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About us
Southgate Opera is one of the premier adult amateur opera groups in
the London area working under the musical direction of Neil Cloake and has
enjoyed many years of successful performances of opera and musical theatre.
Click here for a history of the group.
The company is dedicated, professional, lively and fun! If you
come and see one of our shows you will be impressed by the professionalism and
high standard of our productions. Joining us as a member you will be assured of
a warm welcome, hard but rewarding work and most of all fun!
New chorus members are always welcome - click here
for more details.
Auditions for principal parts are open to all - click here for more
details.
We are also very interested to here from anyone who wants to help out
off-stage - for example backstage, front of house, administration etc. Please
contact the honorary secretary for details.
Shows
Every year we perform two fully-staged productions, with a full orchestra and
cast of professional standard soloists and chorus.
Our two main productions each year are generally held in May and December. In
May we perform a grand opera whereas in December we tend to perform a
lighter piece such as an operetta or musical. Click here
to visit our productions page where you can find out details of past, present
and future productions.
Additionally each year in we perform a summer show. This is more of a revue
style show, with soloists and chorus and piano accompaniment.
A private concert for friends of the society is also staged once per year.
Venue
Generally our productions are held at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar. The theatre is well equipped , with modern lighting equipment
audience facilities including a full bar. Click
here to
visit the Wyllyotts website.
New chorus members are always welcome, and as with most amateur opera
companies, MEN are most particularly welcome as the female chorus tend to
outweigh the male chorus by 3 to 1! A short informal audition is required for
performers. Whilst ability to read music helps greatly it is not necessary. Click here for
rehearsal information.
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Auditions for principal parts in our two major productions are open
to all and are held a 2-4 months before the commencement of
rehearsals.
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Advertisements inviting applications for auditions are published in
"The Stage".
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Auditions held twice per year - the venue for
auditions will be communicated to those interested in auditioning and is
generally in the Southgate/Enfield area of North London.
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The audition panel consists of the Musical Director, the Director of the
show, a representative from the members and invited guests. Auditions are
open for other company members to attend to provide an "audience".
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Prior to the audition you will be given details of the audition pieces you
will be required to perform at the audition. These will consist of music and
possibly libretto. For operas where the original language is not English,
you can use any translation, but it must be performed in English. All our
operas are performed in English.
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To enquire about auditions contact the Honorary Secretary. Click
here
for details.
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For our grand opera production (usually
April/May), the majority of principal parts are
double cast. If you are successful in obtaining a part, you will more than
likely be sharing the role with someone else. This means you will perform 3 out of the 6 shows. You must, however, be available to perform on
the nights you are not called, in case of illness.
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All auditionees are required to complete an Audition Questionnaire, which
must be returned to the company before the audition (a specific date will be
given for the closing date for applications). You can download an audition
questionnaire in Microsoft Word format by right-clicking
here
and then choosing "Save Target As". Save the file to your PC and then open
in Word, complete the form and either email it to the specified email
address or send it via post to the specified address.
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Like all amateur opera companies we have many
costs associated with putting on shows that involve high-class costumes,
full orchestra and fees to the musical director, director, crew and so on.
To defray some of these costs EVERY performing member must pay a fee for
each show which is currently in the region of £100. Additionally there is a £10 company fee payable annually which covers all
three shows. These fees must be paid before you can join the company and
applies to both chorus and principal members. When scores and/or costumes are
hired, returnable deposits are required. .
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Chorus rehearsals are held every Monday at
Saint Mary Magdelene church, Enfield, North London. Click here for the address and
directions. Chorus members are required to attend every Monday rehearsal.
Chorus members may be asked to attend occasional Sunday afternoon rehearsals
- particularly as the performance dates approach.
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Principal rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons
on an "as called" basis. You will also be required to attend some Monday evening
rehearsals with the chorus. A rehearsal schedule is distributed shortly
after rehearsals commence which gives details of times and locations for
principal rehearsals.
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For our two major productions each year we
hold a rehearsal weekend. All principals and chorus are expected to attend
these rehearsals which run all day Saturday and Sunday. Exact times, dates
and locations are communicated to those involved during the first rehearsals
for the relevant show.
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Rehearsals for the November/December show begin in early September, whilst rehearsals
for the April/May opera begin in early January or sometimes December. It is
recommended that chorus members join the company at the beginning of the
rehearsal period, but it is not unknown for new members to join mid-way
through rehearsal - contact us for details.
For more information contact:
The Honorary Secretary, click
Fees
NOTE: Like all amateur opera companies we have many costs associated with
putting on shows that involve high-class costumes, full orchestra and fees
to the musical director, director, crew and so on. To defray some of these
costs EVERY performing member must pay a fee for each show which is
currently in the region of £100. Additionally there is a £10 company fee payable annually which covers all
three shows. These fees must be paid before you can join the company and
applies to both chorus and principal members. When scores and/or costumes are
hired, returnable deposits are required.
Saint Mary Magdelene Church
Windmill Hill
Enfield
Middlesex
Click here to visit the
church's website
Click here
for a map of the church's location
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