Red Riding Hood Auditions

Jen Armstrong

Get ready! It’s audition season and Matthew, our director for Red Riding Hood, is waiting to pick his talented cast.

Read below to see the audition pieces for Auditions on Sunday 9th September at midday and Tuesday 11th September at 7pm (At Eynsford Village hall)

Audition Scenes

Click the link above to download the scenes for auditions.

They include:

Grandma

Little boy Blue / Little Red Riding Hood / Woodcutter

Wizard / Big Bad Wolf

Queen Finger / King Thumb / Terry / Sidney

Kevin (Voice with Blue’s hand puppet) / Prisoner 1 & 2

Three Pigs (Ant/And/Dec) / Big Bad Wolf / Little Red Riding Hood

Audition form

Click the link above to download the audition form for auditions.

Song pieces include:

Little Boy Blue / 3 pigs – All the Small things (Blink 182)

Big Bad Wolf / Wizard – No More Mr Nice Guy (Alice Cooper)

Grandma / Woodcutter – I feel Pretty (West Side Story)

Red Riding Hood / Chorus – Who Will Buy (Oliver!)

Robin Hood Review

Jen Armstrong

Robin hood was a fantastic production by Riverside Youth group that took place in July 2018.

Robin Hood Saves the Day!

Did you see the Youth Groups production of Robin Hood and his Merry Followers last month? If not you missed out!

With a case of 21 young people aged 8-13, the show included serious acting, comic turns and some great songs. The audience, led by the court jesters, were able to get involved too. The two leads – Joseph as Robin Hood and Eloise as Lady Marion did really well and there were great comic moments from Lily, James, Elizabeth and Mischa. All the young people put on an excellent performance – they have a great amount of talent between them that should be encouraged!

The Director was Naomi Morgan, the Musical Director Kirstie McMillan, and the Choreographer was Catherine Barritte with assistance from other volunteers. A small adult band provided the music and volunteers from Riverside Players and beyond made up the crew.

One member of the audience gave the follow review: “Well done to the Youth Group tonight, my kids and I enjoyed watching it. An amusing show with some real laughing moments given by the hags and executioner. The band were perfectly understated so they didn’t overwhelm the kids’ performance on stage. A dancing highlight for me was the short bit of romantic dancing from Robin and Marion which looked really polished. If you are lucking enough to have tickets for tomorrow enjoy the ride (on one of Prince John’s many horses) – Shirley Warren

Keep your eyes open for the Youth Groups’ next production of Alice in Wonderland. You could spot a star in the marking!

Holly Ivaldi

Leave it to PSmith update…

Jen Armstrong

Leave it To PSmith is a classic British Farce written by the great P G Wodehouse. It is Shari Newton’s directorial debut and we wish her the best of luck.

PSmith

Joe Geoghegan

Freddie Bosham

Ben Newton

Phillis Jackson

Kat Pay

Eve Halliday

Jen Armstrong

Earl of Middlewick

Richard Gissing

Bellows

David Byrne

Lift Man

David Byrne

Baxter

Kaz Cockburn

Lady Middlewick

Julia Bull

Eddie Cootes

Steven Fenlon

Aileen Peavey

Kirstie McMillan

Cynthia McTodd

Kerry Jones

Ralston McTodd

Andrew McMillan

Gladys Rumbelow

Lynda Newton

Ethelberta Witzwiggin

 Lynda Newton

Viscount Chipstead

Phil Newton

September 2nd update:

Rehearsals have started and the set build is well underway. We are turning the stage into a 1910 period manor house and gardeners cottage. If you want to get involved come along and see what we need doing. Pictures and more to come with the next update…

If you would like to get involved backstage or front of house please contact committee or the Facebook group for more information.

‘Riversider of the Year’ Awards

Jen Armstrong

Every year we have a ‘Riversider Of The Year’. This is usually one person (or in recent cases two) who has gone above and beyond in their capacity as a member. They are chosen by the previous ‘Riversider Of The Year’ who was also chosen by the previous ‘Riversider Of The Year’ and so on. This special award comes with a few strings. You are responsible for entertainment at the following Annual General meeting (and sometimes some Christmas entertainment) and more importantly you have to come up with your own set of awards and decide who throughout the group be it newbie or seasoned member has done something to stand out in any capacity. These awards are chosen to fit that person so they are always different.

The final task is to choose the worthy member to inherit their title.

The winners for 2017 were Clive Cheer and Vicki Adams-Salmon. They created their own list of awards and presented them as follows:

Ben and Shari – Travelodge award

Our oldest friends in the group, so welcoming and chatty back in those first few rehearsals for Saucy Jack. Always there when we need a bed, for any riversider actually,  sometimes much to Shari’s surprise!

Peter – Stan Laurel award

‘Another fine mess as we either give him the hardest set designs to make a reality, the trickiest props to use or the hardest costumes to act in and he does everything perfectly and without complaining

 Naomi – Nailing Jelly to a Wall award

For being almost every role in a production…in every kids production….at the same time…. whilst wrangling children

 Jen – The Ubiquitous award

Never stops, warming up someone’s voice whilst changing batteries and fitting radio mics…or repairing them when they have been broken by actors who fiddle, or helping with costume malfunctions, or as during the last panto…painting my eyebrows on!

 New Dave – The Rebranding award

Whilst I’m sure there are some villagers who have been here forty or more years and are still referred to as the new bloke, we thought (as he has proved to be far too useful to let escape) that it was time to rebrand new Dave, Lord Dave!

 Finn – Padawan award

Takes on any role no matter the size with energy and a sense of fun and professionalism. Wonderful for someone so young. he can make any role the starring role. Always noticed by our families which is why we thought we would give an award out, although its not the typical thing to do.

 Sarah – Riversider of the year

We always like to know who we will be working with on a production, and I think we always hope that particular people will be involved as they share our passion. One name we don’t need to hope is involved as this person is always her, working hard at all hours in so many capacities  (band!!) always striving for a high standard of production, which is why she should be recognised as Riversider Of The Year.

Vicky and Clive

Youth group awards 2018

Jen Armstrong

The youth group have performed some fantastic shows and the youth group team celebrate this by having their own awards.

Riverside players Awards 2018

Jen Armstrong

Every year Riverside players have Two awards that are voted for. These are The Caroline frost award for creativity and the Suzie Fenlon Spoken word award. This year we introduced the Ian Slipper award for musicality.

Caroline Frost was a member many years ago who was very dedicated to the group, the award was created in her memory to celebrate people who have shown creative talent in many different aspects of the group. Past winners have been artists, actors and directors.

Suzie Fenlon was a long standing member and character within the Riverside family. The award was created to celebrate those who have stood out during performance with their characterisation and delivery.

Ian Slipper is our newest award. Ian could turn his hand to anything and was frequently known to pick up a new instrument and learn it within a few days when called upon. He directed shows, performed on stage, ran and played in the band and even got involved with tech. This award was crated to celebrate outstanding musical contribution, be it through performance, support or learning something new.

2018 winners

Caroline Frost

(Nominated by members and chosen by committee)

This was awarded to Heidi Phillpott for her innovative and modern choreography of Camelot the Panto! and for making even the most left footed of cast embers believe they could do it. Congratulations Heidi.

Suzie Fenlon

(Nominated and voted for by members)

For their scene stealing presence and for not needing to use a microphone during any performance this years winners were Steven Fenlon and William for their roles as King Uther and Fat Sam.

Ian Slipper

(First award chosen and awarded by Lorraine Slipper)

This award was created in memory of Ian slipper and was given to Jen Armstrong for her contributions to music through vocal coaching and performance.

Red Riding Hood 2019 Readthroughs

kmcmillan

Come along for the first ever public read-throughs of Riverside Player’s
2019 pantomime – Little Red Riding Hood!

Experience this brand new script first hand
Get to know the characters.
Eye up parts ready for auditions.
Start coming up with suitable voices.
Buy the production team drinks to butter them up*.
Or just have a grand ol’ time hearing stupid jokes and singing silly songs!

The read-throughs will take place in The Five Bells pub garden in Eynsford (weather
permitting) on the following dates:

Sunday 22nd July at 2pm
Tuesday 14th August at 7:30pm

Auditions will take place in the first week of September (exact dates and
venues to be announced).

We look forward to seeing you there – after all, there’s only six months
until the dress rehearsals begin!

*DISCLAIMER: buttering up not guaranteed.