Act One is Cardiff’s biggest drama society. Last year we put on seven productions, which included a range of genres, and also held our annual night of original writing, Staging a Coup! 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 the main production, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved!
In current circumstances, we still plan on delivering a vast range of events and shows for all our members both in person and in the virtual sphere of Zoom!
Want to get in touch?
If you are interested in joining Act One or have any questions please contact a member of the committee through Facebook, or send a message to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ActOneDramaSociety
You can also keep up to date with this our current events on our Facebook group: ACT ONE 2020/21
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'.
Get Involved!
We have seven performances on this year for you to get involved with including an original pantomime, a variety night, a tragicomedy, a musical and more! With something for everyone why not come along to our auditions and/or crew sign-ups!
Here we have all of our fantastic productions which will be streaming very soon! In light of government restrictions, all of our performances will be streamed online for 24hrs on their chosen date. To get involved and support their amazing work you will be able to purchase a ticket and the link to watch the performance will be sent to you the day before!
TICKETS ARE NOW LIVE!
THIS WINTER SHOW SEASON ACT ONE PRESENTS:
Variety Night
Directors: Safia Bartley and Olly Williams
Musical Director: Matthew Daly
Production Manager: Sian Howells
DATE: 25TH MARCH 2021
Variety Night returns for a third year with the theme: This is Me! A night to celebrate those who fight for the right to unapologetically be yourself. Raising money for Glitter Cymru, we'll be showcasing talents from artists who have pioneered for POC and LGBT+ rights through both musical and dramatic pieces. Our Variety Night will reiterate Act One's core values of inclusion and acceptance which demonstrating what we do best!
The Virtuous Burglar
Director: Maisie Granger
Production Manager: Euan Prout
DATE: 4TH APRIL 2021
Burgling an apartment shouldn't be too much hassle, right? Wrong! You've told your wife where you've gone. The Virtuous Burglar is a one-act 1958 farce written by the Italian playwright Dario Fo, the winner of the 1997 Nobel Literature prize. Despite one of Fo's lesser-known works, it is by no means lesser in quality, oozing with satirical, slapstick humour. It is the story of a burglar unfortunately ensnared in a web of marital deceit as the man of the house unexpectantly returns with his mistress. A chain of hysterical events succeeds with domino-effect as more and more people intrude on the one place that the burglar had hope was utterly deserted. Unable to stay out of sight for long, the burglar must endure the rest of the evening amongst a group of married adulterers desperately trying to hide the truth about their behaviour. Against his will, multiple misunderstandings arise that result in him having to pass as a private investigator, a filmmaker, and a blasphemous womaniser with numerous wives. All in a night's work, ay?
And Then There Was No Show
Director: Esther Buckton
Production Managers: Rhiannon Evans and Sahil Varia
DATE: 16TH APRIL 2021
We're not entirely sure what's happening but we know it's going to be fun.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Director: Sarah Whitelaw
Production Managers: Bec Walsh and Lizzie Higham
DATE: 1ST MAY 2021
It's Midsummer, it's Dreamy, it's Madness mixed with mind-bending substances! Get ready for Shakespeare like you've never seen him before as his beloved comedy gets a groovy Act One makeover complete with gender-fluid casting, a disco-worthy soundtrack and a little bit of magic! Things are about to get dreamy ...
SPRING SHOW SEASON
Emma
Directors: Nicole Nachminovitch and Rosie Mullaney
Production Manager: Sahil Varia
DATE: 24TH APRIL 2021
It is night-time and an exhausted Jane Austen sleeps over the recently completed manuscript of her novel ‘Emma’. Her four nieces sneak in, steal it and decide to act out the text and, after her initial anger on being wakened, Jane herself interacts with the fictional characters. This is Emma Woodhouse's story: a well-intentioned but terrible matchmaker whose friends and family are all tremendous fun. This adaptation of Jane Austen's novel is bold, witty and modern while thoroughly retaining the language and spirit of the original work
Last Five Years
Directors: Issac Hall and Scarlett White
DATE: 9TH MAY 2021
The Last Five Years follows the lives of Cathy and Jamie throughout their tempestuous relationship. Told from two conflicting perspectives, Cathy, a struggling actress, recalls their time together in reverse, while Jamie, a successful writer, starts his story from the beginning. With their paths crossing only once throughout the show’s run-time, the audience is left to decide where it went wrong.
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