Act One is Cardiff’s biggest drama society. Last year we put on nine productions a pantomine, a Jacobean production, a musical, and also held our annual night of original writing, Staging a Coup! So far this year we have four productions (with more to follow!) which will be performed between December and May. Auditions will be held for our first four productions in October, with later auditions for our further productions in November. If you enjoy acting, dancing, singing, socialising, or are interested in helping backstage with costumes, make-up, set design, publicity, stage management, sound or lighting, then we are the society for you!
Previously winner of 'Best Large Society' for three years running, we have a reputation for our friendly, inviting atmosphere, impressive productions, imaginative socials - including our annual trip abroad - and the Act One Ball! We also run smaller-scale productions, workshops and open mic nights, so if you're a fresher and want to direct, or you don’t get cast in a main production, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved!
We are excited to announce that this year’s productions are:
'Mirror, Mirror'
A lot has changed for the seven dwarfs after Snow White became queen... she has gone mad with power, wanting to rewrite her own fairytale and thus change history. It's now up to the dwarves to find a competitor to challenge such tyranny. Can they overthrow the fairest of them all?
Written and Directed by Sophie Callery and Immy Skinner, Production Manager James McNeill
'The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People' by Oscar Wilde
Set in the 1890s, Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People', is a farcical commentary on the upper classes. It wittily revolves around an ingenious case of “manufactured” and mistaken identity, as Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff adopt false identities in order to each gain the affection of the girls they love. The play highlights the importance of social standing and reputation through comedic lies, deceit and extreme foolishness.
Directed by Jemima Kelleher, Production Manager Laura Martin
'Posh' by Laura Wade
Posh’ is a play written by British playwright Laura Wade. The play is based on ten Oxford students who are all members of the exclusive student dining club “The Riot Club”. The club have all met at a local country pub for their termly dinner… there’s a ten bird roast, bottles and bottles of wine, a prostitute but no sex and a terrible, dark and twisted, end to the evening. But they are at Oxford… so they’ll be okay... right? (Parental Guidance: 16+)
Directed by Monica Thomas, Production Manager Rosanna Hitchen
'Rent' by Jonathon Larson
Rent’, a rock musical based on Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’, tells the story of one year in the life of eight friends living the Bohemian life in East Village New York City. The group struggle with poverty, relationships and health during the AIDs epidemic and demonstrates how much changes, or doesn’t change, in the 525,600 minutes that makeup a year.
Directed by Katie Dougan and Rebecca Miles, Production Manager Tom Ward
'CA125' by Sara Williams and Daniel Gammond
''I'm sorry but your CA-125 is up'' are the last words that 45 year old Sally expected to hear when she went to her GP with some vague medical symptoms. This means that she has ovarian cancer and suddenly her whole world is turned upside down. Along with her daughter Grace and her best friend Tracy, she navigates a confusing journey through hospital appointments, chemotherapy and family, eventually learning that the level of protein in your blood cannot measure your quality of life. Ca-125 explores the themes surrounding a cancer diagnosis and will have you laughing and crying throughout the journey. This is Ca-125
Written and Directed by Sara Williams, Writtend and Production Managed by Daniel Gammond
'Closer' by Patrick Marber
Closer, first performed in 1997 at the National Theatre, is a drama which follows the relationships of four young professionals in London. Set in the nineties, Closer explores themes of gender and sexual politics, the influence of the decade’s new freedoms on romantic and sexual relationships, the disparity and false equivalencies drawn between sex and love, the nature of truth, the desire for closeness, and class division in a time of burgeoning capitalist ideals.
Directed by CJ Friday, Production Managers Dominic Parish and Daisy Leach
'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' by Dario Fo
Set in a police station in Milan, 1969, this political farce stars a character simply called the Maniac. He wants to find out the truth about what really happened when a railway worker (an anarchist) mysteriously ‘fell’ out of a fourth-floor police station window after an interrogation. He goes through many disguises to trick the corrupt policemen and enjoys publicly humiliating their lack of wit.
Directed by Raj Chand, Production Manager Rosie Paul
'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice' by Jim Cartwright
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a 1992 play written by English playwright Jim Cartwright.The play tells the story of a shy, reclusive girl named Little Voice and her larger than life, alcoholic mother Mari who sidelines LV as a result of her spiralling lifestyle. When Mari starts dating small-time club agent Ray Say, she thinks he's her big chance for a better life and when Ray Say hears Little Voice sing, he thinks she's his ticket to the big time. Little Voice just wants a normal life and to be loved, but amongst the frivolities, pressure and lack of heart surrounding her, this is going to prove difficult for LV.
Directed by Emma Lewis, Production Managers Byron Jones and Owen Strawbridge
Want to get in touch?
If you are interested in joining Act One or have any questions please contact a member of committee through Facebook, or send a message to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ActOneDramaSociety
N.B. If you are not a Cardiff University student and wish to purchase a ticket for one of our productions you can do so by creating a 'temporary account'.
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