Last week we made changes to our announcement/mailing list in the form of a change of email address. Unfortunately, due to limitations with our hosting company, we had to recreate the entire mailing list and emailed all subscribers asking that they re-confirm their desire to remain on the list.

Many existing subscribers have already done this, but many haven't.

If you have already actioned last week's email, you need do no more and please ignore this email.

If you haven't actioned the email, please do so as soon as possible as you may miss important Players emails.

If you have no idea what email is being referred to, please check your Spam folder as soon as possible as it may have been aggressively labelled so by your mail provider (it is always a good idea to check this folder regularly anyway!). Please follow the instruction on the email. If you cannot find the said email, please go directly to our website and re-register for the announcement list: http://www.finnbritplayers.com/announcementlist/.

If you receive an error following the link in the email, please re-register as mentioned above.

Thank-you for your understanding!

30th Anniversary T-Shirt Competition

The Players are finally bringing out a T-shirt and we want you – our members – to design it.
The winner will get to see their design come to life on our 30th anniversary T-shirt, and will also receive a free shirt. The winner will be announced at, and chosen by, the AGM. So please send your entries to the committee – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – to arrive no later than Sunday January 16.

Staged Reading

WHAT: Staged reading - The Open Circuit by Jakob Holder
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20a
WHEN: Saturday, 29th January, 7pm

On Saturday, 29th January, 7pm, The Finn Brit Players will present a staged reading of The Open Circuit - the newest play by Jakob Holder, an award winning US Playwright.  The Open Circuit tells the story of a relationship under pressure.  As outside influences -- a cynical brother's advice, a curious doctor's tests, a nosey neighbour's intrusions, and a psychic's cryptic warnings -- begin to take fierce effect, Karl and Paula are forced to stock up and fortify.

Though he has been coming to Finland for over a decade, this is the first time Jakob's work will be seen here.  The cast includes Zoe Chandler, Mark Durrant, Jonathan Hutchings, Maria Kuuskoski, Daniel McMullan, and Beth Morton, and will be directed by the author.  The reading will be held at the Finn Brit Society, Frederikinkatu 20A.

Poetry & Jazz Spring 2011 Auditions

WHAT: Audition: Poetry & Jazz Spring 2011
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20a
WHEN: Tuesday, 1st February, 8:30pm

Poetry & Jazz will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2011! Spring's theme is 'Special Days', so we’re looking for pieces about anniversaries, special events, significant moments, celebrations, etc. And not only poetry, but also monologues, dialogues and ‘flash fiction’ prose. All pieces must either a) be your own, b) be out of copyright, or c) have performance permission from the author. Please bring all the pieces you’re considering to the auditions.

Auditions: 1 February @ 8:30 p.m. FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20A
Rehearsals: 8, 15 & 22 February and 1, 8 & 14 March @ 6:30 p.m. Pitäjänmäki
Performances: 15, 22 & 29 March @ 7:00 p.m. Arkadia International Bookshop
Contact Zoë (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more info.

February Play Reading, Part 1

WHAT: Play reading - The Idiots Karamazov
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20a
WHEN: Saturday, 5th February, 7pm

At play readings we read a play out loud. One person leads the reading and assigns roles. Everybody gets a chance to read.

The Idiots Karamazov by Christopher Durang and Albert Innaurato
The distinguished linguist Constance Garnet, Bart., is preparing a new translation of The Brothers Karamazov. She is, however, utterly and completely bonkers, so it is hardly surprising when things start to go awry as the characters come alive around her.
Jack Leo leads a reading of this musical comedy (yes!) in which Christopher Durang parodies the great Russian classics - along with quite a few other literary works - in his uniquely absurd style. How can there be a God if there are feet? FINNBRIT (Freda 20), on Saturday 5 February starting at 7 pm. (NB: this reading is exceptionally on a Saturday).

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

February Play Reading, Part 2

WHAT: Play reading - The Old Wives Tale
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20a
WHEN: Friday, 25th February, 7pm

At play readings we read a play out loud. One person leads the reading and assigns roles. Everybody gets a chance to read. Nely Keinänen will lead the second February reading.

The Old Wives Tale, by George Peele, is an early comedy performed by the Queen's Men, one of the most important theatrical troupes in the age of Shakespeare (or more precisely, in the decade prior to the age of Shakespeare). Although now forgotten by all but the most dedicated scholars, the play nevertheless has its charms. The play is a mish-mash of different styles and genres, with elements drawn from folktales and other sources.

Free entrance. Bring a bottle and a friend. Remember that play readings are not performances!

January auditions for the Players' spring production

WHAT: Auditions for "Waiting for Godot", directed by Adrian Goldman
WHEN: Thursday 6th January, 14:00 - 18:00
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A, Helsinki

In the spring, the FInn-Brit Players will stage a production of Samuel Becket's classic play "Waiting for Godot".

"Waiting for Godot" is the ground-breaking absurdist play that has informed all of modern drama, from Pinter to Kane. It is still relevant today. In a post-apocalyptic world, two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for the arrival of Godot, who never comes. They claim to know him but clearly barely do; they wouldn't recognise him if they saw him. They pass the time telling jokes, thinking about hanging themselves, and are interrupted, once in each act, by Pozzo and his slave Lucky. There is also a boy who comes, again once in each act, to tell them that Godot will not come but surely will come tomorrow.

Expect a non-traditional approach to this production, which means all roles are open to both men and women. Casting decisions will not be based on gender, so to all the talented women: come and audition! Don't think that this production is only for men!

As with auditions, there could be a need for callbacks. If they are needed, they will take place on Sunday January 9th from 14:00 - 17:00. The director will call you if this is the case.

Performances will be between 4–17 April 2011.

Finn-Brit Players Annual General Meeting

WHAT: The Players' AGM with free drinks and snacks
WHEN: Saturday 22nd January, 16:30
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A, Helsinki

Heading into our 30th anniversary year, we would like to have a number of special events over the year, but to do that we need people to give up a bit of their time and help out. If you too would like the society to be even more active and even better for its anniversary year, then please run for committee!
Don’t forget that the society belongs to its members, and this is the best chance to voice your opinions! There will be some snacks and drinks, and everybody is welcome to attend.

Committee

Dear Players,

An active society needs active members - in recent years there have been fewer and fewer people volunteering for the committee, and activities have been cut back. Heading into our 30th anniversary year, we would like to have a number of special events over the year, but to do that we need people to give up a bit of their time and help out. If you too would like the society to be even more active and even better for its anniversary year, then please run for committee!

Poetry & Jazz: Spring 2011 Auditions

WHAT: Poetry & Jazz auditions
WHEN: Tuesday 1st February, 20:30
WHERE: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A, Helsinki

Poetry & Jazz will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2011! So we’re looking for pieces about anniversaries, special events, significant moments, celebrations, etc. And not only poetry, but also monologues, dialogues and ‘flash-fiction’ prose.

All pieces must a) be your own, b) be out of copyright, or c) have performance permission from the author. Please bring all the pieces you’re considering to the auditions.

Rehearsals: 8, 15 & 22 February and 1, 8 & 14 March (time and place TBA)

Performances: 15, 22 & 29 March, Arkadia International Bookshop, 7:00 p.m.

Contact Zoë (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more info.

30th Anniversary T-Shirt Competition
The Players are finally bringing out a T-shirt and we want you – our members – to design it.
The winner will get to see their design come to life on our 30th anniversary T-shirt, and will also receive a free shirt. The winner will be announced at, and chosen by, the AGM. So please send your entries to the committee – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – to arrive no later than Sunday January 16.