07 Feb 2024
Leading local theatre company OVO is launching a new community ensemble aimed at giving local people the chance to perform in high quality productions in a professional environment.
The initiative is the first in OVO’s new education and outreach strand, which will open up a range of participation and training opportunities for children, young people and adults across St Albans and surrounding areas.
The ensemble’s first production will be a stage version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s much loved children’s classic The Secret Garden, adapted by Elizabeth Newman and directed by long time OVO collaborators Janet Podd and Faith Turner.
The show will be performed as part of the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival from June 11-15.
OVO is now inviting children aged 10-14 and adults of any age to attend open auditions on February 27 and 29 at The Maltings Theatre in St Albans.
The production will be co-directed by Janet Podd who has directed numerous productions for OVO since 2012, including Playhouse Creatures, The Crucible and Hedda Gabler as well as co-directing many classic plays at the Roman Theatre with OVO’s artistic director Adam Nichols.
Janet was the founding head of drama at the North London Collegiate School, where she directed over 40 productions.
Janet is joined by Faith Turner who has performed with OVO for over a decade, with recent roles including Jenny in Mosquitoes, the Professor in Little Women and the title role in Hedda Gabler. Faith is an experienced drama teacher and practitioner who has been working with young people for the past 14 years, including as deputy director of drama at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London.
Adam said: “We’re extremely proud of our community theatre roots, but since OVO became fully professional back in 2019, we have been looking for ways to keep providing opportunities for local people to have the chance to perform on our stages and experience the joy of making bold, imaginative and surprising theatre.
“We also want to develop the next generation of theatremakers and build on our productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2017 and The Railway Children in 2023, in which we were able to cast children and young people from across the district.
“I’m really excited about this new initiative, and looking forward to unearthing and showcasing some amazing local talent this summer.”
The auditions will take an informal, workshop format and are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience.
For more details about the production, the casting process and the auditions, visit https://ovo.org.uk/casting.
