Check out these three opportunities that landed in my inbox in the last week…
AUDITIONS
EMU HEIGHTS PRODUCTIONS presents “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare. Directed by Ian Zammit.

Emu Heights Productions Inc. will present “Hamlet”, an adaptation specially designed for HSC English students and to be performed to the general public in Western Sydney’s iconic Q Theatre. Emu Heights Productions Inc.: formed in 2010, our objective is to support the education of young people in Western Sydney through professional performance of drama texts studied at school. In our inaugural year of production we are presenting two HSC English texts: “The Shoe-Horn Sonata” by John Misto in May and “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare in August. We are looking for energetic, articulate and generous actors to form a dynamic ensemble.

Actors required:
3 x males 25-30 years old
1 x female 20-25 years old
1 x male 45-55 years old
1 x male 55-65 years old
2 x male or female 25-30 years old

Auditions:
Auditions will be held in Penrith.
Initial auditions – Friday 1st April 2011 – individual 15 minute timeslots
Call backs – Friday 8th April – group work 45 minute timeslots

Availability for Performances:
5 performances 24th – 27th Aug 2011
Wed, Thu & Sat Matinees
Fri & Sat Evenings
Q Theatre, Penrith NSW 2750

Availability for Rehearsals:
Approx. 180 hours from June through to performance dates (24th-27th August) in the Penrith area. The rehearsal schedule is in development, anticipated as 2-3 sessions per week, on weekdays and some weekends.

Payment:
A profit share arrangement with the entire production team.

To apply:
Email your CV and headshot, as well as confirm that you are available for rehearsal and performance dates, to Michele at
info@emuheightsproductions.com.au
Please keep image files to less than 1MB
Closing date: Friday 25th March

In your application please indicate which sessions you are available:
12noon – 2pm, 2pm – 4pm, 4pm – 6pm, 6pm – 8pm

We will be in touch to confirm receipt of your details.Actors shortlisted for an audition will be emailed their timeslot, location information and audition requirements

Learn more about us at: www.emuheightsproductions.com.au

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BELL SHAKESPEARE
Ever wanted to direct Shakespeare but had no idea where to start? Spend a day with Bell Shakespeare experts at Staging Shakespeare – A Teacher’s Guide, to be held in Sydney at The Seymour Centre on Thursday 24 March 2011, 10am – 4pm.
This full-day masterclass gives you all the direction you need to stage Shakespeare in the theatre or school. With directors’ tips and actors’ techniques straight from Bell Shakespeare’s rehearsal room, this workshop has been designed in consultation with our Artistic Director, John Bell, and Associate Artistic Director, Peter Evans.
Presented by our Resident Artist in Education, James Evans, and The Players.
Bell Shakespeare Teacher Masterclass in Sydney – Staging Shakespeare A Teacher’s Guide
Directing one of Shakespeare’s plays is a rite of passage for Drama and English teachers.
Bell Shakespeare prepares you for this rewarding experience. This full-day workshop gives you all the direction you need to put on a play or have students act out scenes in the classroom. With directors’ tips and actors’ techniques straight from Bell Shakespeare’s rehearsal room, plus a few extra tricks we’ll put up your sleeve, you’ll transform students into Romeos, Juliets or the lean and hungry Cassius in no time

DISCOUNT OFFER: Friends will receive $110 tickets (usually $165 per participant, a saving of $55!) Please quote ‘Leonato’ to retain this special offer when you book. Call us on 1300 305 730 or email learning@bellshakespeare.com.au today to book your place!
Where + When?
Sydney Thursday 24 March 2011 10am – 4pm
Seymour Centre, Studio 1 Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale (next to University of Sydney)
(Teachers whose school is more than 50kms from this Masterclass can take advantage of a 20% discount. Please let us know when you book.)

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LOOKING FOR ACTORS AND CREW
Playing the Victim- written by the Presnyakov Brothers (Oleg and Vladimir) in 2003.

A young man drops out of university and goes to the police. He’s done nothing wrong he just wants a job. A particular job. Playing the victim in murder reconstructions. He has a fear from death. Maybe by getting close to death he can manage to cheat his own.

Playing the Victim revolves around Valya, a student who gets a job playing the victim in police crime-scene reconstructions. Even though they are simulated, his repeated participation in one gruesome end after another highlights the violence and brutality endemic in contemporary life.

CREW LISTING
Independent production of ‘Playing The Victim’ written by The Presnyakov Brothers staged at Tap Gallery is looking for a Stage Manager, Costume Designer and Assistant Director for May season with profit share.

AUDITION NOTICE
Independent production of the Sydney premier of PLAYING THE VICTIM by The Presnyakov Brothers* at Tap Gallery on May 12th- 28th will be holding auditions at:
Camperdown Community Church and Newtown Theatre
TUESDAY 15th March 6-10PM &
THURSDAY 17th March 6-10PM

ROLES
Male 25-45 (DOLZHANSKY/ TAKHIR ZAKIROV/ VERKHUSHKIN / SOMEONE FROM MANAGEMENT/ BEARDED MAN)
Male 45-55 (FATHER, POLICE SARGEANT SEVA, VASSYA)
Female 25-35 (WPC/WAITER)
Female 45-55 (MOTHER/ WAITRESS, SWIMMING POOL OFFICIAL/ JAPANESE WAITRESS)
Actors will be playing multiple roles, which will be determined after the ensemble is fully cast. NB: Russian accents may be applied in the production.

Please prepare a 2-3 minute comic monologue of your choice. Callbacks will be held on TUESDAY 22nd March. Please send your CV and headshot to nastassja.d@gmail.com or call 0406 975 717 for further enquiries. Copies of the play are available to read by appointment at NIDA library Monday-Friday between 11:00AM and 7:00PM. To book a time contact 9697 7579 during business hours.
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LEGS ON THE WALL: Creating New Work in an Ensemble

A workshop suitable for performers, choreographers and directors interested in developing their skills in creating ensemble work With Lee Wilson, Branch Nebula.
Legs Autumn Intensive for 2011 is a four day workshop focussed on developing the skills of creating new work in an ensemble. Areas to be explored include:

• how to build a dialogue out of physical language
• what is poetic in the personal and idiosyncratic
• what role does text have to play

Lee Wilson is the co-artistic director of Branch Nebula, creators of the highly acclaimed work Paradise City and more recently Sweat, which is currently touring throughout Australia.

Talking about the workshop Lee says, “ We will explore the participants’ differences, the beauty of their individuality and how they can play together to create a performance vocabulary which is like a noisy conversation, full of colloquialisms, stutters, expletives and striving to be understood – much as we speak.”

Timetable: Monday 18-Thursday 21 April
10am-12.30pm: skills training, improvisation and conditioning with Simone O’Brien (Legs on the Wall Artistic Associate)
12.30pm-1.30pm: lunch
1.30pm-5pm: workshop with Lee Wilson
More information: If you would like to be put on the training mailing list or if you have any further questions please contact Lex at admin@legsonthewall.com.au or on 02 9560 9479. or head to http://www.legsonthewall.com.au/index.php/programs/more/31/