Auditions for our next project: Mara KORPER
AUDITION NOTICE – MARA KORPER
Citizen Theatre is currently seeking an actor to join our next project, Mara KORPER playing at Theatre Works May 20-31st 2020.
Mara KORPER is an exciting, feminist sci-fi theatrical experience. It is set in a futuristic world where gender is obsolete and the flesh must remain whole. This brilliant and terrifying new theatrical work explores themes of extremism, gender and body image in a dystopian future, picking up where Orwell and Huxley left off. Fusing experimental sound and technology with absurdist expressionism, Mara KORPER is on the cutting edge of experimental feminist theatre. It is a new work written by Jayde Kirchert with music by Anthony Lyons.
The show is set in the world of the Mother Administrations - the ruling government. In this world you do not own your body, it is owned by the Mother. When you die it is reclaimed and recycled into various products and materials. Violence is strictly forbidden and it is illegal to slice or cut the flesh. Unity is harmoniosity! Gender is obsolete and the pronouns Sie for she/he and ser for his/her are used. Everyone must prove their dedication to the Mother and worship ser by wearing the most unique and strange outfits they can create, making absurd gestures and singing songs of dedication and allegiance.
The main character Mara goes through a series of bizarre and unexpected experiences which lead ser to discovering that the Mother Administrations are a completely corrupt government built on lies and extremism. Sound familiar? Mara seeks to overthrow this government and set everyone free... but that is not always as simple as it sounds. It is a story about the dangers of extreme ideology and reactive, short sighted thinking, advocating for nuance, diversity and listening. This project is supported by the City of Port Phillip.
Role: Mara (lead)
Mara serves ser workplace and those in ser life with integrity and commitment. Sie keeps the peace and does what the Mother requires of ser, until one day Sie sees something Sie wasn’t supposed to that leads ser to question everything Sie has been told to believe. Mara wrestles with the layers of bureaucracy and those who want to maintain the rules until Sie finally discovers the truth behind the Mother and the society Sie lives in. Sie manages to expel the controlling grip of the Mother and is ready to lead a revolution.
Role requires strong singing ability, strong movement and acting ability, and a willingness to be in a workshop environment and contribute to the development process. This role can be played by a female identifying or non-binary person of any ethnicity.
Key dates
Auditions at Southbank location, week commencing January 20th
There will be an informal reading with the full cast late January-early February to assist in the
development process
Rehearsals to commence in March, part-time according to actor availability. Throughout the rehearsal
process, Citizen Theatre training will continue and the successful applicant will be expected to attend
sessions where possible
Tech Rehearsals 19th & 20th May
Performances 20th – 31st May
Fee Arrangement
$1000 fee plus profit share.
To apply
To ensure everyone’s time is respected, there is a staged application process. This means not everyone who applies will be seen for an audition. The play requires very specific things, so if you do not receive an audition, it is by no means a reflection of your perceived skill-level or talent. As all other roles are already cast, auditions will only be allocated to those who are suitable for the lead role of Mara.
The process:
1. Email your CV, headshot, showreel, availability for 2020 up to 31st May and answer to the question “Why do you want to work with Citizen Theatre?” to auditions@citizentheatre.com.au by Fri 17th January.
2. If you are being considered for an audition, you will be sent a script within 2 days of applying. You will need to read the script fully. After you have read the script, please consider if you want to be part of this show. Citizen Theatre is a collaborative company and it is important that guest artists enter with the same spirit. You might read it and think “I’d love to see this show” or “I’m not sure this is my jam” and if that’s the case, absolutely fine just let us know. We simply want to attract the most suitable people for our projects and part of getting that right is ensuring that everyone is on the same page and fully committed. If you read it and decide this is something you are really into, you will be asked to email a response to the question “Why do you want to be part of this show?”
3. Following this process, you may be offered an audition time. The audition will be workshop-style session and you will be given sides to prepare. It will go for approximately 20-25 minutes so we can have a good play.
4. Callbacks may be required. You will be notified if you are required to attend a callback.
We take every application seriously and won’t waste your time if we think you’re not right for the project. Though we fully appreciate it can be disappointing when you’re unsuccessful, it doesn’t mean it’s the end – we are always looking for artists for various projects so if it’s not this time, there might be something down the track.
If you have any queries, check out our website and if you still have questions feel free to get in touch with Artistic Director Jayde: jayde [at] citizentheatre [dot] com [dot] au