Hello and welcome to the No Drama Summer Production 2017. I am very proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to direct a wonderful band of actors in this fantastic play with my talented, insightful Assistant Director Adam Walsh.

So, the search for the cast begins…

This play is an emotional montage of hope, hurt, betrayal, love, rivalry, ambition, deceit, pride, conceit, determination and on and on, all compounded within the debate of Art versus Science. The past versus the future, the pursuit of knowledge and the value and importance of human relationships.

Auditions will be held in the school on
SUN 26th March (4pm – 8pm)
& TUES 28th March (7pm – 10pm)
Please be advised that the process may run on longer than these times (Bring a snack)
Tea and coffee will be provided.

All members of No Drama are invited to come along and audition, it’s a great learning experience for future auditions you may have in your acting career. The casting panel will be made up of myself, Adam Walsh and Declan Ryan. We will be looking for versatility, ability to take direction, focus, commitment, enthusiasm and respect for yourself, your fellow actors and the script.

“An Experiment with an Air Pump “ is an English play set in two different eras, 200 years apart. We would ask you to audition in a neutral accent and focus on the emotion in the script and movement in the space rather than worry about accents or where you are from.

I hope you will have fun during the audition process and try different things. The characters are below with a brief description.

You can choose up to two characters to audition for.
Please email me your preferred characters.

Please note that you may be asked to read for another character on the day.

Auditionees need to be aware that the character of Isobel is most challenging and age for this performance is irrelevant. I would encourage all the female auditionees to try out for it.

For the characters of Joseph Fenwick and Susannah Fenwick… these will double up and play the roles of Ellen and Tom. You will be required to learn and deliver a short monologue for your audition.

Also the role of Armstrong will double up and also play the role of Tom. Likewise Harriet and Kate will be played by the same actor.

Thanks everyone, any questions please fire them my way and I shall answer as best I can.

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Louise.

Joseph Fenwick, (mid 40s -50s-60s) Physician, scientist, radial, cynical, self assured. Dismissive of his wife and focused on his work

Susannah Fenwick, ( mid 30s -50s ) His wife, dreamy an artist, frustrated, drinks too much to escape her life, sad and lonely. Trying to find her voice

Harriet Fenwick (late teens -20s) daughter. She looks up to her father. She is clever but short tempered, controlling and ambitious.

Maria Fenwick (late teens – 20s) Harriets twin. Romantic, softer than Harriet. Always vying for attention. Engaged but we never see her fiancée.

Peter Mark Roget ( 20s-30s ) Fenwicks companion, a fellow scientist. The moral compass of the play. Highly intelligent, intellectually and emotionally.

Thomas Armstrong (20s -30s) also a fellow scientist. Ruthless and shallow, he will stop at nothing to further his scientific knowledge. Has no regard for ethics, morality or human emotions .

Isobel Bridie age N/A. A servant with a twisted spine. Highly intelligent but knows her place.

Ellen. A scientist who is struggling with her relationships, ambition and ethics.

Tom. Ellen’s Husband. An English lecturer who has been made redundant, is depressed, jealous and bitter. He also acts morally superior and is more emotionally in tune with human ethics

Phil. A building surveyor. Content in his ignorance. Comfortable in himself, cocky and comedic.

Kate. A fellow scientist with Ellen. She has offered Ellen a job and is righteous about her scientific research and the quest for knowledge and understanding. Is in direct conflict with Tom.

Please note these are general character descriptions and I would invite each of you to bring your own interpretation to your chosen characters.
Also feel free to do some research yourself.

Scenes that we will be looking at on Sunday and Tuesday will be emailed to you on request.
Let us know what day you will be auditioning.

Thanks again.
Louise and Adam
loudunne at gmail.com
adamwalsh77@gmail.com