Audition Notice: Brontë by Polly Teale
Production dates: 16 – 18th November 2017
AUDITION DATES
Sunday 25th June 2017 3.00pm (Main Hall)
Wednesday 28th June 2017 8.00pm (Main Hall)
Brontë is a contemporary play that explores how three Victorian sisters living in isolation on the Yorkshire Moors came to write some of the most powerful and passionate fiction of all time. With the present tense set in 1845 we see both the real and imagined worlds of Charlotte, Emily and Anne as their fictional characters come to haunt their creators. We see how they are affected by their brother Branwell’s descent into alcoholism and insanity, and how their father, Patrick Brontë, an Irish priest, influenced their writings by encouraging the girls to read from a young age.
The sisters and Branwell play their much younger selves so the ages given are a guide. The scenes are not chronological and jump back and forth between the 1820s, 1840s and 1850s.
The Brontë family were close and so how actors interact, sound and look together is important. Each scene flows into the next, so physicality is going to be really important for the actors. An exciting challenge!
Charlotte/ Jane Eyre 29 in 1845 20-40’s
Emily/ Nelly 27 in 1845 20-40’s
Anne/ Mrs Huntingdon 25 in 1845 20-40’s
Branwell 28 in 1845 20-40’s
Patrick 68 in 1845 50 plus, Appears throughout play, moderate number of lines
Cathy/Bertha 20-40’s Combined roles, appears continually throughout play. Cathy has moderate number of lines; Bertha has a few lines and does a lot of physical acting. Being able to dance and sing a few lines would be a bonus.
Heathcliff/Arthur Huntingdon/ Rochester 20-40’s Combined roles, small part over 5 pages in the 2nd act.
Mr Heger (Belgian Schoolmaster whom Charlotte fell in love with) /Arthur Bell Nicholls (Haworth Curate that marries Charlotte) 20-40’s
Combined roles, small part throughout 2nd act.
The cast will be announced by Monday 3rd July 2017 and rehearsals will start on Monday 24 July 2017 with a read through.
Rehearsals will be on Monday and Wednesday at 8.00pm plus Sundays further into the schedule.
Director