Sanctuary!

After a long period out of the spotlight, Colchester Operatic Society are thrilled to announce that we will be performing again for audiences at the revamped Colchester Mercury Theatre .  This local amateur dramatic company are well known for producing professional quality shows and are excited to be back on the Mercury stage after performing Oliver! in collaboration with the Mercury in Autumn 2019 at The Mercury at Abbey Fields.

Into the sunlight

We are so excited to announce our next show, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 27^th January – 6^th February 2022 at the Colchester Mercury Theatre.

The Bells of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a musical based on the Victor Hugo novel and including the songs and Academy Award-nominated score from the Disney animated feature, along with new songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

The 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!

 – Director & Choreographer: Adam Woodhouse  –  Musical Director: Neil Somerville  – Assistant Director: Laura Hicks –

Let Colchester Operatic Society sweep you away with the magic of this truly unforgettable musical as they perform this powerful story and fill the stage with beautiful choral harmonies.

A Guy Like You

Quasimodo is a big hearted but shy character who brings to life the bells and gargoyles of the Cathedral and becomes an unlikely hero in the story. We will be telling Quasimodo’s story through two Counterparts:

-1 an acting/signing role for which for we have cast deaf actor Jestin Bartlett to lead us in the story using sign language; and

-2 a speaking/singing role. This role is fulfilled by actor, Sean Hynes, who will work alongside Jestin and sing the operatic score of the show.

Our two Quasimodos have been working brilliantly together to produce truly moving songs and scenes that bring the character alive on stage.

In addition to having the part of Quasimodo signed, we will also have the whole show fully signed on two performances – Saturday 29^th January Matinee (2.30pm) and Thursday 3^rd February 7.30pm.

PHOTO: JESTIN BARTLETT & SEAN HYNES ARE QUASIMODO.

CREDIT: SALLY PARKINSON

Jestin Bartlett (Quasimodo Signing Actor):

Sean Hynes (Quasimodo singing/speaking Actor):

God Help the Outcasts

As well as our Quasimodos we are excited to have cast some new faces, including Cally Kline as the bewitching Esmerelda, Keegan Featherstone as Clopin and some established COS actors, such as Wayne Setford as Frollo and Tom Pleasant as Captain Phoebus.

PHOTO: COS CAST OF THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

CREDIT: SALLY PARKINSON

Someday

The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be performed from Thursday 27th January until Sunday 6th February 2022 at The Mercury Theatre, Colchester with two captioned performances (Thurs 27^th Jan 7.30pm and Sat 5^th Feb 2.30pm) and two fully signed performances (Sat 29^th Jan 2.30pm and Thurs 3^rd Feb 7.30pm).

Price: £15.00 – £22.00 (inc. £1.50 ticket levy)

The Court of Miracles

~This really is a show not to be missed!~

“Loads and loads of stunning choral numbers”

“A truly touching story”

Neil Somerville (Musical Director):

Katie Cutmore (Chair of Colchester Operatic Society):

Get your tickets now – Don’t get all Topsy Turvy and miss out!

For Press Enquires contact marketing@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk

Back by popular demand!

Following the successful streaming of our online concert The Show Must Go On-line  in August, we are offering you the chance to watch it again on Friday October 22^nd at 7.30pm or see it for the first time for those who weren’t able to make our first streaming date! (The link will stay live for 72 hours and up to Monday 25^th October 8.30pm.)

Let COS entertain you from the comfort of your own home with this unique, uplifting concert, part filmed by Colchester Film Makers and streamed exclusively online for ticket holders.

A digital production for all –The Show Must Go On-line contains hand-picked musical and pop songs, linked by an original script providing humour and entertainment whilst depicting the events, feelings, and experiences of the pandemic.

The Show Must Go On-line begins in March 2020; the empty shelves in shops, our Telly binging and how we sometimes felt like I’m All Alone, but through connecting with people online You Will Be Found.  We touch on the amazing people of the pandemic and that we are all part of one Human Heart.  We also look at when the world opened again in summer, keeping distanced and how that felt for those shielding.  We then move onto how they Just Keep Moving The Line on lockdown dates over Christmas, but quickly move to the elation of early 2021 where we saw a Light at the End of the Tunnel, feeling like we were coming out of the pandemic Still Standing

Join us in this uplifting performance proving that despite restrictions The Show Must Go On!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Well done to all (including those who didn’t get cast) for braving those audition nerves and giving it your best shot at the auditions.  With so much local talent our panel didn’t have an easy job!

We are pleased to announce the full cast list for Colchester Operatic Society’s production of Hunchback of Notre Dame is as follows…

Quasimodo (Movement/BSL) – Jestin Bartlett

Quasimodo (Voice) – Sean Hynes

Frollo – Wayne Setford

Esmeralda – Cally Kline

Phoebus – Thomas Pleasant

Clopin – Keegan Featherstone

Florika/Congregant – Koralia Salacuri

Saint Aphrodisius/Congregant – Dawn King

Frederic/Congregant – Ashton Moore

Madam/Congregant – Becki Lee

King Louis XI/ Congregant – Joe Fusi

Dupin/Congregant – Nick Edgeworth

Jehan – Brad Wendes

Official/Congregant – Katie Cutmore

Congregants:
Emma Theedom, Charlotte Reed, Sarah White, Amanda Powell, Becky Clemens, Holly Bird, Helen McCraw

Gypsy Dancers:
Holly Bird, Gabby Skinner, Emma Theedom, Koralia Salacuri, Abi Bower, Sarah White, Stefanie Wyatt, Valentine Cavanagh-White, Helen McCraw, Sarah Miles

Gypsies/Revellers/Choir:
Barbara Ryan, Katie Cutmore, Becki Lee, Koralia Salacuri, Sarah Miles, Sally Leung, Claudia Haswell, Shannon Hannah, Isabel Marsh, Valentine Cavanagh-White, Stefanie Wyatt, Gabby Skinner, Natasha Palmer, Abi Bower, Jessica Bailey, Brad Wendes, Phil Ager

Due to the continuing pandemic, we are putting understudies in place for the first time. These are….

Understudies:
Quasimodo: TBC
Frollo: TBC
Esmeralda: Charlotte Reed
Phoebus: Ashton Moore
Clopin: TBC

We look forward to starting rehearsals on Monday 6th September and making great musical theatre together!

Tickets are already available from the Mercury Theatre!

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 5^th 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 30^th August and Thursday 2^nd 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 29^th 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 6^th 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 27^th Jan-6^th Feb 2022 at The Mercury Theatre, Colchester:
• Evening performances at 7.30pm: Thurs 27^th Jan, Fri 28^th Jan, Sat 29^th Jan, Tues 1^st Feb, Wed 2^nd Feb, Thurs 3^rd Feb, Fri 4^th Feb, Sat 5^th Feb.
• Matinees at 2.30pm: Sat 29^th Jan, Sat 5^th Feb.
• Matinees at 3.00pm:  Sun 30^th Jan, Sun 6^th Feb.

*Cast members must be available from 23^rd Jan onwards for Band call (23^rd Jan during the day), Technical rehearsal (25^th Jan evening) and dress rehearsal (26^th Jan evening) running into the performances dates.*

View our Hunchback newsletter here!