ACT Theatre - Forthcoming Productions/Playwriting Competition

ACT - The College Theatre

The ACT Theatre has been designed to meet the College's own specifications and has created a flexible performance area. Capable of holding audiences of over 300, the Theatre has become the venue for a huge variety of exciting performance work. As well as a centre for the creative work inside the College, the Theatre plays host to work of outside companies.

ACT Playwriting Competition 2010

The ACT Theatre runs an annual competition to encourage young writers to create new works for live theatre, and the 2010  Competition is now open.

The competition is for the best one-act plays received which are the original work of students in Years 12 /13 in full-time education at Schools and Colleges in Greater London and the South-East of England.

The winning writer will receive £500 with a guaranteed performance of their work; £250 for the second prize winner and three further prizes of £100. (Other winning plays may also be performed.)

The competition is organised by the ACT Theatre based in Kingston College, Kingston Hall Road, Kingston on Thames, Surrey KT1 2AQ.

THE CLOSING DATE IS SEPTEMBER 1st. 2010.

See your English or Drama teacher for details and a copy of the entry form and advice sheet.  Alternatively, download these documents from the download box to the right of this page.

End of Year Performances 2010 - Diary for May

The Chrysalids by David Harrower: Friday 7 May - 7.00pm

The world has been virtually destroyed and radiation plagues the remaining communities.  Then a superbreed of young people arrives, with strange new powers to communicate.  Performed in the ACT Theatre by First Diploma (Performance) students.

Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill: Tuesday 18 May - 7.00pm / Wednesday 19 May - 7.00pm

Mad Forest explores the reactions of ordinary people to the confused events in Romania after the fall of President Ceausescu.  A mixture of the real and the surreal with lots of music and drinking to dull the pain of lasting change.  Performed in the ACT Theatre by Final Year BA Drama students.

After Mrs. Rochester by Polly Teale: Saturday 22 May - 7.00pm / Monday 24 May 7.00pm

A dramatic exploration of the eventful life of Jean Rhys, author of 'The Wide Sargasso Sea'. which deals with the first wife of Mr. Rochester from 'Jane Eyre'.  Performed in the ACT Theatre by Final Year BA Drama students.

How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found by Fin Kennedy:  Thursday 27 May - 7.00pm / Friday 28 May - 7.00pm

What makes you what you are? You are what people think ... and that's the easiest thing in the world to change.  This extraordinarily inventive new play explores one man's attempt to buck the system. Performed in the ACT Theatre by Final Year BA Drama students.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Dale Wasserman: Monday 24 May - 7.00pm / Tuesday 25 May - 7.00pm

Randall MacMurphy is the 'lunatic' who tries to take over the asylum and bring down Nurse Ratched.  The stage version of Ken Kesey's great novel is performed in Studio 101 by Second Year National Diploma (Acting) students.

Shine - written and devised by the 'Jet' group: Thursday 27 May - 7.00pm / Friday 28 May - 7.00pm

The captivating story of the loner who snaps - loosely based on events in Virginia in 2007 - Shine tells the story of a group of acting students frantically rehearsing for an important performance who realise, too late, that there is something strange about the new boy.  "If I were you, I'd run".  Performed in Studio 101 by Second Year National Diploma (Acting) students.

End of Year Performances 2010 - Diary for June/July

Lesson in Loss and Menace: Thursday 10 June - 7.00pm / Friday 11 June - 7.00pm

Recreating the spirit of Joe Orton, Harold Pinter and David Campton, this dark comedy plays with the ideas of loss and menace which features do strongly in their work.  Performed in the ACT Theatre by Second Year BA Drama students.

Fame, Faust and Flying Colours: Thursday 25 June - 2.30pm and 7.00pm

He sells his soul to the devil for 24 years of power and pleasure!  In this new adaptation of the original story, Faust turns up in London in the Swinging Sixties, with all their temptations on offer ... Performed in the ACT Theatre by Second Year National Diploma Performance and Musical Theatre students.

Final Showcase Performance by Second Year National Diploma (Dance) students: Friday 26 June 2.30pm and 7.00pm

An evening of dance, showcasing vibrant and diverse choreography.  The culmination of two years' work in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Physical Theatre and Urbance Dance styles.

Kingston International Youth Arts Festival: Friday 2 July - Sunday 11 July inclusive.

So much to choose from! For further information on Kingston International Youth Arts Festival events being held in the ACT Theatre and Studio 101, please follow this link.