York Theatre Royal associate company The Flanagan Collective seeks community cast for The Tempest. Three professional actors will join the community cast in a promenade performance in rural North Yorkshire.
York Theatre Royal associate company The Flanagan Collective is well known for staging innovative, site-specific productions, such as an all-female Romeo and Juliet in the 15th century St Olave’s Church and Sherlock Holmes: A Working Hypothesis in the historic Council Chamber at York Guildhall. In September 2014, The Flanagan Collective moved home to a 17th century converted` watermill in the village of Stillington, North Yorkshire. At The Mill is a place to house artists, rehearse shows and present work. The company is now launching its first production At The Mill; an ambitious promenade production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and the company is looking for a community cast to join three professional actors to perform in the show.
Alexander Wright, Artistic Director of The Flanagan Collective and production director said: We sit within such a beautiful part of the world, and it’s full of brilliant people. It’s so important for us to try and make as much work as we can with this community at the centre. Sometimes that might be as audience, as a sounding board, or as a programming team. But we want to start as we mean to go on, by creating a remarkable production with the community at the very heart of it.
The Flanagan Collective is holding workshops and auditions to meet anyone who would like to be a part of the show; whether that is actors, musicians, crew or front of house. The company is inviting people to attend one of two workshops at Stillington Village Hall on Monday 2 or Tuesday 3 May at 6.30 pm. This is a good time for any actors, musicians, helpers or other interested folks to find out more about the project.
General Manager of the project Veronica Hare said: We know how much work goes in to creating these unique events and we hope we can invite a lot of people to be a part of that journey – we have very big, welcoming, open arms.
Later that week the company is asking potential actors to sign up for a slot if they want to be in the cast and have a speaking role. Slots will be 30 minutes long in small groups on Saturday 7 May between 10am and 5pm at Crayke Village Hall and on Sunday 8 May between 12pm and 7pm at Stillington Village Hall. The company is also looking for an assistant director and assistant designer from the community.
Alexander Wright advised: We’d encourage anyone who wants to know more, have a go or to come play, to drop us a line and sign up for one of the workshops. The worst that will happen is that you’ll have a lovely time at a free workshop! The Tempest is one of my favourite plays; it’s full of beauty and music and magic. Expect a show full of The Flanagan Collective’s trademark live music, bursts of anarchy and striking connection with the roaming audience.
To sign up for auditions, workshops or for more information contact Alexander Wright, alexander@theflanagancollective.com
Tickets are already on sale through York Theatre Royal Box Office on 01904 623568 or securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
The Tempest is being performed at At The Mill, Stillington from Wednesday 15 to Sunday 19 June 2016