HAMLET

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACT IN ONE OF SHAKESPEARE’S GREATEST TRAGEDIES IN THE ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF HIS 450TH BIRTHDAY. HAMLET by William Shakespeare Directed by Melissa Merchant Welcome to Elsinore Castle, where Hamlet’s father is dead (but not gone), his mother has remarried and his new dad is his uncle. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark . . . Audition dates: Saturday 19th October (from 2pm) and Sunday 20th October (from 10am) by arrangement Call-backs: 21st October (from 6.30pm) Rehearsals (in Nedlands): November 3rd to December 15th and January 5th to January 30th on Sundays (1:30pm -5pm), Mondays (6:30pm-9pm) & Thursdays (6:30pm-9pm) by arrangement. Production dates (to be confirmed): 31st January to 16th February UWA production venue: to be confirmed To book an audition, write to: bookings@grads.org.au Enquiry only: 0417276653 Audition brief: Please prepare a short (no more than 3 minute) Shakespearean monologue – can be from any play. Audition scenes will be emailed prior to the audition. These do not need to be memorised. (it’s preferable if you do not try to learn them). Characters: Hamlet (Male 18-25) – Hamlet is a man of his era, he is a man of this era. He is a millennial and has never lived in a world without computers, the Internet or mobile phones. He is wealthy and privileged and yet also disaffected and disillusioned. He listens to obscure music (you've probably never heard of it), watches European movies (Hollywood is so mainstream) and dresses in skinny jeans and ironic t-shirts; in short, Hamlet is a hipster. Ophelia (Female 18-25) – While the same age and generation as Hamlet, Ophelia yearns for a simpler time. She would be at home selling flowers at a stall in the Fremantle Markets. She is, at heart, a gentle and generous person, waif-like and willowy. She wears flowing dresses and is a modern hippy. Some singing required. Horatio (Male 18-25) – Friend to Hamlet, Horatio attempts to be the voice of reason in a world that’s gone crazy. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern (Female or Male 18-35) – or Guildenstern and Rosencrantz . . . are also friends of Hamlet’s . . . or are they? Laertes (Male 25-30) – Older brother to Ophelia, Laertes is a serious young man and there is no doubt that he is going places. Gertrude (Female 40-50) – Hamlet’s mother, old Hamlet’s widow, Claudius’ wife and consequently now also Hamlet’s aunt. Gertrude is all class, think Sophia Loren, Lauren Becall and Ingrid Bergman. Claudius (Male 40-50) – Hamlet’s uncle… and now stepfather (also King of Denmark). Claudius killed old Hamlet and married Gertrude in order to seize the throne, but is he really a bad guy? Polonius (Female or Male 40-50) – Parent of Ophelia and Laertes, Polonius just wants what’s best for the family. Age ranges are stage ages. Other roles to be cast (but not auditioned): Bernardo, Francisco & Marcellus (Guards) Voltimand & Cornelius (Courtiers) 5 Players (Troupe of actors) Fortinbras (Prince of Norway) Clowns 1 & 2 (Gravediggers) Osric (Courtier) Captain, Gentleman, Servant, Sailor, Messenger, Lord & Ambassador Director Melissa Merchant holds a Doctorate in Theatre and Drama, specialising in Shakespeare and Restoration Theatre. She has been an active member of the Perth independent theatre scene for nearly twenty years and is excited to have the opportunity to direct what is, arguably, Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy.