AUDITIONS
GODS AND LITTLE FISHES
by Richard Sydenham & Jamie Oxenbould
“I want twenty-five thousand pounds by this afternoon, or I’ll feed him to the sharks.”
In June 1960, travelling salesman Bazil Thorne won 100,000 pounds in the Opera House Lottery.
Five weeks later jubilation turned to tragedy when Bazil’s eight-year-old son Graeme was kidnapped and held to ransom.
On 16 August, 1960, Graeme’s body was found in bushland at Seaforth.
Gods and Little Fishes is loosely based on this tragic event. Rather than a factual retelling, this magical play interprets the story through the lens of a father’s overwhelming grief and a child’s imagination.
Switching from a floating shipwreck to a 1950’s suburban kitchen, the writers tap into Australian theatre’s vaudeville roots to tell a darkly comic tale about one of Sydney’s grimmest tragedies.
Winner of the Silver Gull Play Award, 2020
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Richard Sydenham
Assistant Director Jamie Oxenbould
Lighting Designer Grant Fraser
PERFORMANCE DATES
Tue 31 May – Sat 25 Jun 2022
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will commence mid – late April with a combination of week days, week evenings and possibly weekends. Exact times and dates tbc, subject to cast availability.
AUDITIONS
It is essential that you read the script BEFORE submitting an Expression of Interest. There is a perusal copy of the script available for viewing here.
The initial round of auditions will be done using self-tape. Call-back auditions will be held at the theatre in person after the first round of auditions is complete, exact dates tbc. If you are unable to submit a self-tape, please email the Director at godsandlittlefishes22@gmail.com to arrange an alternative means of audition
Your filmed audition should include:
• An introduction to yourself including your name (max 30 secs).
• A very brief introduction to your chosen piece.
• Your audition piece: a three-minute (approx) piece from a play of your choosing, something you connect with and that shows you in your best light.
Once you have captured your audition, upload it as either a private and password-protected Vimeo or a YouTube video using the password ‘Fishes22’ and email the link with the below information to godsandlittlefishes22@gmail.com.
In your email, please:
• include an up-to-date headshot and cv
• indicate which role/roles you are interested in
• indicate if you are currently a New Theatre member
Self-tape submissions close Friday March 18, 5pm.
You will only be contacted if we wish to see you for a call-back. If you are not successful in securing a call-back audition, no feedback will be given, but we greatly appreciate your time and thank you for your interest.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Pepe (any age): A small clown. Nervous, prone to run his mouth off.
Frank (35-55yrs): A travelling salesman.
Andy (any age): A man in a very good bear suit. Calm, in control.
Guy (pronounced ‘ghee’), (any age): An urbane French muscleman. Brooding.
Kate (35-55 yrs): Frank’s wife.
Jeffery (8 yrs +): Frank’s son, may be played by a child or adult.
Shark/man (any age): A mysterious and sinister presence.
We very much encourage and welcome submissions from people who identify as First Nations, PoC, CaLD, queer and/or gender diverse.
PLEASE NOTE
New Theatre is a volunteer-based organisation and there is no payment for this production.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Richard graduated from NIDA in 1994. He has worked with STC, QTC, MTC, Bell Shakespeare, Company B, Ensemble etc and appeared in over 40 productions. He is also a writer and photographer. Before NIDA he completed a BA Vis Arts at the UWS.