SLT Audition
Auditions: After Life
By Jack Thorne, adapted from the film by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Audition one
Date: 19 Feb 2023
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
Audition two
Date: 20 Feb 2023
Time: 20:00 - 22:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
No one knows what happens after we die. Maybe this?
A crowd of people arrive in a bleak bureaucratic space, to be informed that they are newly deceased. The staff [“guides”] explain to the new arrivals [“the guided”] that they will be staying for a week, and in that time they have to choose one memory “that is most meaningful or precious to you”. When they have chosen the memory, the guides will do their best to recreate it spectacularly, before the guided move on, taking only that precious memory with them.
Willingly or reluctantly, the guided examine their lives and decide on their memories. But one of the guides is caught in a dilemma - despite all the careful planning, he discovers that he has been allocated to someone whose former life overlaps with his own. Does he stick to the rules or forego the chance for another glimpse of his love?
First performed at the National Theatre in 2021, critics described this large cast ensemble piece as a “beautiful and sympathetic adaptation, filled with care and bittersweet reflection” and “a dreamy, compassionate piece of magical realism that packs an increasing emotional wallop as its characters try to find the single memory they will take to infinity.”
The ages stated are playing ages, as given in the script, but there is a degree of flexibility - for example, it is required that BEATRICE is elderly, but the actor doesn’t need to actually be in her 90s. The actors playing FOUR and JILL SMART will need to be over 18, but capable of playing younger.
Please note that, despite what some of the character names may suggest, none of the characters are written for a particular ethnicity. The playing ages are the crucial factor, and auditions from actors of all ethnicities are encouraged. The only limitation is that those playing ACTOR BEATRICE and ACTOR HIROKAZU are credible younger versions of those playing their older selves.
Actors playing the smaller named roles will also play other, non-speaking, parts and will be actively involved in recreating the memories of the guided.
In addition there are three small voiceover parts to record.
Director: Mark Ireson
Performances: 30 May - 4 Jun 2023
First Rehearsal: 19 Mar 2023
Characters:
ONE: (F, 30s) Experienced guide, determined not to let OBAFEMI’s resistance to the process get her down.
TWO: (M, mid to late 20s) The one the other guides look to for advice. Shocked and conflicted when he discovers his former life overlaps with the person he is guiding, HIROKAZU. Major part.
THREE: (M, 40s) Finds it hard to suppress his anger at the guided assigned to him
FOUR: (F, 17) Newly arrived guide. Sees TWO as a mentor, but is impatient with the guided. Large part.
FIVE : (M, 50s) In charge of this team of guides, and the Tannoy. Formal, aloof, plays a little bit of accordion, badly (but this can be a sound effect)
BEATRICE KILLICK: (F, 91) Unmarried, very concerned about her cat, worshiped her brother HAROLD, Northern accent, some ballroom dance ability. Major part.
HIROKAZU MOCHIZUKI: (M, 74) Married for 43 years to KATIE. Resents that he could never measure up to Katie’s former partner, who died young. Major part.
OBAFEMI TAYLOR: (M, 21) Has been seriously ill since 13, angry at what he missed. Pushes against the rules, questioning everything.
JILL SMART: (F, 13) Teenage girl, eventually sees beyond stereotypical moment to a truly meaningful memory.
HENRY THOMPSON: (M, 30s) Initially cannot bear to speak his memories. Small part
GRAHAM JENKINS: (M, any age) Creepy, potential predator. Small part
ACTOR HAROLD: (young M) Plays BEATRICE’s brother in her memory. Small part
ACTOR BEATRICE: (young F) Plays the young BEATRICE in her memory, some ballroom dance ability. Small part
ACTOR HIROKAZU: (M, 30s) Plays the young HIROKAZU in his memory. Small part
KATIE MOCHIZUKI: (F, 30s) HIROKAZU’s wife; TWO’s former lover
Audition pieces will be available shortly.
Please be aware that there are not audition pieces for every individual named part. You will have the opportunity to read several scenes and parts at audition, to allow us to see abilities and chemistry.
This is very much an ensemble piece. The script gives plenty of scope for us to devise scenes and settings, particularly in the scenes recreating the memories, so you should be comfortable with that type of work in rehearsal. And if you can dance, juggle, cartwheel, play an instrument, or whatever… please let me know.
