auditioned were given parts in the play.

In March 2016 nine actors from The Drill Hall Company in Mullumbimby were chosen. Then came the agonisingly difficult decision about who should be part of the joint cast. After much deliberation, Ray decided upon Cate Feldmann, Susan Gallagher, Owen Trevor-Jones, Max Donati and Greg Aitken from The Drill Hall, and Geraint Dixon, Rosy Greenwood, Peter Harding-Roberts and Arnold Phillips from Everyman.

Kathy set up a Working Party and embarked on a programme of fund-raising. To date, almost £1,500 has been raised. Chapter Arts Centre have become a creative partner, The British Council have funded a set and costume designer and Age Cymru have awarded the project a grant to take part in the Gwanwyn Festival. Both companies have booked their flights and reciprocal ‘hosting’ arrangements are in place.

Rehearsals took place in Mullumbimby throughout May with a cast whose combined age is 618. They outstrip the Everyman cast by over 80 years, their combined age being 534. Director Ray Thomas observed, “I have to be mindful of the fact that, if I ask an actor to kneel down, the chances are he/she won’t be able to get up again!”

A prize will be awarded to the first person to correctly guess the combined age of the joint cast. Suffice it to say, it will

bring a wealth of both acting and life-experience to the stage!

Tee shirts available

£10 each

Contact Kathy Thomas: krtbracken@hotmail.co.uk

Mobile: 07867615141