MOSQUITOES BY LUCY KIRKWOOD
DIRECTED BY VIKI BETTS
PERFORMANCE DATES: 18 – 28 SEPTEMBER, 2024
REHEARSALS WILL COMMENCE LATE JULY/EARLY AUGUST
READING: TUESDAY 23 APRIL AT 7.30 P.M.
AUDITION: SUNDAY 28 APRIL AT 11.0 A.M.
The reading and the audition will be held at the theatre. If you know the Loft, please come to the Stage Door at the rear of the theatre in Spencer’s Yard. There is access through the gate to the left of The Fold on Spencer Street. If you are new to the Loft please come to the front of the theatre on Victoria Colonnade, adjacent to the river.
THE REVIEW
“Lucy Kirkwood tackles giant themes with swaggering showmanship. This is a dazzling play” The Telegraph
THE PLAY
Mosquitoes premiered in the Dorfman at the National Theatre in 2017. It is a story of female family dynamics set against the backdrop of experimental physics. Alice is a scientist working in Geneva at the Large Hadron Collider. She is on the brink of the most exciting period of her career. Her sister Jenny lives in Luton, sells insurance and looks after their aging mother. The play explores the dynamics between the sisters when tragedy throws them together. What happens when the two collide? A Black hole? Chaos?
The play tackles some challenging subjects with some hilarious sarcastic humour often found in the darkest times. The dialogue is natural, familial, sometime brutal and punctuated with explorations of the workings of the universe.
Note: the play touches on a large number of themes including vaccinations, sexting, caring for parents, women in science, missing persons, the death of a child and bullying.
THE ROLES
Alice – 40’s A scientist, Professional, clever, confident almost arrogant. Elder sister to Jenny and can be condescending.
Jenny – Late 30’s/40’s – the not very clever one. Learns from the internet. Anxiety-ridden-conspiracy-theorist
The Boson – An abstract character who narrates the play with some extensive monologues. Hints that the Boson is Alice’s ex.
Luke – late teens. Highly intelligent, very socially awkward. Probably neurotic, no filter. Awkward relationship with his mum. Is bullied at school and betrayed by his only friend. Character strips on stage to his underwear.
Natalie – late teens. Friend of Luke’s who is however very aware of keeping her own social status at school. Character strips to top and underwear on stage.
Karen – 70’s Alice and Jenny’s mother. Once a scientist herself but overshadowed by her husband in a male dominated environment. Karen is now beginning to suffer from early dementia and incontinence.
Henri – 40’s dating Alice. Dishy, Swiss, charismatic. Becomes a bit of a pawn in the sisters relationship.
Gavriella Bastianelli – colleague of Alice. Small role but could also double up with some of the additional roles below
Journalist/ Security Guard/ Policewoman/ Scientists – small additional roles – suitable for someone who want to get involved but with either minimal lines or no lines. These characters will also be used to establish scene changes
AUDITION GUIDELINES
Ages are guidelines only. The generational age gaps need to work.
For the audition you will be asked to perform different parts of the text with other auditionees. Text will be provided on the day and you will be given time to read through and prepare with other actors.
To register interest, or if you are interested but can’t make the dates… or for any more information, please get in touch with the director, Viki Betts at vikibetts@gmail.com or the Artistic Director, Sue Moore at suemoore@lofttheatrecompany.com
THE 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
