About Newtown Musical Theatre Company

WHAT DOES THE COMPANY DO?

The Newtown Musical Theatre Company stages two musical shows each year in Newtown - one show is presented for four nights in March or April and one show is presented for two nights in the autumn, both at Theatr Hafren.

WHAT DO OUR MEMBERS DO?

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE REHEARSE?

The chorus normally rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Back Lane, Newtown.

Ballet classes and/or dance rehearsals are often run on Friday evenings at 6.30pm at the Community Centre in Mill Close, Newtown.

The music is usually rehearsed first by the Musical Director. Acting rehearsals begin when appropriate.

In the weeks leading up to a show, chorus and principals are often needed on both Wednesday and Friday evenings. Everyone will receive a rehearsal schedule so that you will know which days you are needed.

Performers are asked to attend as many rehearsals as possible - this is particularly important just before a show. Please let the Director know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a rehearsal. There are no rules on how many rehearsals you have to attend but the Director has the right to exclude from a show any cast member who is not, in their opinion, sufficiently well rehearsed.

Being well rehearsed is vital; there is usually an all-weekend rehearsal (typically 10am to 4pm with a lunch break on a Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on a Sunday) a month or so before each show.

A choreographer will often hold separate dance rehearsals, sometimes on normal rehearsal nights and sometimes at other times.

Occasionally rehearsals are held at other venues if the Methodist Church is unavailable for some reason. Also, shortly before a show we try to rehearse at least once on the stage in Theatr Hafren. You will always be given advanced notice of any change in venue.

At the beginning of Show Week, there is usually a 'band call' on Sunday afternoon for the orchestra/band and singers to practise together. During show week, the technical and dress rehearsals tend to go on very late! To help with this, the production team appreciate assistance particularly on the Saturday/Sunday before and the Sunday after the show.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Performing members are asked to pay the following annual subscriptions which are due after the AGM in October each year. In 2007 - 2008 the rates are as follows:

*  including those aged 17-21, OAPs, students and those on income support.
** those aged 11-16.

As our shows generally cost more to put on than they raise in box office receipts, we carry out a lot of fund raising throughout the year. Regular events include a barbecue for members and family/friends, bingo evenings, raffles etc. Donations of raffle prizes are always welcomed. We are also very grateful to our Patrons for their donations.

HOW DO WE DECIDE WHO GETS WHICH PARTS?

Auditions are held several months before each show. Auditions are open to any paid up member to attend. The audition panel consists of the Director, Musical Director and a 'Company Representative' nominated by the General Management Committee.

The Director will decide the format of the auditions. It is usual for singing parts to require one or two songs from the show and a short section of dialogue. Some minor parts may be allocated by the Director after the auditions.

The audition panel has total discretion over the casting and may leave a part uncast if no suitable candidate attends the auditions. They may alternatively offer a part to another member of the Company or to someone outside the Company if no-one suitable is found inside the Company.

WHO ORGANISES THE SHOWS?

Each show has a:

Other members of the production team are recruited by the Production Manager as required.

Technical roles - lighting and sound - are usually filled by staff from Theatr Hafren, although a considerable team from the Company has been used more recently.

ANY OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION?

Refreshments	Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and squash are available at the kitchen hatch at a break at about the halfway point in each rehearsal. Price is 20p. There is sometimes a rota for making the refreshments.
Newsletters	The Secretary is responsible for distributing a newsletter several times a year, as often as is required. This is circulated to all paid up members and patrons, in person at rehearsals, or by post. Please give the Newsletter Editor any contributions you have for the newsletter including articles, notices, events, photographs etc.
Costumes	The main costumes for the shows are hired or made by the Wardrobe team. A few weeks before the show you will be measured for your costume(s). Measurements are re-done each year to allow for changes! Sometimes we ask members to provide their own costumes for some scenes if they are 'every day' clothes or relatively easy to get hold of. If you have any problems with this, do not worry, ask the Wardrobe mistress for help.
Social events	There is a party after each show on the last night, which all performers and back stage crew are welcome to attend. There are also events through the year including visits to other shows, a barbecue, a Christmas or New Year dinner, 'come and sing' concerts known as 'Party Pieces', various other trips and photo shoots for the shows. Contributions are requested from those taking part, sometimes to cover costs and sometimes for fund raising. Details are given through the year at rehearsals and in the newsletter. If you have any ideas for social events, please contact Emma Breese, Secretary.
NODA	NODA is the National Operatic and Dramatic Association to which the Company is affiliated. You are also encouraged to become an individual member of NODA. NODA was founded in 1899 and has over 2000 societies on its books. It carries out lots of functions including script hire, workshops/summer schools on all aspects of theatre, advice, theatrical insurance, discounted sales of scores, make up and souvenirs. There are local branches and some members of the Company attend the regional AGM and other events.
WAMF	WAMF is the Welsh Amateur Music Federation / Ffederasiwn Cerddoriaeth Amatur Cymru. We receive funding support from WAMF via their show underwriting scheme, which gives us a financial contribution to shows that do not make a profit.

A Brief History of NMTC

by John Harbron, Founder Member

The old Methodist Church, built in 1835, was in terminal decline, suffering from the ravages of floods, age and unsuitable for use in the late 20th Century. In 1980 the members decided to replace it on the same site with a modern church, which of course required massive fund raising. They finally moved out of the church building in July 1982, worshipping in the mornings at All Saints and in the evenings at the Welsh Congregational Chapel in Milford Road.

After a service on a pleasant autumn evening, a few of the members along with their minister, Rev Derek Bedford, started singing some Gilbert & Sullivan songs on the steps outside the chapel. Fundraising!! Why not put on Trial By Jury?

Coincidentally, St David's Church needed to carry out some essential improvements, so the Rector, Rev Bryan Jones, was also interested in this fundraising venture. Their organist, Trevor Hughes, was willing to be Musical Director so the idea was launched. Steve Beech, the Administrator at the newly-opened Theatr Hafren was keen for it to be staged at the theatre. The last Thursday and Friday of May 1983 were set for the performances. Local churches, press, friends, relatives were all contacted. Early in 1983 all those interested met at All Saints on a Sunday evening and the show took off.

Gwynfryn Evans, a woodwork teacher at Brynllywarch School, Kerry, used the construction of the scenery as a project for his classes. The members of the orchestra gave their services to the project. The theatre hire fees were kept to a minimum and so many people helped to make it a success.

Thus something was born that would become a permanent part of Newtown.

The first half of the show was Gilbert & Sullivan Love Songs, devised and directed by Urenah Hayes with Bill Hopkins as compère. The second half was Trial By Jury in modern dress, the occupation of each person being recognised by the costume - Edwin the Defendant being a CND supporter. A great time was had by both performers and audience that the magic of the musicals performed live was an experience to carry on.

The fundraising? We raised £600 which was a large amount then. But the enjoyment the project has given over the years is priceless.

Thus began in 1983 what was originally known as 'Newtown & District Churches Amateur Operatic Society' - the name being simplified to 'Newtown Operatic Society' in 1989.

The Society continued to perform Gilbert & Sullivan for many years, interspersed with other operettas, starting in 1986 with The Gipsy Baron.

In the 1990s the Society took a revolutionary step and branched into Broadway musicals, starting with Oklahoma! in 1993 (which was very successfully staged again in March 2005). This was such a success that the Company stayed with Broadway right through to 1999, when another operetta (a second showing of The Gipsy Baron) was performed.

At this point it was decided - after length debate, naturally - that the name was a little unrepresentative and the new title of 'Newtown Musical Theatre Company' was born for the new millennium. This was not to exclude the possibility of staging operettas - indeed three Gilbert & Sullivan operettas have been performed since then.

In the same year it was decided that the Company would go biannual, by adding a smaller scale autumn show to the now traditional main spring show. Many concerts had been performed in the summer months throughout the years, but it was felt that the single show each year was not giving enough opportunity for all those who wanted to take principle roles in shows.

The first autumn show was Sing For Your Supper, held in October 2000 at Newtown High School. Since then Patience, Salad Days, The Mikado, Magic of the Musicals and The Boy Friend have been held in October in Theatr Hafren.

The total number of stage performers over the years exceeds 250.