Reading & Auditions
Swan Auditions
Readings and auditions take place at the Swan Theatre. Readings are open to all, members and non-members alike, and provide an excellent opportunity for members to introduce their friends to The Swan and all that we do.
Following a play reading, audition pieces are given out. If you wish to audition, you must first become a member of The Swan Theatre to demonstrate your commitment to the theatre. Please click here to join: https://membermojo.co.uk/swan-theatre . There are usually 2 audition dates, however if you are unable to make either date you may be able to arrange an alternative with the Director. Auditions are relaxed and fun and rarely involve the learning of an audition piece, although familiarity with it and some characterisation are expected. You will be informed as soon as possible if you have been successful in securing a part, usually once the whole play is cast.
It is not Swan policy to telephone people and invite them to audition so, if you would like to be in a show, please do come along to the reading and the auditions.
The rehearsal period is approximately 8 weeks of 2-3 rehearsals per week, although this may increase over the 2 weeks and the weekend preceding performance.
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels
Directed by Mark Payne
Performance
Dates: Monday 20th to Saturday 25th January 2025
Reading Date: Friday 25th October at 7.30 in the Green Room of The Swan
Auditions: Sunday 27th October at 10.30 (and possibly Sunday 3rd November at 10.30 for those who are unable to attend the first session) in the Green Room of The Swan.
You must be a member of the Swan to audition.
Synopsis
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels won the 1992 Verity Bargate Award and is regarded as a modern classic – and is a fixture on many exam syllabi. January 27th is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Nine year old Eva escapes from Germany in 1938, along with 10,000 other Jewish children. She ends up in Manchester under the care of Lil. When Eva’s parents fail to escape from Germany, the child changes her name and begins the process of denial of her roots. It is only when her own daughter discovers some old letters in the attic that Eva is forced to confront the truth about her past.
“Samuels has written the best play about the pain and passion of mother/daughter relationships” The Guardian
“A powerful contribution to Holocaust literature….presented with emotional clarity and intense sympathy” New Yorker
The characters are:
This has a cast of 3M and 4F and there is a good deal of flexibility with playing ages:
Evelyn, English Middle Class, In her fifties
Faith, Evelyn’s only child, In her early twenties
Eva, Evelyn’s younger self, in the play aged 9 – 17, Jewish German
Helga, Eva’s mother in her early 30’s. Jewish German
Lil, Eva’s foster mother, In her eighties
The Ratcatcher, A mythical character who also plays a range of male parts.
There is clearly an element of flexibility over ages of the actors cast but they need to be able to convincingly portray the correct age. All the parts will provide a serious challenge to the actors involved.
If you are not able to make any of these dates, but would like to take part, please let us know, as we would like to accommodate as many interested members as possible. Please contact us to let us know of your intentions.
If anyone would like to contact me to discuss the play or anything related to it please do not hesitate to email me on mark.whitestop@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you at the reading.