Etcetera Theatre Company will be holding auditions for their forthcoming production of:
A Bunch of Amateurs a play written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
Sunday 12 November 2017 at Little Brickhill Community Centre, Watling Street, Little Brickhill, MK17 9NJ between 12 noon and 5.15pm
More laughs than you can shake a speare at!
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but Stony Stratford, an historic town now part of Milton Keynes. And instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the enthusiastic am-dram thespians. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself – along with his inner Lear!
Rehearsals will start on Tuesday 21 November 2017. It is a requirement that you are available for the entire production week of Sunday 4 – Saturday 10 March 2018.
Audition pieces are available soon on the ETC website. Please visit: www.etctheatre.co.uk to find out all about us and this production.
Auditions will be held in front of a small panel including the Director and will last approximately 15 minutes. You will be expected to be familiar with the text selected but not necessarily to have memorised it. A copy of your Acting CV would also be helpful.
You can book your audition time by contacting John Drinkwater at: jdr29@hotmail.co.uk
We look forward to meeting you.
Characters
Jefferson Steele
A fading Hollywood star who is arrogant, insecure, brash, gauche, demanding, vulnerable and ultimately aware of his own absurdity.
Dorothy Nettle
Director of the Stratford Players and the moving force behind keeping the theatre alive. Her sweet and accommodating manner conceals her inner steel.
Jessica Steel
Jefferson’s teenage daughter, who has been neglected by her Hollywood star father and now wants to make him pay for it.
Nigel Dewbury
Solicitor and leading light of the Stratford Players. Pompous, stuck-up and self-regarding, he belives he is the star of the show, and should play all the leading roles. He also fancies his romantic chances with Dorothy.
Mary Plunkett
Owner of the Rectory bed and breakfast. Jolly, generous and an unashamedly adoring Jefferson Steel fan – although somewhat confused about which roles he played in his films, and how keen he is on her.
Denis Dobbins
Handyman and village Mr Fixit. Avuncular though slighly dull. Denis is star-struck by Jefferson and fancies heading up his intourage of one.
Lauren Bell
Thirty-something marketing executive former physiotherapist and the sponsor’s wife. Passionate about the arts and smarter than her husband allows her to be, she’s treated as a bimbo because of her looks.
Journalists – we hear them offstage