AUDITION NOTICE: Things I Know to be True

WT is committed to being a diverse and open organisation. Auditions are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, and we particularly welcome those who have been traditionally under-represented in theatre.

Please note that these auditions have now closed.

Written by Andrew Bovell, the co-writer of Strictly Ballroom, Things I Know To Be True is a co-production between Frantic Assembly, a company who use movement to explore the visual, lyrical and emotional elements of a play and the State Company of Southern Australia. It premiered in 2016 to great acclaim in both Adelaide and the UK.

The play is a beautifully touching, funny and dramatic exploration of what it means to be part of a family.

Fran and Bob, parents to their four grown-up children, navigate the choppy waters of their own marriage, whilst trying to support, control and encourage the lives of their children. The play explores how secrets have seismic effects in a family and how the individuals come to terms with these secrets. Is the nature of the love between the family enough to sustain each character?

There are six fantastic parts in the play with wonderful opportunities for all the actors. Each child and their issues dominates a section of the play and the parents provide the constant line running through the play. The play is about family and the issues are universal.

I intend to keep the play set in Australia because some of the references are very speciic to Australia and the idea of making a big escape from home is very important. As in the British production we will NOT be using Australian accents. The ages of the characters are suggested so please don’t be put off!

In trying to honour the spirit of the movement element, originally used in the play, I would like to introduce some physical elements. Each child has a significant monologue and there is an opportunity to create some stage pictures here.

We will be employing someone to choreograph movement that is manageable but looks convincing. Please don’t worry, this element is going to be basic and you don’t need to get out the lycra and leg warmers, but movement could enhance the nature and stage picture of the play. The play is very dependent on music and lighting to create the atmosphere. There will be no scenery and just some stage furniture which will be brought on and off by the cast and possibly a member of the stage crew.

Parts

The Parents

• Bob Price – Sixty three, a car factory worker who took redundancy early and is now questioning life. After tending to his roses where else can he put his energy?
• Fran Price – Fifty seven, a senior nurse. She is the driving force in the family, fierce and critical, acting out of love, but she can be crushing to some of her family.

The Children

• Pip – Thirty four, an education department bureaucrat. Married with children but is planning changes that she knows her parents, especially her mother, will disapprove of.
• Mark – Thirty two, an IT specialist. Just finished a long term relationship and is now acting on something hidden all his life that will really test the family. Mark returns late in the play as Mia. This part is open to all actors and we are interested in seeing transgender actors for this role.
• Ben – Twenty eight, a financial services worker. Fran’s favourite, but is always clashing with his father who disapproves of his money driven aspirations. His latest behaviour really tests the parents.
• Rosie – Nineteen, the family baby, who doesn’t know who she is and what she wants. She has gone to Europe to explore the world and herself, but returns after a bruising, heartbreaking event.

Auditions

There will be a read through on Monday 10th October at 7.45pm in the foyer.

Auditions: Tuesday 11th and Thursday 13th October, both at 7.45pm in the foyer.

Performance dates: Thursday 16th to Saturday 25th March.

The audition will require working on short sections of the play where all the family are involved and short sections of the monologues for the children. If you are unable to make the audition dates and are still interested please contact me.

Jeremy Radburn
Director
jeremyradburn@icloud.com