AUDITIONS

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK

Adapted by Tom Wright
From the Novel by Joan Lindsey

“Everything begins and ends at exactly the right place and time”

On a blistering summer’s day in 1900, three private school girls and their teacher inexplicably vanished while on a day-trip to Hanging Rock in country Victoria. It was supposed to be a Valentine’s Day treat. They were meant to be home for dinner. They were never seen again.

In this chilling adaptation, five young female performers recount the enduring mystery that has haunted the Australian psyche for over a century and struggle to make sense of what happened. We witness the euphoria and terror which reverberates through the tight-knit rural community as the potential for history to reveal itself becomes frighteningly real.

Fans of Joan Lindsay’s cult classic novel and Peter Weir’s iconic 1975 film will be left breathless and transfixed by a theatrical journey that will plunge us to the depths of our most primal fears.

Tom Wright’s acclaimed adaptation was first seen at Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne in 2016, where it had a sell-out season, before touring to Edinburgh and then London. New Theatre is thrilled to be presenting the Sydney public premiere of this evocative dramatic work.

“A surreal and subversive take on this Aussie classic” Limelight Magazine

CREATIVE TEAM
Director Sahn Millington
Assistant Dir Caitlin Andrews
LX Design Louise Mason
SX Design Patrick Howard
Composer Georgia Condon

SEASON
17 Nov – 19 Dec 2020

PERFORMANCES
Preview Tue 17 Nov 7:30pm
Wed – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 5pm
Final performance Sat 19 Dec 2pm

REHEARSALS
A combination of weekend days, week evenings and possibly weekdays beginning Sat 12 Sep. Exact times and dates tbc, subject to cast availability.

AUDITION DATES
Sun 30 Aug, 9am
Wed 2 & Thu 3 Sep, time tbc
Call Backs: Sun 6 Sept 10am

ROLES AVAILABLE
Elizabeth, Arielle, Nikki, Amber and Harriet playing multiple characters (Mrs Appleyard, Irma, Sara, Edith, Mademoiselle, Michael Fitzhubert, Albert and more).

The cast is an ensemble of 5 females playing multiple male and female characters. Actor age range approx. 18 to 30, however it is important actors can confidently pass for a senior high school student. Due to the nature of the script there are no set characters.

Actors should also be confident with accent changes and singing. Accents include colonial Australian, English and French.

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

TO BOOK AN AUDITION
It is essential that you read the script BEFORE submitting an Expression of Interest. To request a perusal copy of the script, please contact manager@newtheatre.org.au from Mon to Thu.
Email your EOI to newpicnic2020@gmail.com with AUDITION in the subject line.
In your EOI, 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 (As a New Theatre member, you are guaranteed an audition if you fit the casting brief)
PLEASE NOTE: Exprssions of interest submission closes at 12pm Thu 27 Aug 2020

WHAT TO PREPARE
A monologue from the script as instructed by the director on application. You may be asked to audition in an accent.

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

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Sahn Millington trained at the University of New England, Armidale and has been involved in theatre in both Brisbane and Sydney.

For New Theatre, she has directed Cats Talk Back, Amanda and Dinkum Assorted. She was also Assistant Director for House of Games and Production Manager for Collaborators and Consensual.

For other companies: Travelling North, Nothing Personal (director for Genesian Theatre), Simpson J 202 (assistant director Genesian Theatre), Winslow Boy (Production Manager Genesian Theatre). She also has a post-grad degree in Arts Management from UTS and has worked with Sydney Fringe, Urban Theatre for Sydney Festival, PACT Theatre, Rock Surfers and Vivid, just to name a few. Sahn is currently one of the Front of House Managers at the New Theatre.

New Theatre is a COVID-19 Safe Business. For full details on how we will ensure your health and safety while in our building, please download our COVID-19 Safety Plan.