AUDITION: Imogen says Nothing

AUDITION TIMES:
Wednesday 21 July 6:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday 22 July 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday 24 July 10:00am-4:00pm

Auditions will be held individually in 15-minute blocks.

AUDITION VENUES:
University of Western Australia (Crawley Campus) Arts Building, Arts Seminar Room G28

Please contact us by posting in the event or messaging us on Facebook if you need assistance finding the venues on the day.

AUDITIONS:
Please prepare a short (2 minute) contemporary dramatic monologue and be prepared to do cold-readings from the script.

15-minute audition slots can be booked by messaging or emailing Modicum Theatre Perth (ModicumTheatrePerth@gmail.com).

All auditionees must be aged 18 or over by 1 August 2021.

SHOW SYNOPSIS:
‘Imogen Says Nothing’ is a play inspired by a ghost character in Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, in which Imogen, a bear disguised as a human, makes her way to a London theatre in 1598 to convince a mapmaker to reverse the name change to her hometown. In the theatre she meets a troupe of actors, headed by one William Shakespeare, who are preparing to perform Much Ado About Nothing for the first time. When one of the actors is too drunk to perform without someone helping him stand, Imogen breaks London’s stage laws against women performing and goes on stage.

‘Imogen Says Nothing’ is a revisionist hijacking of a chunk of the literary canon, a story of comedy, tragedy, romance, plays-within-plays, magical realism, and bears that look and act like people.

ROLES:
BIPOC actors and people of all gender presentations are encouraged to audition.

There are 16 characters in this play, 14 of which – all except for Imogen and Henry Condell – will be doubled. This means I am looking to cast 9 actors, but am open to splitting the roles differently.
For characters other than Imogen and Henry Condell, I intend to practice subversive, historically inaccurate casting. The actor’s gender and gender presentation therefore do not need to match those of the characters you audition for. All human characters are working-class to lower-middle-class in their speech, and dialects are present-day London and environs.

Imogen – female. 20-30. A bear disguised as a woman. Formerly a bear and a prostitute. She defies cultural expectations. Taciturn. Powerful. Others describe her as ungainly, unfeminine, and as a freak. She is intelligent, resourceful, resilient, and has a deep and active imagination. She has a dry sense of humor and impeccable comic timing.

John Heminges – male. 35-45. Drunk, bitter, wry humour, comedic with hints of sincerity. An actor in the Lord Chamberlain’s men. Friend of Henry Condell and co-editor of the First Folio. Foil to Henry Condell’s straight man. Comic timing desired.

Henry Condell – male. 20-30. Kindhearted and self assured. An actor in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Friend of John Heminges and co-editor of the First Folio. Straight man to John Heminges’ clown. A potential ally and love interest for Imogen. Comic timing desired.

Alexander Cooke – male/masc, but character dresses as a woman. 20-30. an actor in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The actor from the company typically cast as the female lead. Uptight, self-absorbed, and temperamental.

Nicholas Tooley male/masc, but character dresses as a woman for the whole play. 18-25. Innocent, anxious, timid. An actor in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The actor from the company typically cast as the female ingenue. Eager to please.

Richard Burbage – male. 40-50. Lead actor of the King’s Men company, important, serious, charismatic. Trying to keep the company afloat. Steadfast and in charge, the adult in the room, equal parts revered and ignored by those in his care.

William Shakespeare – male. 30-40. The least important person in this play. Writer, theatre-maker, a bit stressed about running an acting company.

Warden – male or female. 20-30. Small role. Jailer to the bears.

Crier – male. 30s. Small role. the proprietor and master of ceremonies for bear baiting at “Paradise” in Bankside. Intimidating, strong, immoral, and dangerous.

Anna Roos – female. 20s. Small role. Queen Anne’s Danish maid. No-nonsense and undeterred by male authority. She gets what she wants.

A variety of bears – to be doubled with cast.

MEMBERSHIP:
Modicum Theatre Perth puts on community theatre productions throughout the year, with a focus on supporting local performers, writers and creators.

Everyone is welcome to audition for Modicum Theatre Perth productions, but must be prepared to become a member if they are cast in the production. Membership is $15/year or $10/year for concession-holders.

REHEARSALS:
2-6pm on Saturdays starting Saturday 14 August.

SHOW DATES:
Production week and shows are tentatively scheduled for 4-12 December.