QUEERS

curated by Mark Gatiss

Syngenta Cellar 9-13 April 2019 

A young soldier returning from the trenches of the First World War recollects a love that dare not speak its name. Almost one hundred years later, a groom-to-be prepares for his wedding.  Queers celebrates a century of evolving social attitudes and political milestones in British history, as seen through the eyes of eight individuals. Poignant and personal, funny, tragic and riotous, Huddersfield Thespians present these eight monologues, which cover deeply affecting and personal rites-of-passage stories. 

We are seeking eight actors to perform these monologues, which will all be presented at each performance. As such there will be OPEN AUDITIONS from 7.30pm on Wednesday 28 November 2018 at Oakes Mills West. 

The monologues and actor requirements are: 

The Man on the Platform

Playing age: Male 20s-early 30s (WWI Officer type)

A young man returning from the trenches of the First World War recollects a love that dared not speak its name. 

The Perfect Gentleman

Playing age: Female mid 20s-early 30s (Female who dresses and pretends to be male)

Bobby is a swaggering man about town. But Bobby has a secret. Can it survive when it really matters? 

Safest Spot in Town

Playing age: Male late 20s-late 30s (West Indian immigrant)

As the Blitz hits London, Fredrick is grateful that he survived in a very unlikely place of refuge. 

Missing Alice

Playing age: Female 40s (1950s housewife)

Alice and her husband share a secret, but with the publication of the Wolfenden Report in 1957 it may not need to be a secret anymore. 

I Miss the War

Playing age: Male 50s (dapper gentleman)

The 1967 Sexual Offences Act will revolutionise everything, won’t it? Well, perhaps not as far as dapper gent Jackie is concerned. 

More Anger

Playing age: Male 20s-early 30s well-built lad type

Actors can easily feel typecast. But it’s 1987, and with AIDS hitting the headlines a promising new part looks like a game-changer for Phil. 

A Grand Day Out

Playing age: Male late teens

In 1994, as the government votes on lowering the age of male homosexual consent, 17-year-old Andrew comes to London for the first time – with unexpected results. 

Something Borrowed

Playing age: Male late 40s-early 60s (a well-groomed groom to be!)

Steve, a groom-to-be, anxiously prepares his wedding speech. But now the big day is here, what has been won and what has been lost? 

All these monologues form one play, which will be performed each night. 

The production will be directed by Gareth Dickinson. 

Anyone interested in auditioning for any of these parts should email Alistair Cheetham at casting@huddersfieldthespians.co.uk specifying which part(s) you are interested in. 

If you don’t have access to email, then please call him on 07872 616457. 

If you wish to preview a copy of any of the plays, please also contact Alistair 

These auditions are OPEN AUDITIONS, open to members and non-members alike. Please feel free to circulate this information. 

**UPDATE*** ADDITIONAL DATE ***UPDATE***
MEN OF THE WORLD by John Godber
New Audition Date: Tuesday 13 November 2018 at 7.30pm at Oakes Mills West
Rehearsals start: 10 December 2018 (break for Christmas from 21 December to 2 January) Play runs: 12-16 February 2019
Huddersfield Thespians are offering a second opportunity for actors to audition for a role in their February 2019 production of John Godber’s bitter-sweet comedy Men of the World.
The story is told through three coach drivers, Frank (a woman – “don’t ask!”),Larry and Stick, who play not only the drivers, but all their passengers!
Larry – male 40+ is looking to retire after this trip – the problem is he doesn’t have much else in his life.
Frank – female 35+ is down-to-earth and keeps the peace in the trio.

Stick – male 25+ hates everyone and everything!
The play is told through a collection of vignettes, with comedy, pathos and drama throughout.
The cast must regularly jump between drivers and passengers in a flurry of costume to maintain the necessary fast pace of the play. In addition, every characterisation must be clearly defined. It is a demanding play physically, as well as in levels of concentration.
All actors would be required at every rehearsal, so only a limited absence could be permitted during the rehearsal period, and none in the last week of rehearsals (week commencing 4 February)

ALL THREE WILL PLAY SEVERAL OF THE FOLLOWING ROLES (BOTH MALE & FEMALE): Sissy (aged 79); Doris (80); Jean (79); Wally (68); Len (70); Brian (67); Harry (72); Dot (72); Martin (middle aged); May (63); Mollie (60s); Connie (60s); Raymond (40s); Clive (40s) & Dolly (50s) as well as their driver character!
If you wish to audition please email casting@huddersfieldthespians.co.uk no later than 12noon on Tuesday 13 November, stating the part(s) you are interested in.
#MenoftheWorld #Huddersfield #Auditions #Theatre #JohnGodber

MEN OF THE WORLD by John Godber
Audition Date: Monday 22 October 2018 at 7.30pm at Oakes Mills West
Rehearsals start: mid-December 2018
Play runs: 12-16 February 2019

Preparing for a mystery trip to Scarborough three northern coach drivers pass the time remembering more exciting trips from the past, such as the one down the Rhine Valley. Stick hates his passengers and wishes he was doing the Spanish run, Larry is a seasoned traveller and Mario Lanza fan and Frank is their female counterpart. These three actors take turns playing an assortment of passengers, from the dotty old complainers to the retired miners seeking excitement on too little money. A touching, often hilarious, bitter-sweet play.

John Godber turns his attention to the wonderfully whacky world of coach trips seen through the eyes of three coach drivers, ex-sailor Frank, ex-SAS and avid Mario Lanza fan Larry and the jaundiced Stick.

We join them on a three-coach convoy of mainly pensioners to Heidelberg and an amateur performance of The Student Prince in the town’s castle.

Larry has a gentle empathy with his charges, he likes them, gets to know them, gives them both dignity and nicknames from his world of entertainment. He suffered deep vein thrombosis before it was fashionable, which kept him off work for a year and scuppered his chances of being head-hunted by other coach companies. He is looking to retire after this trip – the problem is he doesn’t have much else in his life.

Frank is a down to earth woman who keeps the peace in the trio. She did a stint in the Royal Navy, on training course after training course, leaving “qualified in nowt” hence her new career as coach driver.

Stick, hates pensioners, and it seems everyone and everything else. He also hates singing on his coach, is not too keen on motorway services and thinks people should be shot then they reach their seventies! His envy and admiration of fellow driver Johnny Mac is palpable.

Godber takes the micky out of the elderly but it is gentle and almost affectionate, with all the seizing up or legs swelling if they sit too long, the talk of ailments and bodily functions, distrust of foreign food etc. However, there is also a devoted husband looking after his ailing wife, a sudden death and a widower who feels he has nothing in life.

This collection of vignettes is both very funny and at times sad, with moments of real drama, such as when Frank must act as peacemaker between a warring Larry and Stick as frustrations and differences explode.

The cast must regularly jump between drivers and passengers in a flurry of costume to maintain the necessary fast pace of the play. In addition, every characterisation must be clearly defined. It is a demanding play physically, emotionally and in levels of concentration.

All actors would be required at every rehearsal, so only a limited absence could be permitted during the rehearsal period, and none in the last two weeks of rehearsals (weeks commencing 28 January & 4 February)

The main roles are:
Larry – male 50+
Frank – female 40+
Stick – male 35+

HOWEVER, ALL THREE PLAY THE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE ROLES (BOTH MALE & FEMALE) these are:
Sissy (aged 79); Doris (80); Jean (79);
Wally (68); Len (70); Brian (67);
Harry (72); Dot (72);
Martin (middle aged); May (63);
Mollie (60s); Connie (60s);
Raymond (40s); Clive (40s) & Dolly (50s)
as well as their driver character!

If you wish to audition please email casting@huddersfieldthespians.co.uk no later than 12noon on Monday 22 October. Stating the part(s) you are interested in.

This month’s Actors Workshop takes place TOMORROW night (3 July) at 7.30pm. We will be looking at “Tons of Money” – an Aldwych farce updated for modern audiences, and our play for June 2019. So, if you fancy an alternative to the football come and join us at Oakes Mills West for a fun evening!