News

New project: “Picasso at the Lapin agile”

Tagora’s new project, provisionally scheduled for January 2011, is Steve Martin’s comedy Picasso at the Lapin agile. An initial reading will be held in September.

Autumn cleaning

Spring is traditionally the time for cleaning, but we’ve decided to change that this year, and have a go at tidying up the rehearsal room before activity starts in earnest.

Picture this!

Thanks to David-Michel Muller we have a bonanza of photos of our three latest productions: Caught in the Act, Dancing at Lughnasa and Late Entry.

The last dance

Well, the Mundy sisters have danced their last dance at Lughnasa. The play is over, and if you didn’t see it, you’ll never know what you missed.

However, it’s not yet the final curtain for Tagora before the summer break. We are taking part in Théâtralis, Strasbourg’s amateur theatre festival, where we are putting on two short comedies.

Any old carpets?

Five Irish sisters are in great need of a very old, faded carpet or rug about 3m × 4m.

Please contact Tagora if you could lend us one for Dancing at Lughnasa. Despite its age it would be well looked-after and returned in early July with grateful thanks.

“Dancing at Lughnasa”: book your tickets now

Bookings are now open for Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel.

Performances take place at the Cube noir in Koenigshoffen from 26 to 29 June at 20.30 with, in addition, a matinée on the Sunday at 16.00. There will be no advance ticket sales, but we are taking bookings via our on-line reservation system for payment on the door.

Click here to reserve your place!

Download the poster in PDF format.

Come dancing?

We sincerely hope you will be coming to watch Tagora’s production of Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel at the end of June.

But to make it a success we need a few items of furniture and some unusual props – including the flat iron pictured left. We’re sure that someone, somewhere, has just what we’re looking for, so please check the list and see what we’re missing.

Festival preparations

As well as our major production, Dancing at Lughnasa, scheduled for the end of June, Tagora’s working on two short plays to take to theatre festivals this summer.

First off is FEATS, in Bad Homburg in May; and in July we shall be present at Strasbourg’s amateur theatre festival, Théâtralis.

News from FEATS

The running order for FEATS 2010 has been announced. Tagora will be starting off the festival with its production of Late Entry by David Tristram (see announcements elsewhere on this page).

FEATS 2010 takes place in Bad Homburg from 13 to 16 May 2010.

A career in the movies? Not quite, but maybe a start

The TV station ARTE, based in Strasbourg, is looking for extras (“figurants”) for a series called Xanadu. It’s a story about a family working in the erotica business, but the write-up suggests that it’s for family viewing and that proper decencies will be observed.

Filming is on one or more days between 29 March and 7 July, and participants will be paid. The casting sessions are 18 and 19 March. Detailed information here.

Two short comedies from the university’s English Theatre Group

Our friend and colleague Martin Wright and the members of the English theatre group of Strasbourg University are putting on a double-bill to entertain us: The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang and Brenton v. Brenton by David Tristram. Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 March at 20.00, and Sunday 28 March at 15.00.

FEATS selection evening

With just over two months to go before curtain-up on FEATS 2010, it’s time for us to make our minds up about what we shall be taking to Bad Homburg.

The Tagora FEATS team is offering a chance for Tagora members to have their say at a special FEATS presentation evening, on Sunday 14 March at the European Youth Centre.

Follow this link for further information.

Characters in search of a play

Now that the decision is made on our full-length production in the first half of this year (see below), it’s time to turn our attention to our other commitments. There are festivals both at home and abroad which offer opportunities for innovative short pieces. So we’re planning a brainstorming meeting on Wednesday 3 February at 18.30.

Photo: the Kurtheater in Bad Homburg, venue for this year’s FEATS. Yes, that is an old British telephone box outside it. An attempt to make some of us feel welcome, perhaps?

“The Critic”: don’t bother reading Act I!

We propose a reading of The Critic by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. But, as the heading suggests, it won’t be the whole play. Read on to find out why.

You can download an unedited version of the script here.

Are you dancing?

Following our introductory reading of Dancing at Lughnasa last week, we have decided to produce this play by Brian Friel in June this year.

To help select a cast, a second reading will be held at 18.30 on Tuesday 26 January.

Photo: Michelle Fairley and Andrea Corr in the 2009 production at the Old Vic. Photograph: Tristram Kenton (The Guardian)

What’s in store in 2010?

To start off the new year, on Tuesday 12 January we’ll be holding a social evening with a short informal discussion of our future plans.

All are welcome: 18.30, Tagora rehearsal room.

Coming shortly to the Cube

Soon to be seen at the Cube noir theatre: Pour un oui ou pour un non by Nathalie Sarraute (in French).

Birthday Party photos

Thanks to David-Michel Muller and Will Valk (when not otherwise engaged in his role as Stanley), photos of our recent production of The Birthday Party can now be viewed or downloaded.

See here for the full collection.

Birthday Party: tickets sales points open in the Council of Europe

The technical staff are in the theatre, the lights are in place, the set is being built, and the actors are brushing up their lines. The curtain goes up shortly on The Birthday Party, Tagora’s winter production.

Council of Europe staff – and others who find themselves in the Council’s buildings – will be able to buy tickets this week at one of the sales desks set up over lunchtimes.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Thanks to those who have offered chairs. Our needs are now met.

Chekhov in English

Tagora is pleased to publicise a production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, in English, by the “Terminale OIB” class of the Lycée Pontonniers.

It takes place in the Munsterhof, rue des Juifs, Strasbourg, on 27 and 28 November at 20.00.All welcome.

Tagora at the ESU

Following Tagora’s appearance last year at the English Speaking Union’s dinner, we have been invited back for another helping of readings and recitations. The evening is open both to ESU members and to others; so if a dinner in good company, with Tagora’s brand of after-dinner entertainment to help the digestion, appeals to you, book now.

Theatre workshop in French

Arabesques, the French-speaking theatre group which is, like Tagora, a section of the Council of Europe’s Amicale, is hoping to run a series of workshops. Time to be arranged, depending on the preferences of the participants, but 12.00 to 14.00 one day a week on Council premises looks likely.

Men especially are invited to apply.

More information in this notice (PDF format).

AGM minutes – not before time!

With apologies from the chairman, who has let an unconscionable length of time pass before giving attention to the AGM minutes. As usual, they were produced promptly by our efficient secretary, and as usual they represent an accurate record of what took place at the meeting.

An unusual ambition

For our next play reading we propose a piece about a Yorkshireman who takes up a new hobby: modelling. No, it’s not a sequel to The Full Monty: in Matchstick Dreams our hero, George, gets an urge to make models out of matchsticks.

Brevity is the soul of wit

To prove it, the New World Theatre Club in Luxembourg is organising a ten-minute theatre festival. Nine plays performed on each of four nights, from 11 to 14 November.

More information

New script from a new author

Our colleague, Aygen Becquart, has written a short play that she would like to introduce us to.

We propose to hold a group reading on Wednesday 14 October at 18.40.

“The Birthday Party”: costume requirement

One of the characters in our production of The Birthday Party would like to wear an MCC tie.

Would anyone be prepared to lend us a tie resembling this colour and design?

We can assure you it will be well looked after and returned to you after our final performance on 13 December. If you have such a tie please contact Tagora.

AGM 2009

Better late than never: here is the agenda and other material for the Tagora AGM, to be held this evening.

“The Birthday Party”: our December production

We shall be presenting Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party at the Cube noir on 11, 12 and 13 December. Bookings are not yet open, but you might like to note down the dates. And, if you’re curious, read on to find out who’s in it.

Picture this

A brief report on what came out of the new season planning meeting, including a new project for autumn: an exercise in creativity around the theme of pictures.

Every picture tells a story

Take a well-known – or not so well-known – painting, drawing or photo. Then create a sketch to show how the scene came about or what happened next. This is what Tagora wants you to do over the next couple of months. If you want to know more come to our introductory meeting, 6.30 pm on Monday 28 September.

Workshops for young people

Not from Tagora, unfortunately: our schedule at present means we can’t embark on anything in the near future. However, La Dorée theatre company – which, like Tagora, is a member of Strasbourg’s amateur theatre grouping, Trois 14 – is offering courses for two age-groups: 8-11 years and 12-16.

calling all potential movie stars!!

We have received the following call for walk-ons - if you are interested then please contact dominique zins (dzins@hotmail.fr)

After the holidays

The new season will be upon us before we know it. Join Tagora at the beginning of September for a discussion on projects under way and planned.

In case you still haven’t booked your summer holiday …

The Drama Association of Wales (DAW) announces the launch of its latest training project – Theatre Summer School 2009. A week-long residential training holiday designed for amateur actors and directors. Reap the benefits of a week of working hard and playing hard at our summer school. And all for the price of a last-minute bargain holiday.

Théâtralis: Strasbourg’s festival of amateur theatre

Now in its ninth year, Théatralis takes place at the Laiterie complex from 2 to 6 July. Tagora will be there with its production of Red Hot in Amsterdam, and there are also troupes not only from Alsace but other French regions too, and from as far away as Quebec.

Photo: Claudia Juan, Catherine Milne and Isabelle Dousset in “The 15-Minute Hamlet” from the 2008 festival (photography by David-Michel Muller)

“Red Hot in Amsterdam”: dates for your diaries

Following our production of Red Hot in Amsterdam at the FEATS festival in Brussels, Tagora will also be presenting the play in the Théâtralis festival in Strasbourg.

Photo: Elena Malagoni, David Adamson and Jeannine O’Kane in rehearsal

“The Birthday Party”: casted reading

Casting is complete for our production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, which will be staged in December this year. Before rehearsals proper get under way, there will be a casted reading of the play to give a taste of what’s in store.

Photo: Simon Palmer and David Adamson in our last Pinter production, “The Collection”

New T-shirt designs

The sun is shining, and summer is on the way, so what better than a bright Red Hot in Amsterdam T-shirt to enliven your wardrobe?

Tagora’s 60th anniversary revue

It seems like only yesterday that the Council of Europe was celebrating its 50th birthday. Now, in 2009, the Council is 60 years old, and once again Tagora will be marking the occasion. We’re looking for ideas and creative contributions to a revue show, in English and French.

Photo: the CoE rap group, The Rap-porteurs, at the Council of Europe’s 50th anniversary show. Was it really ten years ago?

Impossible de se déplacer à Strasbourg le week-end du sommet de l’OTAN?

Évitez la congestion et les contrôles! Allez écouter l’Ensemble vocal de Strasbourg à Rosheim.

Birthday Party: change of date

The reading of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, originally planned for 19 March, will now take place on Wednesday 18 March.

Strasbourg Carnival: come and join us!

Tagora is co-ordinating the Amicale’s presence in the Strasbourg Carnival procession.

New production by Strasbourg’s English Theatre Group

Another spin on Hamlet, and an alternative view of Snow White (or is it Sleeping Beauty?), both by American author Bruce Kane, are the latest offerings from Strasbourg University’s English Theatre Group.

If it’s good enough for the Council of Europe …

The Council of Europe recently announced that it had an official page on Facebook. Not to be outdone, Tagora now also has a Facebook group.

What’s cooking?

This week’s Thursday get-together will be devoted to an informal meeting and discussion of current projects. It’s a chance for everyone to catch up on – and help decide – Tagora’s plans for 2009.

Play-reading: “A Delicate Balance”

For our group reading this week we propose Edward Albee’s 1966 play, A Delicate Balance.

Photo: Albee photographed in 1987. (Picture from Wikipedia)

Not quite the tongue that Shakespeare spake

Showing that Tom Stoppard doesn’t have a monopoly on Shakespeare adaptations – nor Tagora on performing them in Strasbourg – Le-Maillon theatre is presenting Jean-Yves Ruf’s version of Mesure pour mesure from 5 to 7 February.

More about the production • Le-Maillon’s Web site

Play reading: “Our Day Out”

Our Thursday meeting on 12 February will be a group reading of Willy Russell’s play Our Day Out. It’s the story of a school coach trip to Conwy Castle, and there are therefore a lot of parts for young people, who are especially welcome to come along and join in.

Picture: from the BBC “Play for Today” TV production

FEATS play choice

As those who attended last week’s enjoyable play-reading will be aware, there was a general feeling that Red Hot in Amsterdam should be our choice for FEATS this year. Written by Patricia Robinson, it’s a lively farce about two jewel thieves on the run who take refuge in a house of ill-repute.

Casting will start soon.

More cracking good pictures

Thanks to David Michel Muller we now have more photos of Tagora’s Christmas Cracker.

David has been photographing amateur theatre productions in Strasbourg for a number of years, and has some 6000 pictures in his collection, including many from Tagora’s recent productions. We are grateful to him for making them available to us.

Click here for both David’s and Will’s photos.

Non-French actors needed for video

An educational establishment is looking for non-French actors to take part in a language-teaching video

More information (PDF)

Picking a play for FEATS

The Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies takes place this year in Brussels at Whitsuntide (the last weekend in May). Tagora is invited to take part.

On the principle that two heads are better than one – and three or four must be even better – a few of us are planning to spend a little time during lunchbreaks scouring the Tagora library to get ideas for this year’s production. First session is Monday 12 January at 12.30. All welcome; bring a sandwich.

Photo: a scene from Chamber Music, Tagora’s 2007 FEATS appearance

Charitable donation

The audience at our Christmas Cracker production gave generously to our programme distributor, Charlie Acres (seen left in his earlier role as a newspaper seller). It was all in a good cause, and we are happy to report that Charlie’s efforts raised €120, which has been sent to Médicins sans frontières.

Youth theatre

As a pilot project, Tagora is organising a workshop for young people to come and find out a little about acting and stage presentation. Open to children and teenagers between 10 and 18 years old, it takes place on Thursday 29 January at 18.30.

Now we are nine

The Tagora committee takes on reinforcements.

New year, new entertainment

Hardly has 2009 begun than we start getting news about productions from other theatre troupes in Strasbourg. So, while Tagora’s projects for the year are still being cooked up, why not see what else is on offer? First off the starting-line are Les Arts Sonnants and L’Apostrophe.

First photos of “Cracker”

Will Valk’s camera was clicking during the dress rehearsal for Tagora’s Christmas Cracker, and he’s given us some great pictures of The 15-Minute Hamlet.

Left, Svetlana Anisimova as Ophelia.

Christmas fun and frolics from Tagora

From 18 to 20 December, Tagora presents its Christmas show for all the family, Tagora’s Christmas Cracker. Songs, jokes and sketches – and a reprise of Tom Stoppard’s The 15-Minute Hamlet for those who missed the July production.

Christmas at the ESU

Members (or non-members) of the English Speaking Union of Strasbourg are invited to sign up for a special dinner on 25 November, at 19.30 at the Cercle européen, 1 rue Massenet.

No Thursdays until further notice

No, we’re not introducing a six-day week. But rehearsal pressure means that the regular Tagora Thursday get-togethers will be postponed until the new year.

Ayckbourn triple-bill

Alan Ayckbourn is well on his way to becoming the most-performed living playwright in Alsace, as the company Coup de théâtre takes on three of his plays.

Extras wanted

If you can’t wait for Tagora’s next show in order to get on stage, here’s a chance to appear in one of Le-Maillon’s productions.

Festivals 2009: what you need to know

Tagora is likely to take part in two theatre festivals next year. This week’s meeting is a starting-point for both of them.

Tagora’s Christmas Cracker: selection of material

If you want to contribute, make your voice heard, or just get a sneak preview, you have a chance on Thursday 9 October, when a selection of the pieces proposed for Tagora’s Christmas show will be presented.

“Open house” programme

Our new weekly get-together looks to have produced a lot of ideas. Julia has drawn up a draft programme, which offers something to do almost every Thursday evening until the end of October.

Programme changes

The need to plan for our Christmas show in the Cube noir (week of 15 December) means we’ve made a couple of changes to the Thursday evening programme. Two evenings in October will now be devoted to the content of that show.

Le-Maillon new season launch

Le-Maillon theatre in Strasbourg is organising a number of events to promote its 2008-09 season. Tagora’s arranging a group visit to one of them.

Weekly Open House

After the summer break and in order to get everyone back into theatrical mode, please come along to the first of Tagora's weekly "Open House" sessions which will take place on Thursday 4th September at 6.30 pm in the Tagora rehearsal room.

Tagora Hoover bites the dust

Well, not quite true: it’s made by Philips, and it’s only missing a flexible tube. But why let the truth stand in the way of a good headline?

What’s so great about method acting?

The question is addressed, if not completely answered, in a recent BBC radio programme.

What to do this summer

Many of us have summer holidays on our minds. The Med, the mountains, hiking or camping. But how about a different approach to getting away from it for a week or so? In Belgium, studying acting?

Presenting Théâtralis: Strasbourg’s amateur theatre festival

As already announced here, Tagora will be appearing in Théâtralis with its production of The 15-Minute Hamlet by Tom Stoppard.

That in itself is a good reason for coming along to the Laiterie, but it’s not the only one.

Publicity material for 15-Minute Hamlet

There is now a poster and a flyer available for The 15-Minute Hamlet.

The stage is yours

During the Théâtralis festival (3-9 July 2008), one evening (Monday) has been set aside for an “open stage”. Anyone who wants can ask to come along and do a turn.

Web site shenanigans

A time warp seems to have hit the Tagora Web site between 9 and 10 June, and most changes made after about April this year – as well as much of the configuration – have been temporarily wiped out.

To T or not to T

Another play, another T-shirt. Tagora launches a new line of summer wear to coincide with its production of The 15-Minute Hamlet at Strasbourg’s Théâtralis festival.

Amor patriae

Nothing to do with theatre, really, but the Tagora mailbox has received an appeal from a TV production company researching a documentary on expatriots thinking of returning “home”. Native Brits only, however.

Sale of costumes, sets and props

The Opéra national du Rhin is holding an auction to dispose of unwanted items of costume, accessories and scenery. It’s happening in Place Broglie, Strasbourg, in front of the opera house. And the profits will go to a charitable cause.

Rehearsals under way for Théâtralis

Together with almost twenty local groups, Tagora is preparing for Théâtralis, Strasbourg’s amateur theatre festival. It takes place at the beginning of July, and Tagora will be offering a fun way to to brush up your Shakespeare.

Tagora at the Point d’eau

As part of the festival Rencontres du Point d’eau in Ostwald, amateur groups from the area were invited to take part in “5×5”: five actors in a space of five square metres for five minutes using no more than five props.

Tagora AGM minutes

With her usual efficiency, Dianne has produced the minutes of our 2008 annual general meeting.

Tagoravision Song Contest?

No, not yet. But the Council of Europe Amicale has an idea to make the annual festival of Europop more digestible.

Situations vacant

We don’t normally run job adverts, but Tagora has been approached by a company looking to recruit native English speakers. So, exceptionally, here is a commercial break.

Collectif 3.14 get-together - date for your diaries!

The Collectif 3.14 evening at which groups can make a short presentation of a past production or a work in progress will be held on Monday 5 May at 20.30 at the Cube Noir. Tagora will be presenting "Glycerine" by Michael Frayn giving those who missed it on the "Only two can play" evening another chance to see it. All welcome!

Web site upgrade

The Tagora Web site is undergoing an upgrade during the weekend of 26-27 April 2008. This should not change anything; it’s a question of replacing the underlying program that makes it possible to manage the site.

New date for AGM

Tagora’s annual general meeting, postponed from last month, will now be held on Thursday 15 May.

English-language theatre in Strasbourg: a double bill from the university’s English Theatre Group

Tagora member and collaborator Martin Wright brings to the stage two short comedies about relationships.

Changes to the advertised programme

AGM and “Hamlet” meeting postponed.

Improvisation: new workshop initiative

Under the aegis of the Amicale, a series of improvisation workshops will be held at lunchtimes in the Council of Europe.

Mary Stuart

The Démos Grup is presenting what looks like an interesting play by Dacia Maraini....

Special event: Brian Friel’s Making History

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the episode in Irish history known as “The Flight of the Earls”, the theatre company Ouroboros are touring western Europe, retracing the route of the Irish nobles who left the country to raise a new army.

Annual general meeting

Tagora’s annual general meeting will be held on Thursday 13 March. Come along and make your voice heard.

Only Two Can Play

The first of our evenings of two-handers takes place on 21 February.

“Hamlet” for Théâtralis

After the reading of Tom Stoppard’s The Fifteeen-Minute Hamlet last night, it was decided unanimously that Tagora should prepare the piece for production later this year.

What’s my line?

The telephone in the rehearsal room has been reconnected. The number is 4461.

Play-reading: The Fifteen-Minute Hamlet

Tagora produced this Tom Stoppard pastiche of Shakespeare as part of a cabaret show over ten years ago. The time is perhaps right for a revival.

If I remember rightly …

Tagora members assembled for the Lunch Girls reading yesterday discussed, among other things, the timing for the next meetings and Tagora’s contribution to Théâtralis.

Play reading: “Lunch Girls” by Ron Hart

Vee, Bee, Dee and Jay are old friends. Now they try to keep in touch by arranging (or trying to arrange) a lunch together from time to time.

It doesn’t always work out.

Ayckbourn in French

The company Coup de théâtre presents Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy Pantoufle on Saturday 2 February in Geispolsheim.

Normal service resumes in the rehearsal room

We may have lost some space in our rehearsal area (the room in the Palais de l’Europe that formerly housed the Vedovato collection), but we have gained in other ways.

Only two can play

It takes two, two’s company, two by two: the title’s yet to be decided but here’s advance notice of Tagora’s new initiative that is intended to arouse our creativity as well as provide some fun.

Witness photos – worth the wait

Thanks to David Michel Muller, photographs of Tagora’s production of Witness for the Prosecution are now available.

Handel’s Messiah

Charity performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Ensemble vocal de Strasbourg.

New Tagora Web site in preparation
It’s time the Tagora Web pages were modernised to make administration simpler, so an update project is under way.