AUDITIONS

Synopsis

Nowra’s vibrant play is set inside a psychiatric institution in 1971. Set in the background of the Vietnam War, Lewis, a young director, takes on the task of mounting a production of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte in the burnt-out theatre. He becomes emotionally involved with his patients-cum-actors as his operatic production lurches forward and anti-Vietnam protests rage outside.

Characters

4 Female identifying, 7 male identifying

All characters require Australian accents.  Some roles may be considered with other accents.  If an Australian accent is not your native tongue, please reach out to the director to discuss.  

Ages are an approximation and do not need to reflect an actors actual age.  Roles are open to actors of all ethnicities and genders.

Lewis

Male | 20s | Lead Role

A Recent University Graduate obtains a job directing a play with the patients of a mental health institution.  He begins unsure about the job, his role and how he will work with the patients.  As the play progresses, he gains more confidence and begins to better understand the patients and himself.
Please note this role requires physical intimacy (kissing) with the characters of Julie and Cherry.  There is also a physical altercation scene with the character of Nick.

Roy 

Male | 40s-50s | Lead Role

A patient who has spent much of his life in institutions.  He is the driving force in producing the Opera “Cosi Fan Tutte”, actively encouraging the other patients to be involved.  His mood fluctuates rapidly between excitable and depressed.

Doug 

Male | 20s-40s | Supporting Role

A patient at the institution.  He is high-energy and is constantly challenging Lewis and the other patients.  Doug has a history of pyromania and a strained relationship with his mother. 

Please note that there is a physical altercation scene between the characters of Cherry and Doug.

Henry

Male | 40s-50s | Supporting Role

A former lawyer who is now a patient at the institution.  Quite in nature and speaks with a stutter (when he does speak).  He has signed up for the play at the insistence of Roy.  Henry has spent much of his adult life in institutions.

Julie 

Female | 20s | Supporting Role

Has a drug dependency and is at the institution at the insistence of her parents to help her become sober.  This is her first admission.  She forms a strong bond with Lewis as the play progresses.  

Please note that there is physical intimacy required for this role as she shares a kiss with Lewis.

Cherry

Female | 20s-40s | Supporting Role

Has been in the institution for some time and becomes infatuated with Lewis.  She becomes jealous of the relationship Lewis forms with Julie and is prone to anger when she feels she has been wronged.  

Please note that there is physical intimacy required for this role as she shares a kiss with Lewis.  There is also a scene that requires a physical altercation between Cherry and Doug.

Ruth

Female | 30s-50s | Supporting Role

A quiet patient of the institution who likes order and routine and finds it challenging to deviate from this.  Literal in nature and has been in and out of mental health institutions.

Please note that in one scene, Ruth slaps Zac.  

Zac

Male | Late 20s – 40s | Supporting Role

The musician of the group who has been in and out of mental health institutions.  Highly anxious and uses medication to regulate his anxiety, sometimes taking too much, which causes him to pass out. 

This role requires playing the piano and the piano accordion.  Actors do not need to be able to play these instruments (well), however, it would be a bonus if they had some basic skills. 

Please note that in one scene, Zac is slapped by Ruth.

Lucy 

Female | 20s | Supporting Role

Lewis’ girlfriend, who lives with Lewis and his friend Nick.  She is completing her Master’s Degree and is a passionate protester of the Vietnam War.  Doesn’t understand why Lewis has taken the job at the institution.

Nick

Male | 20s | Supporting Role

Lewis’ Best Friend.  Nick is a director of student theatre productions.  He is a supporter of the communists in Vietnam and opposed to the war.   He is not sensitive to the patients of the institution and makes derogatory comments about them.

Please note that there is a physical altercation between Nick and Lewis.

Justin 

Male | 30s-50s | Supporting Role

Social worker at the mental health institution.  He is responsible for setting up the project that Lewis directs to allow the patients a distraction from their everyday lives.  Has worked at the institution for a long time.

Contact: 

All other enquiries please contact the Director, Rosalin Shafik-Eid via email auditionforetc@gmail.com