Latest News

• Julian Fellowes - we were delighted to have him as guest of honour at our Centenary Dinner last December and now we are even more delighted to hear that Downton Abbey has won the 2012 Golden Globe for best television mini-series. We could not be more proud of our vice-president. Huge congratulations!

• ROYAL PRESENCE AT NEW PLAY- The Royal Theatrical Fund is staging the first production of Dickens and The Actors by Philip Franks at the Guildhall in the afternoon of February 14th. Her Majesty the Queen, who is Patron of the R.T.F., will attend and will be received by the Lord Mayor. The occasion is to mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Charles Dickens who was the first Chairman of the R.T.F.The short play, produced by the present Chairman of the R.T.F. Paul Gane, is directed by Richard Clifford with an impressive cast list.

  A few tickets for the performance are on offer to the general public priced at £75 which includes a champagne reception. They are available from Royal Theatrical Fund, 11 Garrick Str. WC2E 9AR.  Tel 020 7836 3322 or admin@trtf.com

• CaAPA celebrated its 100th Birthday with a Gala Concert at Westminster Cathedral Hall on September 29, 2011. It was a tremendous success with an amazing turnout!

• All proceeds from this event went to support the work of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, CAFOD. In total, people's generosity reached the amount of £1,123.55. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

• Our official photographer at this event was: Helena Amor. Visit her website at: http://www.helenaamorphotography.com/

Performers: Kilts of Caledonia Pipe Band, Don Maclean, Norman Hoskins, Elizabeth Collier, Jim Bannan, Gemma Cocker, Jimena Larraguivel, Patrick Lee, Evelyn Nicholson, Dympna Messenger, Martin Brown, Alistair Kelly, Prue Gillett, Lisa Doran

Pianist: David Hoyland

Photos by: Helena Amor

• The Catholic Association of Performing Arts (CaAPA) marked its centenary with a Solemn Mass celebrated by its President, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, at Corpus Christi Church, 1 Maiden Lane, at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, 20 May.   The concelebrants included, Fr Alan Robinson, National Chaplain, Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chairman of Trustees, Father John O’Leary, Private Secretary to the Archbishop and Father Pat Moloney. 

• Congratulations to Ros and John Hubbard who were honoured in Los Angeles by the US Ireland Alliance at the 6th Annual "Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film" on 24 February. This event is devised and run by Trina Vargo. Hubbard Casting have been an integral part of CaAPA's Students Evening and helped to set it up in 1987. However busy they are one or other of them always chairs this event and their experience and dedication is very much appreciated by us. So well done to Ros and John and a big thank you to them for all they do for the former Catholic Stage Guild, now CaAPA.

What is CaAPA

The Catholic Association of Performing Arts (CaAPA) (formerly the Catholic Stage Guild) works for, and alongside, people of all faiths and none.  The Association performs a dual role, serving the needs of its members and, through them, the wider community.

CaAPA's members are, typically, theatre professionals or non-professionals with some interest in the performing arts. 

Members apply their talents and skills to helping the wider community, for example putting on theatre productions to help people in their spiritual journeys and to raise funds for good causes. 

Membership is open to all. 
Click on the image below
for further information
on our Membership page. 

The photographs below illustrate
the breadth of CaAPA's activities:
sacred, secular and social.

Click on the image on the right for the productions page, featuring members' work with Theatre in Education company, Ten Ten Theatre. 

CHAPLAINCY
& MENTORING

One of CaAPA's primary functions is to offer chaplaincy services to members and to the wider community.  Chaplains welcome members' requests for support, guidance and prayers for specific causes. 

Chaplains also advise on the religious aspects of theatre and film productions. 

CaAPA's chaplaincy service is mirrored by mentoring, which is provided by the Association's senior professionals. 

See the Chaplaincy page for full details.

DIARY OF EVENTS

Our programme of events includes theatrical productions, church services (in London and Blackpool), retreats, theatre outings and social gatherings. 

CaAPA members are also affiliated members of the Club for Acts and Actors in Covent Garden, and many of our events take place in the CAA's theatre and in nearby Corpus Christi church, which has been our main place of worship for nearly ninety years. 

SIR ALEC GUINNESS AWARD

CaAPA is proud to present the annual Sir Alec Guinness award to a final year drama student, selected by competition.  The award is made by leading industry professionals during our Students' Evening at the Actors Centre in London's West End. 

See the Diary page for further details.

The first picture on the right was taken at the Sir Alec Guinness Award ceremony this March 2011: Celia Imrie presents the prize to Raj Bajaj , currently in his final year at ALRA. 

(Photo: Patrick Lee)

Winners of the Sir Alec Guiness Award Asif Khan and Raj Bajaj, will be appearing in the Snow Queen at the Unicorn Theatre, London Bridge, from 23 November to 8 January. Congratulations!