COS is back!…
….and we have hunch this is what you’ve all been waiting for!
With your help we are excited to bring The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a musical based on the Victor Hugo novel and incredible songs from the much-loved animated Disney classic, to the Colchester stage.
This musical tells the story of Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, who longs to be Out There with all of fifteenth-century Paris. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd at the Feast of Fools, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all!
Following our successful dual-casting of Quasimodo, we are now looking to cast all other parts and chorus/ensemble for this production, set to take place 27th Jan – 6th Feb 2022 at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.
– Click this link for the a PDF of the parts available, including audition character breakdowns –
Auditions are on Sunday 5th September 2021 10am -4pm at Philip Morant Dance Studio (part of their Q theatre), Colchester, CO3 4QS. You must be a member of COS to audition but we welcome and encourage new members to join our Society.
Everyone auditioning will be required to do an ensemble singing and movement audition.
We are holding 2 pre-audition workshops on Monday 30th August and Thursday 2nd September 7.30pm-10pm at The Hythe Community Centre, Colchester, CO1 2FG.
Anyone aged 16 years or over interested in joining COS and auditioning for this production can come along to one of these workshops to learn about the production, meet the creative team and learn the required audition pieces (as well as key principal audition pieces if you choose to go for a main role), which will only be taught at the workshops.
It is not compulsory to attend one of these workshops before auditioning, but we highly recommend you attend so that you are suitably prepared for your audition.
You will need to become a member (which costs only £10 for the year!) and complete an audition form in advance in order to attend one of the workshops and audition. Whilst we would love to see you all there together, due to COVID we need to manage the numbers attending each workshop and the audition at any one time, so we ask that you register interest via our secretary secretary@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk and then return your audition forms before Sunday 29th August to secure your place at one of the workshops and the audition. Information on paying membership, audition forms and audition pieces will be provided once you register interest.
To us, inclusion matters, so if you have any access requirement or need any extra support in order to participate please do let us know, and we will do our best to meet those needs, where reasonably possible.
You can find out more information on joining our Society on our Join Us page
Further information on our Society, including our policies, an audition information booklet and welcome pack for members can be found on our Policies Page
NB- If you are unable to make the audition date, we can accept video auditions sent in prior to the audition day, so they can be viewed alongside the in-person auditions. Please discuss this with our secretary when you register interest.
Creative team
Our creative team are:
- Director – Adam Woodhouse,
- Assistant Director– Laura Hicks; and
- Musical Director – Neil Somerville.
Rehearsals
We will begin rehearsals from 6th September on Monday and Thursday evenings 7.30-10pm, and some Sundays 10am-4pm. Further details will be shared with you when you register interest.
Performances
- The production will run from 27th Jan-6th Feb 2022 at The Mercury Theatre, Colchester:
- Evening performances at 7.30pm: Thurs 27th Jan, Fri 28th Jan, Sat 29th Jan, Tues 1st Feb, Wed 2nd Feb, Thurs 3rd Feb, Fri 4th Feb, Sat 5th Feb.
- Matinees at 2.30pm: Sat 29th Jan, Sat 5th Feb.
- Matinees at 3.00pm: Sun 30th Jan, Sun 6th Feb.
*Cast members must be available from 23rd Jan onwards for Band call (23rd Jan during the day), Technical rehearsal (25th Jan evening) and dress rehearsal (26th Jan evening) running into the performances dates.*
View our Hunchback newsletter here!
