The auditions are for:
THE HISTORY BOYS
by Alan Bennett
WEDNESDAY 13 JUNE 2018 at 7.30pm
Oakes Mills West, New Hey Road, Huddersfield HD3 4DD
THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY
by Tim Firth
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE 2018 at 7.30pm
Oakes Mills West, New Hey Road, Huddersfield HD3 4DD
Details of the plays and roles available are listed below.
The auditions are open to everyone, so, if you are not interested but know someone who might please let them know of our auditions.
We look forward to hearing from you!
THE HISTORY BOYS
The Plot
The play is set in a boys grammar school in the north of England and is set in the early 1980s. The play follows a group of history pupils preparing for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance examinations under the guidance of three teachers (Hector, Irwin, and Lintott) each with contrasting styles.
Hector, an eccentric teacher, delights in knowledge for its own sake, but the headmaster ambitiously wants the school to move up the academic league table, so Irwin, a supply teacher, is hired to introduce a rather more cynical and ruthless style of teaching.
The boys are an unruly bunch of bright, funny sixth-form boys and, as such boys will be, in pursuit of sex, sport, and a place at a good university – generally in that order. In all their efforts, they are helped and hindered, enlightened and bemused, by their maverick English teacher who seeks to broaden their horizons in sometimes undefined ways, and by a young history teacher who questions the methods, as well as the aim, of their schooling.
In The History Boys, Alan Bennett raises – with gentle wit and pitch-perfect command of character – not only universal questions about the nature of history and how it is taught but also questions about the purpose of education today.
‘Adult’ Characters
The Headmaster
Douglas Hector English/General Studies teacher
Irwin History teacher; brought in as a special coach
Mrs Dorothy Lintott History teacher
TV Director of Irwin’s television programme (a small role)
The Boys
Akthar Asian ancestry, Muslim
Crowther acts as a hobby
Dakin handsome, object of Posner’s and Irwin’s affection
Lockwood strong opinions
David Posner youngest, gay and Jewish
Rudge better known for athletic skills than for intelligence
Scripps Anglican, plays piano
Timms joker, overweight
Potential non-speaking roles
Make-Up Woman from the TV Production team on Irwin’s television show
MPs spoken to by Irwin in opening scene
Fiona Headmaster’s secretary
Play Dates
2-6 October 2018 Rehearsals will begin in early August
THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY
The Plot
Mizzis Horrocks’ class of seven-year olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads – and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he’s not a proper star like they have at NASA, Herod won’t stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes…
The children are played by adults, who later play their parents.
This warm, witty, funny play is an ideal alternative to the usual Christmas fare with original lyrics set to the tunes of the usual Christmas carols
All the cast will sing during the play to some degree or other. Mary should be a confident singer as she leads the carols “proper” the rest need to have some rhythmic ability as they mainly do not know the words or tunes but make up their own words as they go along (Think Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady)
Characters
Boys
Innkeeper (Bradley)
Star of Bethlehem (Marcus)
Narrator (Tim)
Herod / Joseph (Ryan)
Ass (unnamed boy)
Frankincense Wise Man (Adrian)
Girls
Mary (Jenny)
Wise Gold Man (Jess)
Shepherd (Zoe)
Gabriel (Ashley)
Angel (Shamima, who is of Asian / Pakistani origin)
Play Dates
4-8 December 2018 Rehearsals will begin in October
