(this guidance material on the auditions process is also contained in the attachment, below, in a form more suitable for printing out.)
Throughout, you should remember that the purpose of the audition is to help the Director and Musical Director put your talents to the best use in the performance being planned. PRACTICALITIES
The first thing to do before attending the audition look at our programme of rehearsals and performance dates which is on our calendar on the website. We will ask you about your commitments as part of the audition and you need to be sure you are available for all January rehearsals and performances.
There are two audition sessions –
2nd or
9th July. Both take place at
Barnabas Oley School Hall from 7.30pm and when you arrive, you simply take a seat on the chairs under the covered walkway and wait to be called. There will be a selection of extracts from the pantomime for you to look at but it is better if you have prepared and considered your audition before you turn up. We aim to finish no later than 9.30 so please don’t arrive after 9.15.
The panel are Trevor Bounford (Director) and Elaine Boyd (Musical Director) supported on 2nd July by Clare Day (Writer) and on 9th July by Gloria Sayer (Assistant Director).
READING
You are asked to identify a character and you will be asked to read a section of that character’s script with one of the audition panel. You should consider how the character moves and how they speak and try to show us your ideas in the audition.
You may be asked to read another section for another character – don’t worry if you are asked, and don’t worry if you aren’t. The panel will look for as much evidence of your ability as they feel they need to help make their decisions.
IMPROVISATION
In addition to reading, you might be asked to improvise a short scene or demonstrate how a character might walk. In preparation for this, consider how you imagine the character.
SINGING
A pantomime has songs for groups, duets and individuals. To make sure we have the right casting, we need to decide whether your voice is suitable for solo or group work or both. In addition, we need to know if you can hold a tune, have enough breath to sustain a vocal line and how high or low your voice is.
For this part of the audition, you will be asked to sing a verse and chorus of a song without accompaniment. The song can be your choice OR you could sing a song from one of our workshops. Most recently, we have learned Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
AFTER THE AUDITION
No decisions will be made until everyone has been seen on July 9th. The audition panel and their advisors will get together on 10th July and decide a cast list. We will then contact everyone with the outcomes and the cast list will be posted on the website.
As with last year, it is possible that we may not be able to cast everyone who auditions. If we are unable to offer you a role, we will offer some feedback on our decision and we will see if we can negotiate another role for you on the support side of the production.
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