Being part of a society is so rewarding and really helps unleash your creativity, whether you love to act, dance, sing or be more hands on backstage or even directing!
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Steve Woodward, joined COS in 2016
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Keegan Featherstone, joined COS in 2021
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We welcome members aged 16 and over
We have a junior members group, aged 11 – 23, known collectively as ‘CO2′ (Colchester Operatic Society Second Edition), which is incredibly popular. CO2 produces an annual show in the Autumn for a two week run at The Mercury Theatre . If you are between 11-23 and want to be part of our CO2 Youth Group, click here.
Why Join?
- Regular newsletters.
- The opportunity to audition and perform in prestigious venues with high production value.
- Theatre experience – a platform for learning & perfecting your performance and/or technical skills
- Regular social events.
- An incredibly nurturing environment that drives creativity.
- A fun and fulfilling experience – and amazing memories!
- Be part of and support the local theatre community
Membership Costs just £10 per year!
A Show Fee is approximately £70 and a Concert Fee is approximately £30
As a charity and local community group we pride ourselves on putting on the best level show year on year.
Membership and Show Fees help to cover some of our expenses including:
- Theatre Hires (Either at the The Mercury Theatre seating 499 or The Headgate Theatre seating 87 for smaller concerts)
- Rehearsal Space Costs (we usually rehearse two or three times a week for big shows)
- Director & Musical Director Fees
- Set Hire
- Costume & Props Hire
- Show Licensing & Script/Score Hire
- Equipment Hire
- Orchestra/Band Hire
- Expenses (Moving show items from storage to theatre, van hire for various transport to and from theatre)
We understand paying show fees upfront may not be easily affordable for some and are happy for them to be paid by instalments. In addition, thanks to a funding grant from Provide CIC, we have set up a show fee bursary for members to enable those with low or no income, who can’t afford to pay their show fee, to participate in our productions. Members simply apply using an online form found in the members area of the website. If you would like to generously Donate towards the Bursary fund please visit our Donate Page for details.
If you’ve heard of us or seen one of our shows and would like to join us then drop us an email at membership@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk or fill in our Contact form
Come and audition!
You can audition for more than one role, as well as audition for chorus, usually in groups of four. There will be a small audition panel of around 5 people, including the musical director and the director. We follow an open audition format so you’re welcome to stick around and see everyone else audition. Don’t worry, we provide all the audition pieces, and videos for choreography, before the day so you have plenty of time to practice.
Auditioning is quite simple, although as with any auditions, they can be a little scary or daunting but you are not alone in feeling like this; we all feel the same, even the seasoned COS members!
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Becki Lee, who also joined COS in 2019
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Get in touch to find out about our next auditions and then come and meet us at our friendly pre audition rehearsals. It’s a great way to familiarise yourself with the audition pieces and we will run through the process so that you know what to expect.
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Kate Cavill, who joined COS in 2019
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To view and/or download our Audition processes click here
To view our members Welcome book click here
[Large print versions can be found here and Audio versions can be found here]
View answers to Frequently Asked Questions about COS here
