SLT Audition
Auditions: Whose Life Is It Anyway?
By Brian Clark
Audition one
Date: 3 Mar 2024
Time: 10:00 - 12:45
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
Audition two
Date: 4 Mar 2024
Time: 20:00 - 22:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
Set mostly in one hospital room, the action revolves around Claire, a witty, intelligent, successful sculptor and art teacher, who was recently paralysed from the neck down in a car accident. She is determined to be allowed to die or, more accurately, not to be kept alive.
The play is surprisingly very funny and entertaining, in addition to moving and thought-provoking. It examines to what extent doctors, or the law should be allowed to interfere in the life of a private citizen.
In portraying Claire as an intelligent, witty, passionate and creative woman with what she now considers a useless body, it leaves the audience with conflicting feelings about her desire to not live the life left to her.
**AUDITIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS PRODUCTION, WITH ALL AUDITION PLACES RESERVED**
Director: Lily Ann Green
Performances: 11 - 15 Jun 2024
First Rehearsal: 31 Mar 2024
Characters:
Claire Harrison : Female, the patient, playing age 30-40. Intelligent, witty, passionate, she is a successful sculptor and art teacher until her accident. The character’s nationality is never specified, so any accent will be considered.
Sister Anderson: Female, playing age 40+. Senior ward nurse, extremely good at her job, gives nothing personal away.
Nurse Kay Sadler (Auditions full): Female, playing age 18-25. A trainee nurse, eager to learn and please, caring, slightly naive. **The audition slots for this role have all now been taken. Please do not apply to audition for this role.**
John: Male, playing age 18-30. A hospital orderly - he describes himself as a ‘black, rap, percussion artiste’, full of energy and good humour. NOTE: He does dance(ish), performs (ish) some percussion and beat boxes within the play.
Dr David Scott : Male, playing age 30-45. A hospital registrar and Claire’s principal doctor. Ppassionate, caring, intelligent, forward-thinking, perhaps slightly too emotional for his job?
Dr Michael or Michelle Emerson : Male or female, playing age 45+. Senior consultant physician - pragmatic, efficient, believes she/he cares, knows she/he’s excellent at her/his job.
Mrs Boyle: Female, playing age 40+. A social worker - caring but ‘by the book’, overworked and slightly out of her depth with someone of Claire’s energy and intellect.
Ms Helen Hill : Female, playing age 30-45. A solicitor - feisty, intelligent, very good at her job, exceedingly human.
Mrs Justice Millhouse : Female, playing age 50+. A judge - serious, caring, disciplined, intelligent, very good at and comfortable in her job.
Please note the ages are not set in stone and are playing ages only. If you have any questions or doubts regarding your suitability, please contact the director for clarification.
The play is written as set in a UK hospital. The city is not specified so we are open to all dialects.
Please note the character of Claire is paralysed from the neck down - a tetraplegic/quadriplegic - she is also never off the stage. The role will therefore be very physically and emotionally challenging and will mean being at the bulk of the rehearsals. We would, however, be open to auditioning female actors with physical disabilities, as the theatre and rehearsal rooms are accessible.
We will arrange for medical advice and training for those playing medical roles.
From Tuesday 2 April, rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.45pm to 10pm and Sundays (starting 7 April) from 12.45pm to 4.45pm.
