"THE BONE FEEDER" PLAY AUDITIONS

How far would you go to please your family? 

In 1902, the SS Ventnor sank in the Hokianga Harbour with the bones of a Chinese Miner, Kwan, and four hundred and ninety nine others bound for ancestral graves in Canton.  A century later Ben, a disaffected youth, arrives in the Far North in a misguided attempt to fulfill a promise to his deceased father.  

Over the course of a day, the fragmented strands of the past and the present intertwine and Ben and Kwan must confront their respective traumas in order to find out how to live again. 

‘The Bone Feeder’ is written by emerging playwright Renee Liang, and is going on tour through the North Island after a successful run in Auckland.

Confirmed dates are: 

Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival (February 20, 21, 24, 25)
Palmerston North Arts Festival (March 29, 30)      

We are looking for Asian actors between the age of 18 and 65 for lead and supporting roles for the tour season.

Ben (Lead Role, Male 18-30)

An introverted young man in turmoil after his father’s death. 

Ben is plagued with guilt around the circumstances of his father’s death, and his relationship with him while he was alive.  On a whim, he has fled to Hokianga, looking for forgiveness.

Kwan (Lead Role, Male 30s - 60s)

The spirit of a merchant Chinese miner; has existed for the last one hundred and eight years as a ghostly apparition stranded in Hokianga, where his bones were buried.  He is sharp-witted, and does not suffer fools gladly.

Came to New Zealand in the mid-1800s as a wide-eyed youth searching for his fortune so he might support his wife and children in China, whom he loved dearly.   As a ghost, he is resigned to staying in Hokianga, ashamed of returning to China after an unspoken betrayal.

Miners / Chorus

Kwan’s cohorts; literally kindred spirits.  All were brought over to New Zealand because of Kwan, and owe Kwan a debt of gratitude for taking them in, looking after them – and making New Zealand feel not quite so far away from home…

Wang (Male, 20s - 60s)

A ghostly apparition stranded in Hokianga. The eldest of the three miners, he found it the most difficult to adjust to life in New Zealand, and subsequently held steadfastly to his old ways, buoying others to do the same. 

Owes Sam a debt for money on a claim which never yielded, a fact which Sam often reminds Wang of in jest.

Sam (Male, 20s - 60s)

A ghostly apparition stranded in Hokianga.  Easily irritated and inclined to anger, Sam is often the butt of jokes between Wang and Dan.  Despite his tempestuous disposition, he is a little bit of a doormat.

Although he often reminds Wang of the debt Wang owes him, Sam knows that in truth, he has probably lost most of it back to Wang in Mahjong.  Similarly, he often accuses Dan of stealing his woman.

Dan (Male, 20s - 30s) 

A ghostly apparition stranded in Hokianga.  The youngest of the three, Dan was only in his twenties when he died of a mining accident.  A sweet-faced lothario, Dan often sang folk-songs from home, and would make girls blush with his brazen peacocking.

Kwan’s nephew in law, and as a ghost, is always hungry. 

The project has been funded thanks to the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust.  Remuneration will be on a co-op basis.

If you are interested, please contact the director, Simon Zhou, at zhou.tingfung@gmail.com, with a head-shot attached, and the role you would like to audition for.  You will be given more detailed character notes, an excerpt from the script, and an audition time will be arranged personally.

Auditions will be held January 31 and February 1.

Previous acting experience is not necessary, but a desire to explore character, a strong imagination, and commitment to rehearsal hours is a must.  Basic singing ability is preferred if you are auditioning for one of the miners, but is not essential. 

This is an opportunity to work on a unique piece of theatre, told with conviction, that will ravish the eyes and touch the heart.