AGM

To all Company Members,

Hope everyone is keeping well. It’s that time of year again where we need to think about our AGM. For obvious reasons this year will need to run a little differently so we will be holding an online AGM on the 1st March at 7.30pm (zoom link will be sent closer to the time).

The AGM is open to all members and is a chance to update everyone on our progress this year, decide how membership/production fees will work in the upcoming year, discuss any other business and hold elections to the committee.

The following positions will be up for election. If you are a member and would like to nominate yourself for any one of these roles then please contact any committee member or email secretary@online.thecompanysheffield.co.uk. Nominations are open right up to the vote itself so you can nominate yourself on the night if you prefer. If you’re unsure or would like to have a chat with current committee members about what the roles entail then please get in touch, we’re always keen for new faces on the committee!

Accountant

Responsible for financial oversight of The Company including Box Office

Artistic Director

Responsible for maintaining artistic standards for our productions and supporting production teams

Chair

Responsible for overseeing the committee

Secretary

Responsible for organising meetings and keeping minutes

Company Representatives (x 3 posts)

Act as a liaison between members and the committee to raise any concerns

We will also be appointing associate posts (wardrobe manager, technical manager, PR/social media co-ordinator).

In order to run for a committee position or to vote you need to be a paid member of The Company ahead of the AGM. Due to having to postpone multiple productions this year we haven’t been collecting membership fees. We are hopefully moving to an online system for this to streamline this process in the next couple of weeks. If you would like to remain an active member of the society then a link will be circulated closer to the AGM to allow you to make this payment. Due to the current situation we are not expecting you to pay in full, we’re asking for a small payment (exact amount up to you but we suggest £5 or under) - we will ask you to pay the rest once we’re back on stage.

Please also get in touch if you have anything you wish to raise at the AGM - we’re keen to make sure that all members have the opportunity to have their voice heard.

Finally the committee would like to thank you all for your support this year. It’s definitely been a challenging year for all of us but we’ve still managed some great successes and we couldn’t do it without our members!

Lots of love,
The Company Committee

Accessing The Company's website from older Android phones

The Headlines:

If you use an older Android phone or tablet, specifically one that has a version of Android older than 7.1.1^[1] then at some point next year thecompanysheffield.co.uk will stop working for you. This is because older Android phones will no longer recognise The Company's website as being secure. Unless you use Firefox mobile. 

Why?

The organisation we get out secure certificates from, Let’s Encrypt, is making changes to their hierarchy. This is the route your browser follows to ensure that there is a chain of trust from the website you are accessing up to a list of trusted organisations it or your computer already knows about. They are doing this for two reasons, the first is that they have now been operating for long enough that they are trusted in their own right (when they started another certificate issuer vouched for them) and to reduce the amount of your data allowance is used checking that a website is secure. It is because versions of Android older than 7.1.1 don't trust Let’s Encrypt outright, but only because they were vouched for by someone else that the site will stop working on those phones.

Why just Android?

It isn't really just Android, but Android is by far the biggest group of users this will affect, and even then that translates to only a tiny number of people who visit our website. The problem is that Android devices are far less likely to have been kept up to date with the latest updates that other phones or tablets or laptop/desktop computers. The large numbers of different devices made by different manufacturers, that means there is a lot of choice out there, also means it can be a bit pot-luck as to if any specific one keeps being updated. Unlike Windows based computers there is no direct route for operating system updates to be pushed to users, they all go through the phone manufacturer. Apple have the devices as well as the operating system under their control so older devices tend to be more up to date. Just for completeness I should mention Windows Phone^[2]. There. We expect there might be a few odd cases on the edges, but for most of those people they know where they are at and why.

What is special about Firefox?

Unlike most browsers, especially on phones, Firefox on mobile^[3] keeps its own council on who to trust rather than relying on the list built into Android and it is up-to-date so it trusts Let’s Encrypt. It currently works on Android 5 (Lollypop) or newer devices, so I am sorry to say we have no work around if you use an older phone than that other than to suggest you use another device.

What are the specifics?

The long answer is in this blogpost from Let’s Encrypt. There is also an even longer detailed explanation on the changes.

---

^[1]Unfortunately this doesn't line up directly with the dessert based codenames Android versions were given until recently. 7.1.1 was an update to “Nougat” that came out December 5, 2016
^[2]I'm sorry I don't know if you still get security updates, maybe ask cortana?
^[3]We're not getting any money to promote them, they have just been highlighted as a way to work around the problem. As the person you usually ask for IT support for help if you aren't sure if it is right for you.(Hi mum!)

Announcement

As the peak of the coronavirus is due in the next few months according to government reports, the Committee has taken the difficult decision to postpone our Summer play, “Dad's Army” until Spring 2021. We still intend to perform “Murder on the Nile” at the Civic Centre in Dronfield in October 2020 (with a few cast changes) — we hope to see you there. Please take care of your health over the next few months.
The Company Committee.

Help Wanted

Can you help us improve our website?

We are currently in the process of updating our website and need some help filling in the gaps.
If you read our list of past productions one of the things you may notice is that the shows at the bottom of the list haven't got pages linked to them. Then if you click through you'll see that the information we have listed for each production varies.
We would like for every show to have its own page with a full cast and crew list, some photos, and whatever other information that is to hand. We are looking through our archives for what we already have but there is always room for more.

How can you help?

You might have any programmes from past shows and the time to type up the contents.
If you haven't got the time to do the typing but can upload a picture for someone else to transcribe.
Transcribing images into text.
You took rehearsal or show photos and would like to select a few.
If you directed a show and have your "director's bit", cast list or other info to hand.

If you want to help contact tony@thecompanysheffield.co.uk

Auditions for Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie

On stage 4th - 7th March 2020 at the Drama Studio

Auditions: Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th October 2019 from 8pm to 10pm at Unit 1C, Nursery Works, Little London Road S8 0UJ Sheffield.

On board a steamer, cruising under the scorching Egyptian sun, honeymooners Simon Mostyn and his wealthy socialite wife Kay find themselves being pursued by an old flame of the newly wedded groom.
Then a tragedy strikes, a body is discovered and all fingers point to Simon’s ex fiancée.
But everything is not what it seems. Among a cast of characters that includes a shady socialist a fearsome battleaxe and a Dr with dubious credentials holidaying cleric Canon Pennefather is drawn into a web of intrigue and deceit as he finds himself on the trail of a ruthless murderer.
Our auditions operate as follows:

• All are welcome
• No preparation is necessary

Character list

Character	Playing Age	Description
Miss FFoliot-FFoulkes	50 – 70	Harridan
Christina Grant	20 to 30	Miss FF’s niece, somewhat timid
Smith	25 to 35	An ardent socialist/communist, riddled with sarcasm
Louise	20 – 30	A maid, French accent
Dr Bessner	40–80	German(ish) accent
Kay Mostyn	25 – 35	Wealthy, selfish, glamorous heiress
Simon Mostyn	25 – 35	Kay’s charming husband
Canon Pennefather	50 – 80	Kay’s Guardian and a religious zealot
Jaqueline De Severac	25 – 35	Simon’s ex fiancé – fragile
Beadsellers x2	any	Also doubling up as Captain of the Boat and Police Official
Steward	20 to 90

"Speak Up. Speak Out" Monologues and Duologues run by Alisdair Low

From time to time The Company run workshops on topics of interest. These are open to everyone.
Prices: £5 non members £3 for members.
Bring a prepared monologue or duologue on or off script 2 to 4 minutes- you choose.
You'll receive feedback and direction.
Then the 2nd half of the evening you can choose a sight unseen monologue/duologue and spent 20 mins preparing something to show to the group.
We will focus on preparing for the stage and for the camera with your pieces.

Order tickets for "Speak Up. Speak Out" online now

Wyrd Sisters Audition 08/03/18

Wryd Sisters by Terry Pratchett adapted by Stephen Briggs
8th March University of Sheffield Drama Studio Rehearsal Rooms 8pm
Terry Pratchett's story about three witches, foul murder, a ghost, and a playwright named Hwel, has a large cast and we operate open auditions.

The lead characters are the three wyrd sisters and an evil duchess (definitely not Lady Macbeth).  This is a certain Shakespearean tale told from the point of view of the witches, who are the heroes of the piece.

The Company is looking for actors of all ages and types but especially people wanting to play strong women to audition at the Drama Studio at 8pm on Thursday 8th March.
The audition is open to everyone, and their are plenty of roles.

https://www.facebook.com/events/565424850503284/
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/auditions/