It's all about the look or talent?!
Tue, 1 Sept 2009, 06:31 pmAndie Jo13 posts in thread
It's all about the look or talent?!
Tue, 1 Sept 2009, 06:31 pmI have just recently gotten back into acting after working in media in Sydney. I am finding it a little frustrating to find suitable plays and short films I can audition for in Perth.
I am Australian born with Indian, European and Indigenous heritage. Alot of the roles I have auditioned for lately have been set in 18th Century England so my look is probably not appropriate (which I was told by one honest director). I don't really like it when the director thinks I am only suitable for the role of the "maid". But heck I'll happily play that role if it's offered.
I am seriously just happy to have a chance to practice auditioning and just be judged on the acting. I kinda figure if I get my face out there then directors know I exist, so when the right role comes along I'm top of mind.
Can someone please point me in the right direction here? How can I get more acting experience in Perth when there is a lack of roles for me to audition for in amateur theatre?
Theatre is probably the
Tue, 1 Sept 2009, 06:53 pmTheatre is probably the last bastion of discrimination. If you want a woman for a role, you can quite rightly reject men because of their anatomy. If you want a 12 year old, you're not going to cast a fifty-something matron of the company.
As a director, it is firstly about "can you play the part?" If two people could do the job equally well, I will probably choose the one who physically fits the character best, and make no apologies for doing so. I want the character to be believable, and if that means I pick the fat bloke over the skinny bloke, then so be it.
For "fat" and "skinny", you might insert tall, short, black, white, young or old.
Having said that, there is almost always the possibility of altering the script to suit the physical characteristics of the actor. Indeed, in our recent one act season, the script called for a Jewish woman, instead a very talented young lady of Indian descent was cast, and the script altered to suit.
If you are auditioning for period drawing room dramas, you will probably continue to be dissappointed. More modern pieces may allow more flexibility in their casting. Indeed, unless there is a direct reference to the heritage of the character, it really shouldn't matter.
There's plenty of community theatre happening in Perth, so I'm sure there are roles out there for the fat, skinny, young, old, black and white. Selectivity in what you audition for may be the key.
www.meltheco.org.au