Wanting to audition for a show at ETC? Auditions are open to everyone who is suitable for the designated roles. There is no fee to audition, but successful members who are cast in ETC productions must agree to pay the $20 annual membership fee which covers administration and insurance costs. This is payable within one month of rehearsals.
To find out specific requirements about what is expected in the audition check out the notices below, or contact the associated director. If you would like to be placed on our email distribution list for upcoming auditions, please click on the link to our subscription link below and click “Subscribe.”
ETC always welcome new faces and talent and look forward to seeing you at an upcoming audition!
Please bring along completed audition form below to your audition, along with a non-returnable photo or headshot.
2024 SEASON
Season 2
The Skin of Our Teeth
By Thornton Wilder
Directed by Kadey McIntosh
Audition Dates:
Saturday 24th Feb 2024: Private auditions from 2pm – 5pm
Sunday 25th Feb 2024: Private auditions from 6pm – 9pm
CALLBACKS: Friday 1st Mar 2024 – Group auditions from 7pm – 9pm
Performances Dates:
13 -17 & 20 – 22 June 2024
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Performances at 8pm
Sunday Matinee at 2pm
Production Details:
This production is ETC’s entry for Comedy into the Victorian Drama League Awards 2024.
A three part allegory of epic proportions, this production of S.O.O.T will be staged as originally intended, with three acts and two intervals.
This production will have a high level of design across all elements, including set, properties, costumes, sound, lights and backstage. The scale of it will require the assistance of as many willing volunteers as possible to help us bring it to life on stage, so if you or someone you know would be interested in getting involved in the production side of things, please include this in your request for auditions or in a separate email to the address provided below.
Successful cast MUST BE available for rehearsal period as well as all production dates. Please check you are available for all performance dates before booking your audition time.
ETC is a community theatre company and, as such, no actors are paid.
Bookings essential for audition time.
Please send an email requesting your preferred audition date/time and roles you are interested in, with your CV and headshot attached to: skinofourteethetc@gmail.com by no later than THURSDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2024.
Auditions are by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please apply to organise your audition time and for any further information including script and audition pages. Please bring along completed audition form (can be found on the ETC Website at www.essendontheatrecompany.com.au) along with a non-returnable photograph.
Please arrive 10 minutes before audition time.
Please ensure you are available for all performance dates and times
Audition Venue:
Bradshaw Street Community Hall
Bradshaw Street (off Buckley Street)
West Essendon VIC 3040
Google Maps: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Essendon+Theatre+Company/@-37.753079,144.893059,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ad65c132fe4d1e9:0xde935373e7f0cb3f
Synopsis:
AN OPTIMISTIC CATASTROPHE SET IN PREHISTORIC NEW JERSEY, CIRCA. 1942 An immersive and metatheatrical experience that combines farce, burlesque, and satire (among other styles), The Skin of our Teeth is the story of an Eternal Family (The Antrobuses) who narrowly escape one disaster after another, from ancient times to the present. Meet George and Maggie Antrobus (married only 5,000 years); their two children, Gladys and Henry (perfect in every way!); and their maid, Sabina (the ageless vamp) as they overcome ice, flood, and war — by the skin of their
teeth.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Auditionees for Mr Antrobus, Mrs Antrobus, Henry, Gladys, Sabina:
Please prepare a 1 to 2 minute monologue of your choice. Comedy is preferred, however if you have a dramatic piece that’s fine too. Choose something that you feel most confident in performing, that you already have in your back pocket and not something that is related to the play.
We will also give you something selected from the play to read on the night, you do not need to learn it or be off book, but upon confirming your timeslot we will share the excerpts with you so that you can get familiar with it prior to your audition.
Auditionees for the Ensemble:
Upon booking your audition timeslot, you will be provided with a short, pre-selected piece that we would like you to prepare for your audition. It will be no more than 1 – 2 minutes in length. You do not have to be off book for the audition, but we’ll be looking at how you choose to bring the piece to life.
We may or may not require you to read something from the play at your audition as well – however, this will not be indicative of whether your audition is successful and you will not be required to learn anything from the play prior to the first audition.
Characters:
Accents: All auditionees are required to use a Generic American/New Jersey accent.
Special skills: Actors with any special skills (such as juggling, magic tricks, gymnastics, ballooning, acrobatics, baton twirling, mime, clowning, puppetry, ventriloquism, musical instruments etc) are encouraged to include this in their audition request email and/or incorporate it into their audition.
Mr George Antrobus (35 – 55) LEAD
Playing age of early – mid 40’s
Mr. Antrobus is charismatic, a highly respected member of his community and the patriarch of the Antrobus family. He represents the aspirational ‘everyman’, just a good guy, doing his best for his family and by extension the entire human race (which actually is the same thing in the context of this play!). A bit of a genius but also a likable buffoon, Mr. Antrobus is a brilliant inventor, the President of the Ancient and Honorable Order of Mammals: Subdivision Humans, and a soldier in the Great War. Despite his occasional wandering eye, at the end of the day, Mr Antrobus is perpetually an earnest, glass half full type of guy, always striving to ensure his family and the world continue to survive.
Mrs Maggie Antrobus (35 – 55) LEAD
Playing age of early – mid 40’s
The matriarch of the Antrobus family, appearing to live beneath a shadow of domestic duty, but could she be the Antrobus who’s really in charge? Mrs. Antrobus is fiercely protective of her children, and even more protective of the quaint little suburban home that her family has built. She understands the importance of accountability and protecting what you have earned and worked hard for. She does not suffer fools – whether they’re family or not. She’s strict, but she’s fair. More than anyone else on stage, Mrs. Antrobus remains grounded, rational, and authentically herself, throughout the course of the play’s story.
Henry Antrobus (25 – 35) SUPPORTING
Playing age of ‘9’ to early 20s – ages 9 to 20-ish over the course of the play
Note on casting for this role: The role of Henry requires the actor to embody a representation of a childlike
presence, without actually being a ‘child’, so to speak. Looking for an actor in their mid 20s – 30s, or who can
interpret and deliver this roles’ duality effectively.
Henry is a bit of a mischief maker, a Dennis the Menace — he’s a bit awkward and ungainly, and bubbles with resentment and anger wherever he goes. As a child, this makes him a bit of a dangerous troublemaker (he has a bad habit of throwing rocks at people’s heads). He’s actually killed his own brother this way, which has already happened before the action of the play takes place. As a young adult, his violent streak evolves into Henry becoming a ruthless killer, who fights his own father while serving as a soldier on the “wrong” side of the war. An energetic, impulsive child and a haunted, violent adult.
Gladys Antrobus (25 – 35) SUPPORTING
Playing age of ‘8’ to early 20s – Ages from 8 to 20s or so over the course of the play
Note on casting for this role: The role of Gladys requires the actor to embody a representation of a childlike presence, without actually being a ‘child’, so to speak. Looking for an actor in their mid 20s – 30s, or who can interpret and deliver this roles’ duality effectively.
A bundle of energy, Gladys is less destructive than her brother, but no less eager. She’s an excellent student, but she knows it, and is always glad to have the chance to prove herself or get a pat on the back. Gladys attempts to wear makeup and stylish clothes as she becomes increasingly aware of her burgeoning womanhood (despite her mother’s intense disapproval). As she grows into a woman, Gladys becomes more grounded and serious, finding beauty in simple things rather than the material — the sky, fresh air, freedom. An energetic young child and a serious, war-weary adult.
Sabina (25 – 35) LEAD
Playing age of late 20s – mid/late 30’s
The housemaid at the Antrobus house, who doesn’t really dress like or act like a housemaid. She’s “over-rouged,” a bit of a tart and represents a version of the stock role from Farce of the ‘smart-mouthed maid’. Sabina expresses nothing but admiration for her employers, and fawns over their children — at least until she becomes irritated and gives her two-weeks notice (which happens often, since she never follows through). Sabina loves the movies, movie stars, and the lavish world she sees in films — she does not like work. Sabina frequently breaks the fourth wall, commenting on
her dislike for a given scene or line, or for the entire play. In the second act, Sabina appears in the form of a sexy, seductive, and scheming beauty queen who tries to lure Mr Antrobus away from his family.
Featured/Ensemble (20 – 55) x 4 – 6 actors
Playing ages ranging from 20’s – 80’s
4 – 6 versatile actors required to play upwards of 26 roles, including the Announcer, Mammoth, Dinosaur, Fortune Teller, Telegraph Boy, and many others. Super fun for actors skilled in physical performance, bold characters and comic timing. All of these roles are speaking parts varying in length and stage time.
A note on casting: The creative team behind this production of The Skin of our Teeth is committed to diversity and inclusion across race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Whilst the characters are white in appearance, we strongly encourage submissions from First Nations actors, actors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, neurodiverse actors, actors with disability and actors who identify as LGBTQIA+
Important Dates/Rehearsals
First read through of script: between March 10 – March 17 (TBC exact date pending casting progress)
Rehearsals will start from March 24th 2024 and be held multiple times per week on Tuesday nights, Thursday nights and Sundays (some flexibility around exact days/times at the discretion of the director and ETC; Final rehearsal schedule dates and times will be confirmed once casting is finalised).
All actors cast must have full availability over the entire rehearsal period (some flexibility possible but must be arranged ahead of time and within reason) with mandatory attendance required at all rehearsals from May 15th onwards.
Tech and Production Rehearsals: June 1st onwards – all actors expected to be available for additional/longer rehearsals and tech.
