Auditions for our February production will be held on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th November at 7:30pm, at the Wiltshire Music Centre, and are open to everyone.
Following the success of Talking Heads, come and be part of The Bradfordians’ next exciting production – “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.”
Based on the Norwegian folktale, this spellbinding family play features a brave heroine on an epic journey, an enchanted prince, trolls, talking bears and a whole host of fantastical characters set in the magical, frozen North.
There’s a wide variety of roles for all ages. So there’s something for everyone who’s itching to get back on stage, whether you fancy a principal role or a few lines.
Open auditions will be held on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th November, 7.30pm, at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm at Wiltshire Music Centre, commencing Tuesday 23rd November.
Production week will be 21st – 27th February 2022.
Audition extracts are available from Lucy Upward (director) at wattslucy@hotmail.com. Please confirm which role/roles you are interested in and which one of the audition sessions you will be attending.
We’re looking forward to getting started on this adventure – it’s going to be lots of fun!
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
Playing ages below are a rough guide – a minimum age is stated where relevant, but there is lots of flexibility with casting. The main constraint is to cast suitable relative ages regarding characters’ family and romantic relationships.
Characters are listed in descending order as to size of role.
Principal Roles
Mari – Female, 18+. Our brave and determined heroine, who marries an enchanted prince in the form of a White Bear, embarking on an epic journey to rescue him when they are separated.
White Bear/Valemon – Male, 18+. An enigmatic bear by day and prince by night, trapped in an enchantment and desperate to find the soul-mate who can free him.
Marte-Marje/Troll Queen – Female, 40+. Mari’s mother. Anxious, emotional, put-upon farmer’s wife, horrified at the idea of marrying her daughter off to a bear. Doubles up as the monstrous Troll Queen, who has bewitched her stepson to force him to marry her troll daughter
Guri/Troll Princess – Female, 18+. Materialistic and jealous eldest sister of Mari. Doubles up as the spoilt Troll Princess, determined to have Valemon as her husband.
Ola/Moon – Male, 40+. Mari’s father. Well-meaning, trusting, perceptive. A poor farmer who yearns to provide a better life for his family. Doubles up as the Moon, whom Mari encounters on her quest.
Kari/Troll Maid – Female, 18+. Sweet, shy and unadventurous. Mari’s next-oldest and closest sister. Doubles up as the Troll Maid, who serves the Troll Queen and Princess.
Character Roles:
Old Woman, Older Woman, Oldest Woman – 3 x Male/Female. Ancient and kindly women, many hundreds of years old, who assist Mari on her quest. Will multi-role as guests at Kari’s wedding and the troll wedding.
Priest/Mound Fellow – Male, 30+. Genial, well-respected and learned. Doubles as the Mound Fellow, a sneaky mythical figure from Norwegian folklore.
Priest’s Wife/Mound Hag – Female, 25+. Pompous and patronizing. Doubles as the Mound Hag, a sneaky mythical figure from Norwegian folklore.
3 Small Princesses/Mari’s 3 youngest sisters – 3 xFemales, under-18. Imprisoned by the Troll Queen, good friends and helpers to Valemon. Will double as Mari’s youngest sisters.
Hulder/Wedding Guest – Female, 18+. Suspicious, jealous, unrefined. One of the mythical Norwegian “Hidden Folk” – a woman with a cow’s tail. Doubles as a guest at Kari’s wedding.
North Wind – Male/Female,teen +. Oldest and strongest of theFour Winds, who assists Mari on her quest. Will also play guests at Kari’s wedding and the troll wedding.
South Wind, West Wind, East Wind – 3 xMale/Female, under-18. Playful younger siblings of the North Wind. Will also play guests at Kari’s wedding and the troll wedding.
