Sewell Barn Theatre, Constitution Hill, Norwich NR3 4BB               Ticket sales: 0333 666 3366                  Sewell Barn Trust: Registered Charity No 277724

The Sewell Barn Company

Auditioning for the Sewell Barn

Audition Notice: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare

Director: Clare Williamson

Contact details: cwilliamson197@gmail.com 07742156686

Performance dates: 1 – 3 & 7 – 10 June (including a matinee on 10 June) 2023

THE PLAY

Lovers, fairies and working men (aka rude mechanicals) collide in a wood outside Athens on Midsummer Night. Puck works his magic and causes mayhem at the behest of his master, Oberon, the king of the fairies who has fallen out with his queen, Titania and seeks revenge. The lovers are running away from the confines of court life where Hermia has been given an ultimatum – either marry a man she doesn’t love,  live out the rest of her days in a nunnery or die – a harsh set of choices. The rude mechanicals are keen to rehearse a play which they hope will be chosen to be performed to celebrate the marriage of Theseus, Duke of Athens to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons who he has won in battle.

This production will take the audience back to the golden English summer of 1910 when there was “honey still for tea” and croquet on the lawn. But during this idyllic time, women were fighting to gain a vote and a voice and the guns of First World War were only four years away. This Shakespeare classic is more than just a romantic fairytale. It’s a darkly comic fable where the rules of society no longer apply and dreams and desires are allowed free rein, just for one glorious night.

CASTING

This play has a large cast which I intend to reduce to thirteen by doubling several roles. This means that all the actors will have plenty to do.

Theseus, Duke of Athens/Oberon, King of the Fairies

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons/Titania, Queen of the Fairies

Playing ages= 40+  I am open to older actors auditioning for these roles

Philostrate, Master of the Revels/Puck, a shrewd and knavish sprite

Playing age 20+  I am open to this role being gender blind and taken by an older actor

Egeus, father to Hermia/Peter Quince, a carpenter

Playing age 40+ I am open to this role being gender blind

The lovers, all with playing ages 20 – 25:

Hermia

Helena

Lysander

Demetrius

The following roles can be gender blind with playing ages between 20 and 60:

Bottom, a weaver

Flute, a bellows mender/Cobweb, a fairy

Snout, a tinker/Peaseblossom, a fairy

Snug, a joiner/Mustardseed, a fairy

Starveling, a tailor/Moth, a fairy

Please note – the fairies will not be played in a conventional way

REHEARSAL DETAILS

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays. There will be a few Sundays to accommodate full runs/tech rehearsals etc. Rehearsals will begin week of Mon 13 March 2023. There will be a read through shortly after casting.

AUDITION DETAILS

Sunday 29 January 2023 2.30pm in the Barn

Please read the script before auditioning. It is easily available in many versions, also from the local library, and can be found online. Please contact me for audition pieces. If you are unable to make the audition date, please contact me as soon as possible to make another arrangement. Once cast, actors will be provided with a script.