SLT Audition
Auditions: Spider
By Jude Benning
Audition one
Date: 11 Dec 2022
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
Audition two
Date: 12 Dec 2022
Time: 20:00 - 22:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
For years Frank Dowling has had his acting students in his thrall. But two decades after starring in the West End hit, Spider, his vigour is waning. Set in a London drama school, we watch his students develop over the course of a year, their training culminating in an improvisational game set in Epping Forest. Here, over a few hot days in June, the students’ disillusionment gradually leads to an unravelling.
In this darkly humorous brand new play written for SLT, Jude Benning explores themes of power, authority and manipulation set against a backdrop of shifting social and cultural values.
We would like to run two four-hour workshops in January to develop the script. Before rehearsals begin on Tuesday 7th February the final script will be sent to all actors. We’d like to see actors who enjoy movement and expression through physicality and some dance.
Director: Jude Benning
Performances: 18 - 22 Apr 2023
First Rehearsal: 7 Feb 2023
Characters:
Frank Dowling: Male, white, approx 50. A drama teacher and former successful actor. A drug user, a master manipulator that cannot adapt to shifting social and cultural values.
Jema Wright : Black/ Asian/ mixed race, late 40s. A supporting drama teacher. Astute, empathetic, the voice of reason.
Oscar: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - upper middle class, a joker, louche
Nadine: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - rebellious, strong willed, clever
Sonny: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - ‘working class hero’, struggles with his identity
Amelia: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - a misfit, sensitive, anxious
Erin: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - beautiful, vain, but a peace keeper
Kim: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - a grafter, down to earth, has gravitas, integrity
Luke: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - gentle, woke, caring
Mitch: Between 20 and 30, any racial background - a ‘hard man’, physically fit, resourceful
Other characters that will need doubling up with the main cast: news reader / interviewer / actor / cop 1 / cop 2 / other offstage voices
