AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Pericles by William Shakespeare
Directed by Anna Griffith
March 23 to April 2, 2022
*Performances will take place between: evening shows curtain at 7 pm and call time at 5:30 pm, matinee shows curtain at 2 pm and call time at 12:30 pm. The exact dates and times will be published with the production schedule.
Our adaptation of Pericles examines the ways relationships propel us — tearing us down, lifting us, or changing our course. We explore this through movement, creating a gestural language that communicates the unsaid. Motifs of choreography and song are also used to connect the characters across space and time. The sea plays a prominent role as its movements bring characters together but also rips them apart, evoking a central image of billowing sails against a cacophony of muted ocean blues. Our production will tell the story of Pericles through physical theatre but also through graphic novel projections that draw stylistic inspiration from Drew Weing’s “Set to Sea” and Andrew Donkin’s “Illegal.” Set on the shores of an ocean, the minimalist set allows for non-realistic and symbolic representations of time and location. Our version of Pericles is a story spun from the sea that highlights themes of interconnection.
Auditions
Tuesday, November 2, 1 pm – 4 pm D121
Thursday, November 4, 4:30-7:30pm D121
What to Prepare:
Everyone auditioning will be required to learn two short, preselected monologues from the script. Please see Heather Robertson, Heather.Robertson@ufv.ca or stop by D113. She will provide you with copies of the monologues you can choose from.
Call Backs
Wednesday, November 10, 7pm, D105
Callbacks will involve readings of scenes and small group/pair movement work.
To Book An Audition
Contact: Heather.Robertson@ufv.ca to request an audition. Please specify if you have a time preference.
Location: Abbotsford Campus, room number D113 (the costume shop)
Please dress in comfortable clothes that will allow you to move. Those auditioning will be asked to fill out an audition form on the day of the audition, outlining previous performance experience and training as well as work, school, and personal schedule between December 2021 and April 2022. While all members of the community are welcome to audition, please note that casting priority is given to those enrolled in UFV’s theatre program. UFV students participating as actors in main stage productions will receive either a 290 or 291 practicum credit for their participation.
Please note: Our production of Pericles will be cast gender neutral, and most actors will play multiple roles.
To Work Backstage
Students may also choose to sign up for backstage or front of house roles and receive 295/299/399/499 practicum credits. The department cannot mount shows without students participating backstage. Backstage positions include; designing (lights, sound, projections, set, hair & makeup and / or costume), stage managing, lighting and sound operators, costume dressers, running crew, and make-up and hair assistants. We are aiming to have all backstage positions filled by late November. To request a position, or if you have a question, please contact Heather Robertson at Heather.Robertson@ufv.ca
Characters in the Play
GOWER, fourteenth-century poet and Chorus of the play
PERICLES, Prince of Tyre
THAISA, Princess of Pentapolis and wife to Pericles
MARINA, daughter of Pericles and Thaisa
HELICANUS, Lord of Tyre
CLEON, Governor of Tarsus
DIONYZA, wife to Cleon
LEONINE, servant to Dionyza
SIMONIDES, king of Pentapolis
KNIGHTS, suitors for the hand of Thaisa
LYCHORIDA, attendant to Thaisa and, later, to Marina
LADY CERIMON, a wise woman/physician in Ephesus
DIANA, goddess of chastity
LYSIMACHUS, governor of Mytilene
PANDER, owner of the brothel
BAWD, mistress of brothel and wife to Pander
BOLT, servant to Pander and Bawd
Various Pirates, Fishermen, Sailors, Messengers, Priestesses, and Attendants
Actor 1: Pericles
Actor 2: Marina, Thaisa
Actor 3: Fisherman 1, Pirate 1, Helecanus, Knight 1, Attendant 1, Priestess 1
Actor 4: Fisherman 2, Cleon, Bolt, Knight 2, Sailor 1, Pirate 3
Actor 5: Simonides, Lysimachus, Pirate 2, Priestess 2
Actor 6: Pander, Knight 3, Lychordia, Messenger (of Tarsus), Cerimon,
Actor 7: Bawd, Dyonizia, Knight 4, Leonine, Older Marina (Priestess 3)
***Diana will be filmed, we will fill the role after casting
***All Gower sections are accompanied by graphic novel style projections to tell the story. Gower’s lines will be divided among specific characters.
For more information, contact Jocelyn Thiessen at jocelyn.thiessen@ufv.ca
11/05/2021