Rhinoceros Auditions – Monday
Date/Time
Mon 9th February
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Location
The Highbury Vaults
Want to audition for a French anti-fascist satirical play featuring disconcerting rhinoceroses? Then look no further! Sign up for a slot here
Bérenger, suffering from a hangover & existential malaise, is late for his meeting with his friend Jean at a local café. All is calm until the unthinkable happens: a rhinoceros stampedes through the main square. Chaos ensues when more rhinoceroses appear in the unlikeliest of places, the casualties mount up and the townspeople start behaving in an increasingly alarming way. Can humanity survive such an onslaught?
Join us this spring and take a trip into the absurd with the classic play ‘Rhinoceros’ by the Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco. A staple in 20th century European theatre, this three-act play has never been more relevant. Written in 1959, it has been widely interpreted as a metaphor for the rise of Fascism & Nazism in Europe before World War II. It explores how people can be manipulated into blind conformism, authoritarianism, groupthink & herd mentality even when confronted with the absurd. But ultimately, it’s a play that champions humanism and fights dehumanisation, while also being very funny.
With a tight rehearsal schedule, a trip to see some real-life rhinoceroses, a day of theatre games & much ensemble work, this production should be a stomping good time! We are looking to cast 9 people in total: 1 person for the role of lead, 3 people for 3 large roles & 5 people for 3 separate small/medium roles each so everyone will have a considerable amount of stage time.
“All cats are mortal. Socrates is mortal. Therefore, Socrates is a cat.”
Important dates/information to consider:
Auditions will be held on Weds 4th, Thurs 5th, Sun 8th & Mon 9th February at the Highbury Vaults and call backs on Tues 10th February. If you can’t make one of those dates, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
The read-through will be on Weds 11th February.
Rehearsals start on Thurs 12th February and will run according to the cast’s availability until Fri 15th May.
The tech & dress rehearsals will be on Sun 17th & Mon 18th May. Performances will run from Tues 19th to Sat 23rd May (including a Sat matinee).
Shows will be performed at The Alma Tavern Theatre, the oldest pub theatre in the South West. Please note that unfortunately the theatre is on the first floor with no lift so is not fully accessible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email janeleiss@hotmail.com
Find Rhinoceros character info and auditions pieces here
Notes on auditions
You may be asked to read for other parts then the one you have prepared so if you’re happy to do this (please just say in the audition if not) it’s worth taking a look at the other parts as well.
