| A FEW WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR | Just a reminder that we are currently casting for our steampunk production of Jack The Ripper, and we would love to hear from you. In line with current safety guidelines, we are casting via self-tapes, and will be holding initial rehearsals (and for anyone who wants to remain distanced once we are able to start physical rehearsals this will be ongoing) via Zoom, a simple video conferencing platform that will not cost you anything to join. Before any physical rehearsals or shows, there will be a full risk assessment and safety/ distancing guidelines provided to all cast and crew which will have been checked by Equity and other professional bodies. |
Our casting and production process follows Equity policies, promoting fairness and excellence in running all our productions: Manifesto for Casting | Safe Places Policy | Cast It Here | Inclusive Casting Policy | Performance for All
THE SHOW
The show is a researched drama based on a number of the historical theories, surrounding Jack The Ripper, a Victorian serial killer in Whitechapel, London. We never fully reveal who the Ripper is, therefore through the show he is played by different people, all masked the same. The principal main character is the detective Abberline, a brilliant, humanitarian but broken man, tracking down the killer. The show design is stylish, steampunk, and daring. It does not involve any sexual scenes, beyond some of the ladies of the night soliciting on street corners. Originally due to be performed in October 2020, it now looks likely to be moved to Jan/ Feb 2021, due to the Covid outbreak. It will tour Devon and up to Bristol.
The show is a researched drama based on a number of the historical theories, surrounding Jack The Ripper, a Victorian serial killer in Whitechapel, London. We never fully reveal who the Ripper is, therefore through the show he is played by different people, all masked the same. The principal main character is the detective Abberline, a brilliant, humanitarian but broken man, tracking down the killer. The show design is stylish, steampunk, and daring. It does not involve any sexual scenes, beyond some of the ladies of the night soliciting on street corners. Originally due to be performed in October 2020, it now looks likely to be moved to Jan/ Feb 2021, due to the Covid outbreak. It will tour Devon and up to Bristol.
CASTING
We are casting for all roles, This spans all speaking roles; which are male and female roles, all ethnicities very welcome. Actors should be aged over 18, but other than that we welcome (and require) actors of any age - we require a range of ages from 18 or thereabouts up to and including senior citizens in their 70s! Actors must be based in the Devon area or easily able to travel to same, for live rehearsals (after lockdown) and the performances. We do not charge anyone to work with us - indeed we do our utmost to pay our cast and crew via equal profitshare from the ticket sales at the very minimum (with applications in to various funds with the aim of raising full union standard wages for all cast and crew). No roles are "precast".
As a professional company, with national and international arts awards, we require that all actors, regardless of experience, are able and willing to work to the standard consumate with those expectations. Actors must have the ability to attend required rehearsals and performances on time, note and follow directions/ production details, the literacy to read and learn scripts by deadlines without habitual paraphrasing/ improvising, are respectful of other cast and crew, are calm & focussed in rehearsals and shows, and maintain a positive, stress-free workplace enviroment. This is being stated due to incorrect misconceptions about our work being a social club/service drop-in centre, in the past, which caused unwarranted upset and embarrassment on all sides.
In your self tape, which you can record on your phone, laptop, or any device, we are not looking for cinematic brilliance, or for you to second-guess "the right character". We are looking for characterisation and those magical split-seconds where for a second the casting director forgets they are watching an actor, and completely believes that it is the character themselves. Bold choices with the audition material are also encouraged.
You will hear back within the week following the closing date (July 19th) as to the status of your application to the show, regardless of whether selected or otherwise.
Early rehearsals will take place online, using Zoom. When it is safe to do so, and in line with risk assessments and safety procecures checked by Equity, we will begin to return to our rehearsal space at Chestnut Community Centre (downstairs room), in Poplar Close, Brixham.
If you have any questions, please email us on southdevonplayers@gmail.com, or text the director and company owner, Laura Jury, on 07855 090589.
We are casting for all roles, This spans all speaking roles; which are male and female roles, all ethnicities very welcome. Actors should be aged over 18, but other than that we welcome (and require) actors of any age - we require a range of ages from 18 or thereabouts up to and including senior citizens in their 70s! Actors must be based in the Devon area or easily able to travel to same, for live rehearsals (after lockdown) and the performances. We do not charge anyone to work with us - indeed we do our utmost to pay our cast and crew via equal profitshare from the ticket sales at the very minimum (with applications in to various funds with the aim of raising full union standard wages for all cast and crew). No roles are "precast".
As a professional company, with national and international arts awards, we require that all actors, regardless of experience, are able and willing to work to the standard consumate with those expectations. Actors must have the ability to attend required rehearsals and performances on time, note and follow directions/ production details, the literacy to read and learn scripts by deadlines without habitual paraphrasing/ improvising, are respectful of other cast and crew, are calm & focussed in rehearsals and shows, and maintain a positive, stress-free workplace enviroment. This is being stated due to incorrect misconceptions about our work being a social club/service drop-in centre, in the past, which caused unwarranted upset and embarrassment on all sides.
In your self tape, which you can record on your phone, laptop, or any device, we are not looking for cinematic brilliance, or for you to second-guess "the right character". We are looking for characterisation and those magical split-seconds where for a second the casting director forgets they are watching an actor, and completely believes that it is the character themselves. Bold choices with the audition material are also encouraged.
You will hear back within the week following the closing date (July 19th) as to the status of your application to the show, regardless of whether selected or otherwise.
Early rehearsals will take place online, using Zoom. When it is safe to do so, and in line with risk assessments and safety procecures checked by Equity, we will begin to return to our rehearsal space at Chestnut Community Centre (downstairs room), in Poplar Close, Brixham.
If you have any questions, please email us on southdevonplayers@gmail.com, or text the director and company owner, Laura Jury, on 07855 090589.
| CASTING DOCUMENTS This is the original audition pack, created before the Covid pandemic. It contains information about our company, our history, and also a full list of all characters open for casting. Please note that dates and times will be changing (rehearsals on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons, will take place as normal, noting the usage of Zoom for online rehearsals.) 
This is the updated Covid auditions document, which goes alongside the audition pack, updating about how we will cast during the lockdown
This audition form, to be sent back with your self-tape, tells us a few things about you to help us with the casting process
For those who have not self-taped before, this document should be helpful, as to what we are looking for.
And here is the link to the all-important audition sides. Please remember that these are all copyright material, and that the script copyright is registered to us at the Script Vault. When you have recorded your self-tape, please send it, with your audition form, to us at southdevonplayers@gmail.com, marked "Jack The Ripper" https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vAkGRN5zn_xoswQ9rQJZsgsrVsR_QdAV?usp=sharing | PAYMENT As professionals and aspiring professionals, we do our utmost to ensure that we do our utmost to reward the team members with the show profits, from ticket sales, less venue hire. (As soon as, and whenever, further funding can be found to upgrade everyone in the team to union wages, this will happen, and supercede all profitshare agreements for the given production.) As it stands, we fundraise and work with our Supporters Trust to cover the costs of rehearsal hall, costumes, props, printing and other production expenses, so that we can pay the maximum possible to our team. While full amounts can never be guaranteed as it is based on ticket sales numbers; the total amount, whatever it is, is equally shared among all actors and production crew, so that nobody is treated differently than any other. We have never finished a production in the "red". At the time of payment (usually within 10 days of ticket sale monies being received from venues) we also provide the box-office sales reports from the venues, showing precise ticket sales, and how much the venue has deducted in hire for the space; to the cast and crew. You will also receive portfolio photos of you performing or working in your crew role during the rehearsal and production process, backstage light refreshments, and anything else that we find we can offer. We are actively applying for funding to increase our work, including a prioritised aim of being able to offer salaries, and at such time as we find such funding, everyone will be automatically upgraded on the spot (even if mid-way through a production). The current profit share situation is because we are self-funded from market stalls, and sponsored activities to pay for a rehearsal room, costumes, and materials, so that we can then share the ticket takes, less show venue hire only, to all our cast and crew. We are committed to rewarding our cast and crew to the very maximum of our ability. We have a strict equal opportunities policy | ||||||||
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