Reading and Audition Notice dates for Macbeth

MACBETH 

by William Shakespeare 

Director: David Fletcher

 

“Macbeth is quite simply the greatest theatrical poem ever written. The language, once heard, haunts the memory forever.”  Michael Billington The Guardian

PERFORMANCE DATES 25 October – 4 November 2023

Rehearsals: there will be some preliminary rehearsals in July and August, with full rehearsals starting in early September.

READING: Tuesday, 14 March at 7.30 p.m. at the theatre

AUDITION: Sunday, 19 March at 3 p.m. at the theatre

There has been no pre-casting for this production and all roles are available for audition.

For the audition, please prepare one of Shakespeare’s sonnets (learning optional). If you don’t have access to a printed copy, you can access them free online here:  http://shakespeare.mit.edu/Poetry/sonnets.html

The reading and audition will be held at the theatre. We usually use our Stage Door entrance, but as this area currently resembles a building site, we are going to open the front of the theatre accessed via Victoria Colonnade. Please use this entrance only for both the reading and the audition.

THE PLAY

Macbeth is one of the most famous and most performed plays in world drama. It is the shortest and most concentrated of Shakespeare’s great tragedies and engages at a profound level with themes of ambition, power, fear, guilt, and the supernatural. The language is very rich and mostly in verse and will reward both actors and audiences. There are no sub-plots, so the play moves with astonishing momentum and energy. The basic plot is not complicated – three witches tell Macbeth that he will become king of Scotland and, driven on by his wife, Macbeth kills King Duncan and ascends to the throne, after which his fear and guilt lead him to acts of increasing violence until he is ultimately defeated in battle by Macduff and Duncan’s son Malcolm. This simple plot creates a framework for a play of intense depth and complexity. 

THE ROLES 

There are almost forty speaking roles in the play – with lots of doubling it can be performed by about sixteen actors. Ages are flexible and there are opportunities for adult actors of all ages. There is also some flexibility with gender – Macbeth, Macduff, Duncan, Malcolm, and Banquo will be men; Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff will be women; the other roles are open to all genders.

Macbeth, a Scottish Thane and general, later King of Scotland

Lady Macbeth, his wife

Duncan, King of Scotland

Malcolm, his son

Banquo, Macbeth’s friend and fellow general

Macduff, a Scottish Thane

Ross, a Scottish Thane

An ensemble of at least nine actors who will play all the other rich characters who populate the play including the Witches, the Porter, Lady Macduff, and the Bloody Sergeant. 

Auditioning

To register interest, or if you are interested but can’t make the dates, or for any more information, please contac the Director, David Fletcher, by email at davidfletcher@lofttheatrecompany.com or for any general questions contact the Artistic Director, Sue Moore at suemoore@lofttheatrecompany.com.

CASTING POLICY

The Loft’s casting policy is centred on casting the very best actors for each role. Casting will always be open and neutral. Everyone is welcome and warmly encouraged to attend auditions.  If specific race/ethnicity or other characteristics are central to the story, we will make this clear in audition notices. There is no pre-casting without the express permission of the Artistic Director.

We no longer have membership subscriptions. It is free to join our company.

We look forward to welcoming you.