Auditions - The History Boys

The History Boys

Written by Alan Bennett
Directed by Des Smith

Audition:  Saturday 31 October 2009 at 1.30pm
Where: The Stables Theatre, Cnr Arthur St & Main Highway, Ellerslie

The recipient of more than 30 major awards, including Tony and Olivier awards for Best New Play, The History Boys follows a rambunctious group of clever young men as they pursue higher learning, games, sexual identity and a place at university under the guidance of three wildly different teachers and a headmaster obsessed with results. Set during the 1980s in northern England, it is a hilarious and provocative play about the anarchy of adolescence and the purpose of education - specifically, how history should be taught.

Season 18 to 17 March 2010
Rehearsals start 12 January 2010
Rehearsals Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30pm to 10.00pm, Sundays 1pm to 4.30pm.

Phone Des on on 021 323 513 for a copy of the script or more information. Email amhrainnadaoine@hotmail.com 

Cast required

• Headmaster (Felix Armstrong) - male - 40-60 - Headmaster of Cutlers' Grammar School
• (Douglas) Hector - male - 45-55 - English/General Studies Teacher
• Irwin - male - 30ish - History Teacher; brought in as a special coach (needs to look young and fresh)
• Mrs (Dorothy) Lintott - female - 45-60 - History Teacher
• (Adil) Akthar - male - Pupil - of Asian or Muslim ancestry
• (Christopher) Crowther - male - Pupil - ideally of Afro/British ancestry
• (Stuart) Dakin - male - Pupil - handsome, object of Posner's affection
• James (Lockwood) - male - Pupil
• (David) Posner - male - Pupil - youngest
• (Peter) Rudge - male - Pupil - better known for athletic skills than for intelligence
• (Donald) Scripps - male - Pupil - plays piano ideally
• (Anthony) Timms - male - Pupil - overweight
• Director - male - Minor Role - Director on Irwin's television programme
• Man - male - 40ish - Minor Role - Pupil as older man

Pupils can be in their early 20's but need to look young. A good singing voice for the pupils would be an advantage though not essential. Please come to the audition prepared to sing a verse of Bye Bye Blackbird. I am particularly keen to find a young actor who can play piano. Some experience of speaking French would be an advantage though not essential for all the students as well as Hector, Irwin and the Headmaster.

The Director strongly advises anyone auditioning to watch the movie of the same name. 90% of the dialogue in the play is true to the movie and you will gain a good understanding of the different characters by doing this.

About The Director

Des previously directed The Weir at ETS. As well as receiving the award for Best Set and Best Lead Male at the 2007 ACTT (Auckland Community Theatre Trust) awards the play also picked up the award for Best Production. Des is currently directing Shining City at Mairangi Players as well as working on a TV pilot for a comedy script he penned with a co-writer. Des’s philosophy to directing is to have a vision that all actors and backstage crew can buy into, get behind and also feel they can input their own creative ideas that lend themselves to the overall vision. Above all else Des likes to bring a team together that is energised, enthusiastic and prepared to have a lot of fun.