Details for our Open Auditions for our September 2013 & December 2013 productions are below
Auditions take place in advance of productions to allow the Director to assemble the cast. Each Director has his/her own way of auditioning; some prefer to read straight from the text, others choose to try improvisation; some a mixture of both. Auditions can often be a lot of fun, and gives an actor a chance to try out different parts.
At Theatre 62 we like to welcome new faces to the stage as well as longer-standing regulars. Most auditions are ‘open’, which means non-members are welcome to come along and audition. If you are successful you will need to join us (for a small fee) as a full member!
Auditions are held at Wickham Theatre Centre, click here for location information
The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh (show dates 30th September – 5th October 2013)
Director: Janet Clark
The auditions have taken place. However, we are still looking for someone to play the Ray Dooley character (acting age 20-30ish). Email website@theatre62.org.uk if you’d like to find out more.
Characters
- Maureen Folan - a plain lonely woman. Acting age 40ish
- Mag Folan – mother very unpleasant woman with disgusting habits. Acting age 70ish
- Pato Dooley – fairly strong fit looking man. Acting age 40ish
- Ray Dooley -brother, bit of a yob. Acting age 20-30ish
This play is a blend of hysterical comedy, grand melodrama, violence and bleak tragedy. It is set in the small village of Leenane in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.
The play centres on the life of Maureen Folan, a 40 year old virgin and sole carer to her 70 year old mother, Mag. Two sisters have escaped into marriage leaving Maureen, with a history of mental illness, trapped in a small bleak cottage and a seriously dysfunctional relationship with her mother.
As events unfold the cottage is visited by the brothers Ray and Pato Dooley. Ray is the younger brother, an irresponsible and irrepresible young man. Pato is a middle aged construction worker fed up with his life which forces him to work in England to earn a living. A spark of romance occurs between Maureen and Pato and then fizzles out with disatrous results.
These are four strong acting parts with lovely characterisation which the actor can make his own. All require a southern Ireland accent, but please dont be put off by this as help is at hand!
This play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in 1996, Then transferred to New York on broadway in 1998. In 2010 it was presented at the Young Vic before going on tour. The play has recieved many nominations and awards.
If you’d like any more information, or would like to help backstage, please don’t hesitate to contact Janet Clark via website@theatre62.org.uk
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Season’s Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn (show dates: 2nd-7th December 2013)
Director: Paul Marshall
Half a dozen relatives and friends are celebrating Christmas with Neville and Belinda. Various children are there, though unseen and their presence felt. Petty and not so petty squabbles break out and Christmas presents are rifled. A final climax, resulting from the arrival of the young writer Clive leads to what appears to be tragedy as he is shot by the trigger happy Harvey as a looter. Highlights include a chaotically incompetent puppet show and a midnight love scene that ends by setting up a fearful din amongst several mechanical presents.
THE CAST (ages are flexible):
Belinda aged 30-45: Frustrated and uptight. An efficient but distracted hostess. Wants, but does not get, her husband’s attention and reassurance. A sudden infatuation presents a possible escape from her indifferent husband.
Neville 35-45: Belinda’s husband. Easy going and affable. Always busy fiddling with anything mechanical. Self absorbed and unaware of what goes on around him.
Bernard 40-50s: a feeble-spirited doctor, obsessed with his dismal puppet show that is a complete failure every Christmas. Married to Phyllis.
Phyllis 35-50: Bernard’s wife and Neville’s sister – always tipsy, accident prone, flirty.
Eddie 30-40: Friend and ex employee of Neville’s – not in the same league although aspires to be. Generally passive but underlying aggression. Immature.
Pattie 25–35: Eddie’s pregnant wife, largely ignored by him and rather hard done by. A bit of a nag.
Rachel 30 –45: Belinda’s emotionally “challenged” sister – in love with Clive but is extremely insecure & unfulfilled in the love department.
Clive late 20s – 30s: writer, in a “tentative” relationship with Rachel –finds he is attracted to Belinda. Pleasant, attractive and single.
Harvey 50-70: Thirty years in the security “game” and obsessed with violence. Slightly senile. Nasty streak. Enjoys putting Bernard down.
If you’d like any more information, or are unable to attend the auditions, or would like to help backstage, please don’t hesitate to contact Paul Marshall via website@theatre62.org.uk
