East, London
Closes Sat 23 May 2009
Unpaid (Voluntary) Part time
Contact Hazel Sheard hazelsheard@gmail.com
Description:
Actors are invited to audition for This View of Life, a new playwritten and directed by Matt Wilkinson, being shown as part of theCambridge Darwin Festival from the 8th-11th July at the Cambridge ADCTheatre.
Auditions will take place between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 23rd May atthe ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge.
SYNOPSIS:
It is the 18th May 1893, and Thomas Henry Huxley – Charles Darwin'schampion – has just given his last public lecture on evolution. Thistime, however, his message was very different. Gone was his earlierportrait of the Law of Natural Selection as a 'calm, strong angel'. Inits place, Huxley painted an altogether darker picture of theDarwinian world, full of cruelty and slaughter: a world to whichmankind belonged, but was duty-bound to fight against. Presented inassociation with the Cambridge Darwin Festival, This View of Life isthe story of one man's struggle to give Darwin's revelation to thepeople, to find meaning in this most wondrous and dangerous of ideas.
AVAILABLE ROLES:
Thomas Henry Huxley
Huxley took up the idea of evolution as a banner. Now, however, he ishaunted by the dark social forces he fears he may have unleashed, andby the death of his daughter.
Slim-medium build, preferably with dark, mid-length hair. Age 30-40.
Charles Darwin
Darwin is gentle and unassuming, with a child-like enthusiasm for thenatural world.
The trademark long white beard is unnecessary, but thinning hair wouldbe an advantage. Age 30-40.
Marion (Mady) Huxley
Huxley's brilliant and beautiful daughter. She was a promisingpainter, but developed a serious illness, and died at the age of 28.She takes the role of Huxley's spiritual guide in the play.
Attractive, preferably with long, dark hair. Age 20-30.
Sir Richard Owen
Before the rise of Darwinism, Owen was Britain's top naturalist, andknew it. Intellectually vain and jealous, he supported Darwin andHuxley early in their careers, but became their bitter enemy.
Not a handsome man, preferably with a Lancashire accent. Age 30-45.
