Rehearsals at 
VAMDRAMB
 

Rehearsals at VAMDRAMB will normally be on a weekly basis and will run every Friday from 7pm until 9pm at Arncott Village Hall, Bicester.  The first few sessions of rehearsals, especially as we are anticipating a few new members, will be slightly different to our normal rehearsals.  They will involve a little introduction about VAMDRAMB and then a few ice breaker exercises to find out about each other, what experience (if any) we have had and how we want to participate in VAMDRAMB.  We will then split the performers into small groups to come up with a short 5 minute performance, to give us a chance to see what you have to offer.  Don't worry if you don't want to participate much or don't want any lines, ensemble members are as much needed as main characters and are perfect for people with some nerves, or trepidation about performing.   Whilst the performers are coming up with their sketches, we will gather anyone interested in being apart of the back stage or tech team, where we will talk about what roles we have within VAMDRAMB and find out what you want to get involved with.   After a couple of weeks, of getting to know each other, we will then aim for a read through of the first script.   At this point no one will be assigned a specific part or role.  For each scene we will get different people to read different parts, and alternate it scene by scene.   Please don't worry if this sounds daunting, it really won't be.  It will just be an informal reading, where there will be lots of mistakes, mispronunciations and mess ups (normally by the director) and there is no pressure to do anything you don't want to.  Whilst the people interested in performing read through this, we will encourage anyone interested in backstage and tech to input any suggestions they have.  No suggestion is a silly suggestion and alterations happen all the time, including in the final rehearsal before a show.  After this read through, performers will be asked to let us know which part or parts you are interested in.  There will be no formal auditions for parts (we know this can be daunting for people, especially in new surroundings), the director will take into consideration the parts you have shown an interest in and then chose who they feel best will fit each part.   Please don't be disheartened if you haven't got the part you were after, this will be nothing against yourself and we will switch roles around for the next show, giving people who had a lesser role to have a bigger role in the next show and vice versa.  We will make sure everyone gets a fair share of main and supporting parts.  

Rehearsals will then take place weekly and we will normally run through the show from start to finish in each session, focusing on things we need to, learning any songs and dances we need to and getting everything as smooth and tight as possible. (which really won't be very smooth or tight).  Tech and backstage are still welcome to attend rehearsals, so they can learn cues, stage layouts, what props are need etc and work on the making of any scenery and props.  We will then have a dress rehearsal at the venue (the rehearsal venue may not be the same as the performance venue) where we will invite a select small audience to come along to watch and give feedback and give our performers and crew the chance to perform the show infront of actual people!!  There will then be 1 or 2 more rehearsals before the actual show. This will be to focus on things that have gone wrong or need tweeking and the final chance to run through it all before the show day. 

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We understand that people have busy schedules and that everyone won't be able to attend every rehearsal.  All we ask from people is that they are available for as many rehearsals as possible and are committed to each session they attend, as well as being available for the dress rehearsal and most importantly the show itself.   Once the show run is over, we may possibly have a week or 2 off before restarting on the next show.