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: QUEERS  - eight monologues curated by Mark Gattiss

Director: Michelle Hutchings

Contact details: m.hutchings1@outlook.com

Performance dates: 19 - 21 & 25 - 28 January (including a matinee on 28 January) 2023

THE PLAY

Queers is a collection of 8 monologues curated by Mark Gatiss to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over the age of 21 in private.

The Man on the Platform by Mark Gatiss

Set in 1917, a young soldier returning from the trenches of the First World War recollects a love that dare not speak its name. He recounts an idyllic afternoon shared with a man with golden hair and memories from childhood in this emotional and heartfelt piece.

The Perfect Gentleman by Jackie Clune

Bobby, an elegantly dressed gentleman of the late 1920s, is not all that he seems. He is really a lesbian called Ellen, who discovered her sexuality as a girl but met rejection. When she started dressing as a man, this changed everything. She gained reputation in comforting lonely wives, but when a young woman falls for her and wants sex, her secret is exposed.

Safest Spot in Town by Keith Jarrett

It’s 1941, Frederick has emigrated to London from the West Indies. He has been exploring the queer and artistic circles and recounts his story of the night that one of his favourite venues is bombed.

Missing Alice by Jon Bradfield

In 1957, Alice tells the history of her relationship with her husband. Over the course of their marriage he discovers that he is gay and prefers men, however they have a child together, in this piece she explores her acceptance of his sexuality.
I Miss the War by Matthew Baldwin

Set in the late 1960s Jack Discusses his sex life as it now becomes legal. He recalls memories of being a rent boy to the clergy, a night with an American soldier and how age has affected his sexuality and how society views homosexuals.

More Anger by Brian Fillis

Phil is a gay actor living in the 1980s, in the height of the ‘gay plague’ (AIDS) epidemic. In this piece he is exploring his anger and frustration of the roles he is being cast in – predominantly characters who die of AIDS.

A Grand Day Out by Michael Dennis

In 1994, 17 year old Andrew travels to London to experience the historic moment when the government were voting to reduce the age of gay consent from 21. He gets swept up in the excitement of the evening, which sees him making some big decisions and having some surprising new experiences.

Something Borrowed by Gareth McLean

Set in 2016 we see Steve nervously preparing his speech for his wedding to his American boyfriend. We see his bitterness towards the past discrimination that he has suffered due to his sexuality. He explores how attitudes and laws have changed to allow equal marriage laws for gay people, and although cynical about the institution of marriage we see him looking forward to his future.

CASTING

I would like to encourage anyone to audition for the role which they feel they would like to play regardless of gender, sexuality, age or ethnicity (with the exception of the Frederick as their West Indian/Caribbean heritage is integral to the part). The characters are written as cis gendered so whoever is cast in the role will be expected to play the character as the gender they are written as.

All characters will be on stage for the duration of the play as punters in a pub, but will move around from scene to scene.

The Man on the Platform:  Perce – 30’s Male.

The Perfect Gentleman:     Bobby – 30’s Female (needs to be comfortable dressing as a male)

The Safest Spot in Town:   Frederick – 20’s Male. Black (from the West Indies/Caribbean)

Missing Alice:                     Alice – 40’s Female

I Miss the War:                   Jack – 60’s Male

More Anger:                        Phil – late 20’s/early 30’s Male

A Grand Day Out:               Andrew – 17 Male

Something Borrowed:         Steve – 30’s+ Male

Devised Monologue:           TBC -  transgender actor of any identity, ethnicity or age.

In addition to the eight monologues in Queers, I am looking to devise a monologue for a transgender character. I will be looking to cast a transgender actor for this role. The actor will need to be open to exploring themes from trans history and experimenting in rehearsal with different concepts and ideas to create a final monologue, which will be a collaboration between director and actor.

REHEARSAL DETAILS 

Rehearsals will begin the week commencing 4th October. Rehearsal days can be fairly flexible at the start of the process as I will only be seeing you one or two at a time. However, from November onwards I will be requiring rehearsals with the whole cast to work on blocking. This will most likely be on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening 7-9.30pm, these may increase nearer the production date. Some weekend day time rehearsals may need to happen closer to the production date.

AUDITIONS

Auditions will be held on Sunday 4 September at 2pm at the Barn.

Auditionees will be asked to memorise a small paragraph of the text.

SCRIPT

Nick Hern  ISBN 978-1-84842-696-2