Come join us on stage and behind the scenes at the Wilde Theatre this summer! Artemis College is working together with South Hill Park Arts Centre to bring you a special version of Les Miserables just for young performers.

This is a big show that we're putting together with the help of South Hill Park. We want 100 young people to be part of the cast, and if you're good at helping out or have creative ideas, we want you too!

Here are some opportunities for you:

  1. Young Performer (12-15 year olds): If you're between 12 and 15 years old, you can join in on the fun! A fee of £315 applies. BOOK HERE with South Hill Park

  2. Senior Performer (16-18 year olds) FREE! If you're 16 to 18 years old , you can be a part of this for free! AND you get a small qualification! BOOK BELOW!

  3. Technicians Course (12-18) FREE for 16-18’s!

Just a heads up, you need to be 18 or younger during the performances in August because of some rules.

And the best part is, there are FREE PLACES available! If you have any questions, you can find answers below.

 

16-18? Register for a FREE place in our cast or crew!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this for?

Performers and trainee crew aged 12-18 years. It is physical, on and off stage, and a lot of work and fun. You will either appear (performers) or crew (technical) as part of Les Mis at the Wilde Theatre in August 2024.

Cast aged 16-18 who accept a free place will take a small qualification as part of their experience (with an Arts Award or small RSL award). This is all done as part of rehearsals and the performance (including those backstage who can get qualified for their hard work too!).

How much will it cost? Is it free?

FEES 2024;

Aged 16-18 - FREE places for 16-18’s!*

If you are aged 12-15 - Each place is £315 and booked directly and payment to South Hill Park. All questions for this option should be sent to South Hill’s team who will be managing the younger cast members experience. South Hill Park, like Artemis, is a charity. Please ask them about possible bursary places if you need help with fees.

If you are aged 12-15 - FIVE FREE bursary places available for CURRENT Artemis Medusa Theatre Company or GOLD Junior Theatre members, funded by Artemis. Solo audition required, and the panel are non Artemis judges.

*16-18 free places - You meet funding rules, including being willing to undertake a small qualification (this happens as part of rehearsals and the show), and have the right to live and work in the UK. ID and proof of age will be required.

Current members of Artemis College or those joining in September 2024, are not automatically eligible for a free place and can apply for limited bursary places in the cast.

How do I apply?

Please complete the enquiry form at the top of this page to begin with. Let us know which of the three group options apply to you.

Once you submit, we will be in contact within 48 hours (weekdays) to confirm next steps for the group you applied for (12-15 fee paying, 12-15 current Artemis member bursary, or 16-18 Artemis College bursary).

Group One: A paid for place (anyone 12-15 years old, £315): Bookings open online with South Hill Park box office in the early new year, 2024, once open you can reserve places directly and instantly.

Group Two: An Artemis bursary place (current Artemis Medusa/JTC Gold member aged 12-15)

Group Three: A FREE place (all cast or crew aged 16-18)

Do I have to audition?

  1. If you want a role with solo songs - you need to attend an audition where you will prepare solos and sing in front of others (all performers).

  2. If you are a current Artemis Medusa or JTC Gold member who is 12-15 years old and applying for one of five funded places, you need to audition.

  3. If you would like a supporting role (no solos) you will come to group workshops so we can get to know you and make sure you have loads of time on stage in the many scenes.

    Supporting roles are guaranteed for all paying members and those aged 16-18 on college funded places.

  4. If you would like to be crew or costume, you will attend a workshop with a senior technician from South Hill Park.

You can reserve your place from January 2024 using the form above. Paid Young Performer (12-15’s) places can be confirmed with South Hill Park box office from February.

Auditions/workshops for named/solo parts will be in April/May 2024 and only open to people who have already booked a place. If you miss them, you can still have a supporting part, but not a lead as they will already be cast.

All casting is done by professional directors, and their choices are final. Consideraion can not be given for a lead role after auditions are complete and roles allocated, no matter the reason, unless a specific part remains un-cast.

Where is it happening?

All rehearsals and shows are at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA.

Buses stop out the front. There is ample free parking. The train station (Bracknell) is a 20 minute walk away. We are close to the M4 and M3 for driving.

When are the dates?

Auditions for lead & supporting roles - to be announced. April/May 2024. You do not need to have a lead role to be part of the show.

SATURDAY 20 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

SUNDAY 21 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

THURSDAY 25 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

FRIDAY 26 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

SATURDAY 27 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

MONDAY 29 JULY - Qualification Prep Day - Only those following the free 16-18 Artemis programme to attend 

TUESDAY 30 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

WEDNESDAY 31 JULY 2024 - 9am-5pm - Rehearsal Day 

THURSDAY 1 AUGUST 2024 - 9am-5pm - Tech Day 

FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 2024 - 9am-5pm - Dress Day 

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2024 - Performances - Time 1pm / 7pm 

SUNDAY 4 AUGUST 2024 - Performances - Time 1pm / 7pm 

MONDAY 5th- FRIDAY 16th August - Qualification wrap up for 16-18’s as called (small groups and 1:1’s).

For those wanting to take a GRADED musical theatre exam instead of an Arts Award, you need to be available to rehearse.

What if I am on holiday?

You will need to attend 100% of the course (unless you are ill) if you want to be in the show. Missing half day for an appointment is possible, but no more than one whole day.

If you are 16-18 and on a free place, you need to be available after the show days to complete your qualification as needed, or if you want to take a bigger qualification (support available).

I'm not 12 yet, or I will be older than 18, can I still join?

If you are under 12 - consider our Junior summer camps instead? They are designed for younger performers.

If you are over 18, you will not be able to be on stage in this show as the production licence forbids it.

Do you offer somewhere to stay if I am not local?

No - you must be able to get yourself to and from rehearsals and shows and ideally not have a long journey. Please look up the postcode RG12 7PA and check how far away you live from the Wilde Theatre before applying.

What is included in the experience?

All training, costumes, mentoring, cast photos. For 16-18 year olds on a free Artemis place, you will also either take a Bronze Arts Award or an RSL Certificate.

Tickets for family and friends to watch are not included.

Where can I buy tickets to watch the show?

Directly from the South Hill Park box office, tickets are £12 each.

What is the qualification for 16-18s on free places?

Trinity Bronze Arts Award, or if you already have this an RSL Certificate in Performing or Production Arts.

For the more ambitious, a Silver Arts Award (please note his requires a few more creative tasks to be completed and you must be available after the performance weekend).

There is also the possibility of taking a Graded Musical Theatre or Acting Exam for those who are able to cope with the work and subject to assessment. You must be available for the entire course and exam prep following the shows.

Almost all of the work for the qualifications is practical and is covered by taking part in rehearsals and performances. We make time to help you get the rest sorted during the course and just after the shows. Small group help is available to complete the work in the week after the show.

Work to complete the Arts Award qualification may include:

Share and review an arts experience This can be a video you record, or photos and and a written review, a webpage, or anything you like - as long as it shows you attended an arts event (such as a show or gallery) and shares what you thought and why. South Hill Park has a free gallery you can look around with others and record your thoughts on the art you see.

Tell us about your favourite creative person - this can be an actor, dancer, singer, director, producer - anyone creative at all, modern day or from the past. As long as it is a real person, and you can share why you admire them, and tell us a bit about their work (we will show examples, you dont need to produce essays or large bits of hoework, speaking to your phone camera for a minute is fine!).

Share a creative skill - everyone will lead and share a skill with others in the group. This can be performing, arts or crafts, editing, story telling - anything you like!

Set yourself some creative targets at the start of the rehearsals and keep a journal (again, this need not be written). After the last show is over, you wil review your progress and share your thoughts with the other cast. We will add professional photos to create a small portfolio showing your work as a performer or crew member throughout the rehearsals and shows.

And of course perform or crew the shows!