CALL TO AUDITION:

INK

BY JAMES GRAHAM

“I want to tell you a story. And it’s true. That’s what makes it a good fucking story, right, ‘cause all the best stories are true.”

They called him ‘The Dirty Digger’. In 1969, freshly-landed in London’s Fleet St, bursting with ambition and a colonial’s desire to shaft the British establishment, he took ownership of a flagging daily newspaper and turned it into a media phenomenon.

His name was Rupert Murdoch. The paper was The Sun. And together with its maverick editor, Larry Lamb, he was on a mission to give the people what they want – which turned out to be screaming headlines, scuttlebutt, and page three girls!

Award-winning writer James Graham (The Angry Brigade) reveals the inner workings of the tabloid press, as the upstart rag and its staff of underdog reporters engage in a circulation war of attrition with the best-selling newspaper in the world, The Mirror.

It’s a brutal, belligerent and blisteringly funny expose of how two men changed print media forever.

“A gripping piece of theatre” The Guardian

CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
Director Louise Fischer
Set Designer Tom Bannerman
Lighting Designer Peter Ross

PERFORMANCE DATES
Tue 28 May to Sat 29 Jun 2014

REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will commence mid-March with a combination of weekend days, week evenings and possibly weekdays. Exact times and dates tbc, subject to cast availability.

AUDITION DATES
First round:
Sat 10 Feb, 12-6pm
Mon 12 Feb, 6-9pm
Tue 13 Feb, 6-9pm

Call-backs:
Sat 17 Feb, 1pm-6pm
Sun 18 Feb, 10pm-12pm
Mon 19 Feb, 6pm-9pm

ROLES AVAILABLE
INK will feature a large ensemble cast with a number of roles doubling/tripling up. The cast list is as follows:

Larry Lamb: Sun editor
Rupert Murdoch: Needs no introduction
Hugh Cudlipp: Mirror chairman
Stephanie Rahn: Page three model – makes history
Sir Alick McKay: Sun deputy chair
Brian McConnell: News editor
Joyce Hopkirk: Women’s editor
Bernand Shrimsley: Deputy editor
Beverley Goodway: Photographer
Frank Nicklin: Sports editor
Ray Mills: Sub editor
Diana: Horoscopes writer
Anna Murdoch: Rupert’s wife
Murial McKay: Alick’s wife
Chapel Father: Sun employees
Apprentice Printer: Sun employees
Linotype Operator: Sun employees
The Stone Hand: Sun employees
Bench Hand: Sun employees
Christopher Timothy: Voice over actor
Chrissy: Page three model
Sir Percy: Mirror board member
Lee Howard: Daily Mirror editor
John Desboroug: Mirror political editor – refuses job
Vic Mayhew: Sub editor
Hetherington: Guardian editor
Rees-Mogg: Times editor
Brittenden: Daily Mail editor – later Sun editor
Landlady
TV Host
Gerard Croiset: Clairvoyant
Peter Wilson: Mirror sports editor

We very much encourage and welcome submissions from people who identify as First Nations, PoC, CaLD, queer and/or gender diverse.

TO BOOK AN AUDITION
It is essential to read the script BEFORE applying. There is a perusal copy of the script available for viewing here.

Email your EOI to inknt2024@gmail.com with AUDITION in the subject line.

Please note: if you are unable to make the proposed audition times submission using self-tape can be arranged.

In your email, please:

Include an up-to-date headshot and CV.
Indicate if you are currently a New Theatre member.
Indicate your preferred audition date/time.
Indicate if you are unable to audition in person and would like to submit a self-tape.
Indicate your rehearsal availability (days and/or evenings).

PLEASE PREPARE
A three-minute contemporary monologue. You may be asked to use a British accent.

PLEASE NOTE
New Theatre a community theatre company and a volunteer-based organisation – there is no for payment for this production.

If cast, you will be required to wash your own costumes and assist with production bump out.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Louise has an MA in Theatre Studies from UNSW.

Directing credits include: Chimerica, Glengarry Glen Ross, Neighbourhood Watch, The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Australia Day, House of Games, Mother Clap’s Molly House, The Farnsworth Invention, The Crucible, (which transferred to a sellout season at the Seymour Centre), Cabaret, Brand Spanking New, Honeymoon Suite, Richard III, Dancing at Lughnasa, Lemon Delicious, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Enron and The Ballad of Maria Marten (New Theatre); The God Botherers (Darlinghurst Theatre); Stories from the 428 (Sidetrack Theatre); Macbeth.com (Lighthouse Theatre); Project SciFi (PACT); Birthdays, Christmas & Other Family Disasters (Tunks Productions); Bedtime for Bastards (Crypt Theatre); Roadkill (Short + Sweet); The Curious Pain of Louis XIV (Seymour Centre) and Hamlet (Harlos Productions).

Louise is currently Artistic Director of New Theatre