Play In A Week
Inclusive theatre for all
What is Play In A Week?
Play In A Week is an annual week-long fully inclusive project, which enables actors with learning and/or physical disabilities to enjoy the magic and benefits of participating in a theatre show and putting on public performances in a real theatre.
Play In A Week has been held in the southeast of England for 19 years, and is open to all.
What do we do?
Starting on a Monday morning each July, between 40 and 50 enthusiastic and talented participants, a raft of volunteer helpers, along with a team of specialist professionals start work at the Nomad Theatre in East Horsley.
The actors work hard everyday throughout the week to rehearse, learning lines, songs and dance routines from scratch. There are no “limitations” on who can be an actor at Play In A Week. Everyone is welcome regardless of (dis)ability. All we require is that people come along with enthusiasm, energy and team spirit, and are able to attend every day in order to learn their parts and be an equal part of the Company.
Our Professionals
We engage a small number of specialist professionals to make all this possible for our actors! An experienced Playwright is commissioned to write our play each year. It is unique because of the large number of cast members involved and the goal of ensuring that everyone has a worthwhile part to play in the production. We also aim to include ever popular song and dance numbers, so these must form part of the storyline all of which is written and tailored to suit us!
Our Director then manages and drives the week’s rehearsals; inspiring cast, crew and volunteers to stretch themselves, achieve personal goals, and form a cohesive and supportive team having lots of fun!
The Choreographer designs and teaches both dance and movement routines, and helps to direct physical movement around the stage.
The Musical Director composes, writes and teaches the company several songs each year, usually done completely from scratch. He is also a sound effects wizard who provides “mood” music to order and well as whatever other noises, bangs, crashes, and bizzare sounds the Director decides to throw into every scene of the show!
Volunteers
Off stage other participants, along with volunteers, can be found hard at work all over the theatre during the rehearsal week making costumes, constructing and finding props and scenery to order! They are also making magic happen in the technical box by planning the customised sound and lighting which gives the final production a professional finish. Surtitling is written to help improve communication which is delivered live during each performance.
Even as the daytime activity dies down and the actors leave the building everyday, there is still a hive of activity going on. With the stage clear and safe, large items of scenery and backdrops are painted and put in place, lighting rigs can be built, and even the stage floor itself is painted.
Public performances
At the end the busy week, everything somehow comes together beautifully as the curtain rises on Saturday night, and a paying public audience get to see the results of everyone’s hard work. We have a Sunday matinee show too, and without fail everyone goes home at the end of it all totally elated and justifiably proud of their achievements.
Work then starts straight away for the team of organisers to kick off the year-long programme of planning and fundraising for next time.
Diary & Events
April Saturday 28th 2018, 10am to 2:30pm
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to change the VENUE for the Workshop Day. It will now be held at the Nomad Theatre.
We have set the date for our workshop day, which will be Saturday 28th April, at the Nomad Theatre.
Our kind friends at the Grange have once again let us use their ballroom for the day. The workshop will start at 10am, and run until 2.30pm.
Cold drinks will be available as usual, but please bring a packed lunch.
This is a great day for participants and volunteers to get together and start to think about the summer’s show. Everyone is welcome, especially anyone who is thinking about joining us this year and would like to see and hear a bit more about what we do. Come along and meet us and have a chat.
Please email admin@playinaweek.org.uk or call on 01372 726571 to let us know if you are coming so that we know how many to expect!
2018 Keeping Score
We are delighted to announce the dates for Play in a Week 2018, ‘Keeping Score‘, our 20th production!
Rehearsals will be Monday 23rd July to Friday 27th July inclusive, 10:00am to 3:30pm.
Performances will be on Saturday evening 28th July, and Sunday afternoon 29th July.
Please put this week in your diary to make sure you can be a part of this exciting event.
If you want to come along and join in then please fill in a one of the two Postal Application Forms and return it to us by April 28th or use the new, Online Application Form.
If you are on Facebook then follow our event to receive all the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/675145276018197/
2018 Keeping Score Application Form
Please fill in our Application Form!
Now that the 20th Play In A Week is on the way you need to tell us that you want to come along by filling in our Application Form. The filled in form must be returned to us by April 28th.
Everyone who is planning to participate, volunteer or help out this summer must fill in one of our Application Forms please.
Participant numbers will be limited to 50, and since Play In A Week is now such a popular activity we need to who know who wants to be there as early on as possible because there may be a waiting list of potential new performers wanting to join us. Priority will be given to those who have participated before, but we need to know who you are, and get you booked in.
Please follow the instructions on the form, and get in touch if you have any questions.
Application Form 2018
– Print out, fill in, post back to us or bring along to the Workshop day please.
2018-web-Application-Form.doc (Word file) – Download, fill in and email it back to us at: admin@playinaweek.org.uk
OR
Use our new 2018 Online Application form.
Announcing our FREE 20th Anniversary polo shirts!
We are having some special 20th anniversary polo shirts made, which will be given free to this year’s cast, backstage crew and volunteers. On the application form is a section for you to tick a box and let us know what size polo shirt you would like. This applies to participants, and also to the helpers and volunteers who get involved and work (on and off stage) to make the magic happen!
If you do not let us know your size by returning your application form by April 28th, you will not get a shirt!
Voluntary contributions from Participants
Finally, on the application form is the section where you can indicate whether you can make a voluntary contribution to help with the running costs as well as paying the compulsory Nomad membership fees.
If you are in a position to make a voluntary contribution in the summer we would really appreciate it since Play In A Week relies on year-round fundraising and donations to pay for what we do and it all adds up.
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