November 29, 2010

AUDITIONS – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) 

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield
Directed by Anton Bentley – Piece of Work Productions
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, on behalf of Paradigm, New York 

All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes! An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was London’s longest-running comedy – 10 years in the West End at the Criterion Theatre.

Wanted:  Three madcap men to don tights and weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in a wild ride that will leave you breathless and the audience helpless with laughter.

There are no set ages or ‘types’.  I will be looking for a cast who work well together and are three different ‘types’ i.e they don’t all look the same.

Auditions will be workshop and improvisation.  There will be no need to prepare anything from the script. 

If you are unfamiliar with the show check YouTube – key words ‘reduced shakespeare company’.

This is a profit share production. So although there is no guarantee, it is likely the cast and crew will come away with some financial gain.  

There is also a possibility of touring to theatres in the Greater Auckland area, though this is still to be confirmed.

Auditions 11 and 12 December.  Times to be advised.

Rehearsals begin week commencing 17 January 2011 – evenings and weekends 
Performances: 3 – 6 and 10 – 13 March 2011 at The Uxbridge Centre, Howick 

Auditions, rehearsals and performances will take place in Howick, Manukau
Three actors (male) required.  
Experienced performers – a background in improvisational comedy would be advantageous. 

Submissions (resume and photo) to the director
by Monday 6 December:
Anton Bentley
ab.pieceofwork@gmail.com 
Auditionees will be contacted by 6 December with times and location.
Anton can be contacted on 09 533 6341 

About the Director…

Anton Bentley is passionate about live performance and has been involved in one way or another for over thirty years. Over the years he has performed in more productions than he can remember; designed numerous sets and costumes (Strangers on a Train, Art, Over the River and Through the Woods, The Woman, Toad of Toad Hall, Peter Pan, As You Like It); tutored children and young people and directed (The Shape of Things, Art, Vinegar Tom, Cabaret, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Mysterious Mr Love, The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband).

Most recently he was Head of Drama at Botany Downs Secondary College where his students found national success in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival; were honoured with nominations and awards in the AMI Showdown Auckland secondary schools production competition and have gained places at Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts and Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School.

In 2010 Anton decided to throw caution to the wind and start his own company, Piece of Work Productions. Piece of Work’s first production will be The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), which will perform at Howick’s Uxbridge Centre in March 2011.