29/11/2018
Kia ora koutou
(Please feel free to share this to anybody you feel may be interested)
I'm pleased to announce that NZ Playhouse will be hold a round of casting for the 2019 April–September schools tour on:
Wellington: Sunday 9th December 2018 [Location TBC]
Auckland: Date (or videos) TBC depending on interest
Dunedin: Monday 10th December (or videos) depending on interest
Christchurch: Wednesday 12th December @ Orange Studios
All other centres and Australia: we're happy to take self-tape video auditions in the first instance, please by Wednesday 12th December.
I'm aware there's only a week and a half between now and the first audition date – if you are anxious about committing to the long contract but think you're likely, you're welcome to come to the casting anyway. If it's a no from us, then at least that's your decision made for you, and if it's a yes (or a callback), you generally get another week to decide for certain.
The tour dates:
NZ Playhouse's 2019 tour is considerably downsized from the year-long contracts we have done for the last few years, but still remaining a fairly solid tour:
Rehearsals begin Monday 8 April 2019 in Christchurch
Last shows are Thursday 5th September in Hobart or Friday 27th September in Dannevirke (depending whether in the Aus or NZ cast)
We have two casts of three, one cast does term 2 in the South Island and term 3 in the North Island, and the other cast does term 1 in the North Island and term 2 in Victoria/Tasmania. We usually switch an actor or two each term between the casts too.
Just ONE show this year, for primary schools: "The Tortoise and the Hare", a new 45 minute adaptation by Gregory Cooper. The show will be performed up to three times a day.
What we're looking for:
We generally employ actors who have a tertiary acting qualification (and/or good experience), are good at living with other people, and have a drivers license. It usually works out that most of our actors are in their 20's but there are a few exceptions. Most of the actors for the 2019 show will need to be able to sing. Each actor plays multiple characters.
The blurb for the show can be found here: http://newzealandplayhouse.co.nz/shows/the-tortoise-and-the-hare/
Accommodation: provided during tour times. Email us for the long-form version of the style and standard of accommodation we commit to (short form: it isn't camping and it isn't 5 star hotels... somewhere in between).
Paid: yes (email us for pay rate details)
About NZ Playhouse:
NZ Playhouse has been touring New Zealand since 2009, and touring Australia since 2012. Despite a grand name, we're a small company. Casts of three typically travel and set up the small set and tech by themselves (with support from a tour manager in Ōtautahi Christchurch, where our office and rehearsal space are based). Our shows are known for being just as funny for the adults as they are for the kids, for our ability to alter the shows as the audience throw unexpected offers at us, and for our slick systems. We won a health and safety award in 2016, which we're still proud of, 2 years later :-) We do tech and procedures training for 1 week, rehearse for 2 weeks, then hit the road.
You can also check out our website – www.nzplayhouse.co.nz
The casting session:
Email [email protected] to register at your next convenience.
Please prepare 30-60 seconds of fun monologue (preferably something for children, and/or comedy... nothing too heavy please!) Contact if you'd like suggestions.
Please sing about 16 bars of music, preferably to a backing (please bring a device with the song, we'll provide a headphone cable to a speaker)
We may give you a short scenario to improvise and/or give you a cold read of a page of script.
We will ask you a few questions at the end.
Any concerns or clarifications you are more than welcome to check with me, call any time on 021 223 6693.
WLG: email indicating that you're available on the 9th December and we will send you a slot.
AKL/DUN: email indicating your interest and if we have enough, we'll come your way.
CHC: email indicating that you're available on the 12th December and we will send you a slot.
Everywhere else: indicate your interest and we will get back to you with a plan for either a video or Skype audition.
Again – don't hesitate to call me on 021 223 6693 or the office on 0800 894 500.
Thanks all and see you at casting!
Ngā mihi
Michael Bell
Producer
New Zealand Playhouse
[email protected]
P.S. If you made it through reading this long and unformatted Facebook post, I applaud you! This could be a sign you have the stamina to do half a year of shows with us?
