"suds 2016 member guidebook white(1)"

WELCOME TO
NEW MEMBER’S GUIDEBOOK
WELCOME TO SUDS
We're very happy to have you!
We had a big year in 2015 and are very excited to
keep the work going in 2016 and are so glad that
you're a part of it!
Whether you're a first year looking for the passion that
HSC Drama killed or a third year looking to become a
part of one of the oldest, most well established and
exciting societies on campus then we're very keen to
see what you want to do with us!
This guidebook is meant to help you through the early
days of SUDS which can be a bit fast paced and
daunting. Not to worry, we're here for you and are
happy to help with any confusion or scariness you
might encounter.
Welcome to an exciting year!
xoxo
The 2016 Exec
/SUDSusyd
@SUDSusyd
/sudsusyd
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Welcome to the Sydney University Dramatic Society!
We’re one of the largest and most active societies on
campus, but we’re also nowhere near as scary as that
sounds. SUDS is 100% student run, staging upwards
of 25 shows a year. We’re almost entirely self-taught
which means that we all started out with little more
than a passion for theatre. Between our productions,
Rough Cut nights, Blank Space forums, Actors’ Group
and workshops for writers, designers and producers,
there are so many ways you can contribute to, or
simple be a part of, this society.
You’re joining a great bunch of people, with diverse
tastes and talents, who are dedicated to engaging
with theatre. I hope you take advantage of the
incredible opportunities SUDS provides; I hope you
meet many exciting people, and I hope you have an
amazing time!
I look forward to meeting you all,
Sarah
2016 President
WHAT IS A SUDS
The definitive guide to us
THE CELLAR
This is now your home. The Cellar is a theatre space available
for the society’s use at all times. Slot holders are granted
automatic use of the Cellar for the run of their show. If you're
not a slot holder and would like to use the space for a
performance you can approach the membership at our twicemonthly General Meeting. Usage of the Cellar outside of show
times comes down to our wonderful Secretary, Imogen King. If
you’d like to use the Cellar space send an email to
[email protected] for bookings. Otherwise we’ll see
you here for most SUDS hosted events!
THE SHOWS WE DO
Our annual in-semester season is comprised of twelve regular
shows (or Slots) which run for two weeks and are typically
performed in the Cellar Theatre. A Slot can be one play, ten
plays, or one hundred hours of uninterrupted improvisation
(true story); if you vote for it, we do it. All SUDS members are
welcome to propose to fill a cellar Slot, and vote on these
proposals. As a society, we choose and make the year’s
program!
We also have a Major Production, a season as part of the
University’s Verge Festival, Summer Slots and Wildcard Slots
to fill. If you’re interested in proposing for any of these, or just
looking for more information, give us a shout! Any of the
executive will happily help you out.
WHAT IS A SUDS
The definitive guide to us
PITCHING and VOTING
SUDS is a democracy. What does that mean? Well that
means every decision the society makes has to be made via
democratic vote at one of our General Meetings. If you want to
use the space for a Slot you’re required to make a
presentation to the society. That doesn’t mean it has to be
formal, your presentation can take whatever form you like! It
just means you need to speak to the membership and have
them hear you out. After that we put it to a confidential vote. If
there is only one show pitching for a slot it comes down to a
vote of confidence (yes/no/abstain). If there are multiple
pitches we break out the paper slips and a preferential vote.
Once votes are counted the decision is final, the person voted
out will be asked to leave the tribal council area immediately.
Wait. I mean the pitch is officially part of our season and has a
definite two week run in the Cellar locked in.
MEMBERSHIP
That’s you! If you sign up in O Week (or any time during the
semester) you’re a member of our society and entitled to have
a say in the decisions we make. Being a member is a great
way to meet people, see and make exciting new theatre and
be kept up to date with all our auditions and production role
openings!
SUDS EVENTS
GENERAL MEETINGS
General Meetings are the place to be. We meet up every
second Wednesday at 1pm to propose and vote in shows,
advertise upcoming auditions, plug current and upcoming
shows as well as discussing important society business.
General Meetings (GMs) are the best place to make an impact
on the way SUDS runs, but also a great place to meet and
make friends! If you’re hesitant to come along shoot a
message to any of the executive and we’ll make sure you
have company (it’ll be one of us. We will be your friends)
Even if you’re not a member yet, you’re welcome to come
along and check us out.
ROUGH CUTS
If you don’t have the time to rehearse and be in a show, if you
have interesting talents but don’t know where to showcase
them, if you want to test out some new material, if you just
want to be onstage doing anything at all, then Rough Cuts are
for you.
If you have ANYTHING that you want to perform; be it a
poem, an improv scene, a short staged reading, a puppet
show, a song, a cooking show, a minimalist piece of antitheatre, a magic show, a cabaret act or anything that you've
ever considered putting on stage then contact our lovely
Social Secretaries Harry Winsome and Clare Cavanagh OR
just jump up on the night!
SUDS EVENTS
PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD
Do you like plays? Do you like food? Then Play With Your
Food is the match made in heaven that you’ve been waiting
for. For $5 you get a pizza and drink at Courtyard Café and
the chance to have pre-show hangs with other like-minded
food-and-theatre-loving individuals. Hosted by Social
Secretaries Harry and Clare Play With Your Food (PWYF) is a
great way to meet people, get cheap food and drink and see
good theatre!
PARTIES
We also throw fully sick parties (hip, right?). Whether its the
end of O Week or the start of Semester, an Easter Egg hunt or
big bash to celebrate the end of the year - any excuse for a
bar tab. Come along to GMs or keep an eye on our Facebook
group for details.
PERFORMING ARTS BALL
Each year SUDS gets together with all of the other
performance groups on campus for a big, swanky ball. Held in
the swanky Refectory this year’s ball will feature delicious
canapés, plenty of drinks, performances from the four stagedwelling societies and of course a dance floor. Tickets are
sold in advance. Be sure to get yours early because last year
we sold out!
WORKSHOPS
ACTOR’S GROUP
From the ashes Actor’s Group will be resurrected this year!
Vice-President Maddie Houlbrook-Walk will be running Actor’s
Group every fortnight in the Cellar. It’s a great place to build
skills, meet other actors and prepare for auditions. She’ll take
you through drama games, monologue preparation,
improvisation exercises and more!
DISCUSSION GROUP
Another event that is getting its second wind this year,
Discussion Group is an opportunity to discuss the theatre the
society is producing with other theatre loving folk. The cast
and crew of a Slot will engage in a question and answer style
session with the audience sometime during the show’s run.
We are currently looking for facilitators! Anyone who is
interested in talking and thinking about theatre is eligible. If
you’re the kind of person who wants to get hands on with
theatre and other critically thinking theatregoers then you
should definitely send a message to any member of the exec!
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN (PADS)
Are you interested in getting stuck into the behind-the-scenes
work that is oh so important to any piece of theatre? Do you
want to gain skills in lighting, sound, costume, set and all other
kinds of design? Producing a show? All of the above? Our
wonderful Cellar Officers Chris and Alex will be facilitating
regular workshops in all of these areas. Because it’s not just
about the actors. The show must go on, but without a solid
production team it certainly wouldn’t.
OPPORTUNITIES
PLAY READINGS
Are you a writer? Are you looking to workshop your stuff so
you can take it from the solitary experience of writing and put it
in the mouths and voices of other people? Do you have a play
that you want to hear aloud so you know what to do with it? If
you answered yes to any or all of these questions then you
should definitely approach a member of the exec to let them
know that you’d like SUDS to host a read-through! It’s a great
opportunity to get your work out there and get sweet sweet
feedback! Slot 1 (Lady) and Slot 2 (JE NE SAIS QUOI) started
as SUDS read-throughs and are now opening our 2016
season! The possibilities are pretty much limitless.
AUDITIONS
SUDS regularly holds auditions for Slots, the Major production
as well as advertising auditions for external productions,
shows and roles. Right now we have auditions for the Major
Production and Slot 3 coming up!
THE MAJOR PRODUCTION
The 2016 SUDS Major Production "Black Hands/Dead
Section" is looking to fill a number of roles on the production
team. These are: Stage Manager; Lighting and Sound
Designer; Costume Designer; Publicity and Fundraising
Manager.
The major is a great opportunity for SUDS to get off campus
and mount a full-scale production in a professional venue.
"Black Hands/Dead Section" will be performed 3rd-13th
August in the PACT theatre, Erskineville.
To apply for a position, or for more information please contact
Zach (director) or Victor (producer) at
[email protected]
SUDS Calendar
SEMESTER 1
Week
1
Lady
General Meeting (Wild
Card proposals)
Week
7
Silence/Noise (Play With
Your Food)
General Meeting (Slot 6
proposals)!
Week
2
Lady (Play With Your
Food)
Exec Meeting
Week
8
Rough Cuts
Slot 4
Exec Meeting!
Week
3
JE NE SAIS QUOI
General Meeting (Slot 4
proposals)
Week
9
Slot 4 (Play With Your
Food)
General Meeting (Slot 7
proposals)!
Week
4
Rough Cuts
JE NE SAIS QUOI
(Play With Your Food)
Exec Meeting,
Week
10
Slot 5
Exec Meeting!
MID SEMESTER
BREAK
Week
11
Slot 5 (Play With Your
Food)
General Meeting (Slot 8
proposals)!
Week
5
Wild Card Week
General Meeting (Slot
5proposals)!
Week
12
Rough Cuts
Slot 6
Exec Meeting; Performing
Arts Ball
Week
6
Silence/Noise (Play With
Your Food)
Exec Meeting!
Week
13
Slot 6 (Play With Your
Food)
General Meeting (Slot 9
proposals)!
!
!
UPCOMING SHOWS
LADY
7pm 2nd-12th March
In a quiet country town, long ago, there lived a girl
who wasn’t happy. Lady is stuck, labelled, bored.
Washing clothes and leering men, marriage,
children, routine – a life her mother accepts, her
friend awaits. A life she must escape.
With magic and lies she’ll get what she wants. If
the sacrifices she makes on the way throw nature
out of joint Lady only cares that it’s known the
chaos was her doing.
Witness the rise of a great woman who did much more than stand behind a
great man.
Lady is an original play, workshopped by cast, writer and director to be
presented on stage for the first time as the opening show of SUDS' 2016
season.
JE NE SAIS QUOI
7:30pm 15th-18th March & 22nd-24th March
6pm 19th March
What is language but a construct? What is
communication but a facilitator of relationships?
JE NE SAIS QUOI is an original bilingual play by
Alana Cherry and Victoria Zerbst that traverses
planes of time and space to crystallise answers to
these questions. Art and philosophy intersect,
lovers collide, words are exchanged, misshapen,
and lost in this intellectual romp across language
and culture.
Over the course of a single day, six characters’ lives are meshed and
moulded, as they flirt with notions of romance, music, and Capital A Art.
OWEEK EVENTS
EVERY DAY
12pm-2pm SUDS BBQ
Join your friendly Social Secretaries, Clare and Harry, for a $1
lunch on the Cellar Lawns from 12pm-2pm each day of OWeek. Never been to the Cellar before? Meet at the SUDS’
stall at 11:50am and we’ll walk over together!
WEDNESDAY
2pm ACTOR’S GROUP
Get ready for a hands-on introduction to SUDS! We’ll be
starting at 2pm with Actors Group, a drama workshop run by
Vice President, Maddie!
!
3:30pm CELLAR TOURS
Want to learn about the Cellar Theatre? Have any burning
questions about the technological aspects of a show? After
Actor’s Group, join our Cellar Officers, Chris and Alex, at
3.30pm for a tour and Q&A of our performance space!
!
4:30pm PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD
Stick around after the workshop and tour and come with us to
Courtyard Café for our O Week edition of Play With Your
Food. For just $5 you get a drink, some pizza and excellent
chats. We’ll then all head back down to the Cellar to see the
final show of the Summer Season, Trust!
THURSDAY
OPEN REHEARSAL 11am
Keen to see some theatre making in action? Our first show of
the year, Lady, opens in Week 1, but you can catch a sneak
peak and a behind the scenes look at 11am, in the Cellar
Theatre. Join director Shevvi Barrett-Brown and their cast in
an open rehearsal and see them create theatre magic right
before your eyes!!!
PERFORMING ARTS TRIVIA 6pm-late
Forest Lodge Hotel, Arundel St, Forest Lodge.
Co-presented by MADSOC, MUSE, SUDS and SURCAS, this
annual Trivia Night is a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow
performance enthusiasts, drawn from all corners of campus.
There will be a series of rounds to test one’s theatre, musical,
circus and dance knowledge, as well bonus table games and
general knowledge quizzes.
FRIDAY
ROUGH CUTS 5:30pm-9pm
Imagine the coolest open mic night you've ever been to THEN
add a cool factor of 1000% because instead of just singing
songs or doing stand up, every person who gets up on stage
can perform ANYTHING AT ALL.
Welcome to Rough Cuts.
OWEEK PARTY 9pm-late
After Rough Cuts join us all as we kick on to Mr Falcon’s in
Glebe for a night of fun with FREE FOOD and DRINKS and
some sneaky dancing. Make sure you come with us straight
after Rough Cuts so you can enjoy the bar tab! SUDS will be
providing a bar tab to get the ball rolling, so what’s stopping
you? Bring along your friends and be prepared to make more!