Auditions

Core Ensemble & Apprenticeship Auditions for 2012

We are excited to announce that auditions for the 2012 QSE Core Ensemble and Apprentice Program will be held on the 3rd & 4th of December, with call-backs on the 5th of December. (See below for more information on the Core Ensemble and the Apprentice Program.)

Applications must be received by 5pm on November 25th, and are to be submitted electronically via email.

Auditions will consist of 15-minute slots in the following sessions, by appointment only: 2-6pm Saturday December 3rd and 2-6pm Sunday December 4th.

Callbacks will consist of a group session 6-11pm on Monday December 5th that will include voice, Shakespeare, group work and improvisation. Shortlisted applicants for the Core Ensemble (only) may also be interviewed by the Artistic Director during the week beginning December 6th. The interview will take approximately half an hour.

You MUST be available for the entirety of the callback on December 5th in order to be considered for the core ensemble or apprentice program.

Please note that not all applicants will necessarily be offered auditions. Applicants for the Core Ensemble in particular will be carefully screened on the basis of their written application, and only some will be asked to audition for the Ensemble.

Requirements

Prepare two pieces from any of Shakespeare's plays, one comic piece and one dramatic piece. Each piece should be no more than two minutes long, and speeches do not need to be age/gender appropriate. Choose something with which you feel a personal connection.

What We're Looking For

Apprentice Program

Applicants to the Apprentice program do not need any previous experience performing Shakespeare. The ideal apprentice is a theatre artist of any age who wants to enrich their craft by immersion in classical text and its performance. Apprentices receive extensive training in the Linklater voice method, QSE's approaches to working with classical text, and Theatre of the Oppressed, as well as gaining exposure to a range of activities and tasks involved in putting on a production and running a theatre company.

The Apprenticeship is ideally suited to emerging artists. The cost of the Apprentice Program is $600 (plus $20 membership), in exchange for $2000 worth of training plus mentorship from experienced company members. There is one $500 scholarship available for an apprentice who is either in their final year of a degree program at an Australian university or who has graduated with a degree from an Australian university in the previous year. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit alone.

Core Ensemble

Applicants for the Core Ensemble will be skilled actors with a passion for performing Shakespeare and a strong desire and capacity for being part of an artist-managed ensemble.

The Core Ensemble, as the name suggests, is the backbone of QSE, and drives its artistic and business activities.

Applicants for the Core Ensemble should be familiar with QSE's work and activities, and ideally would have some previous experience with QSE's training. It is highly unlikely that an applicant who has not performed or trained with QSE before would be invited to audition for the Core Ensemble.

The ideal core ensemble member would have the following traits:

  • a passion for performing Shakespeare
  • respect and commitment to QSE's work and training
  • skilled and energetic actor
  • able to receive and incorporate feedback into their practice
  • a mix of artistic and business/administrative skills
  • able to fill a gap in QSE's current skill profile
  • a team player, more concerned with the creation of artistic community than in furthering her/his own commercial career
  • long-term commitment to the advancement of QSE and theatre in Queensland

Core Ensemble members are given first priority, where possible, for any paid work within the company.

Applications

Applications will be accepted electronically only, by email to info@qldshakespeare.org (if electronic submission is not possible, please contact QSE at the same email address well in advance of the deadline to request an alternative).

Make sure that your application includes ALL required documentation, or it cannot be accepted. Applications should include:

  • your headshot (ideally A4 size / high resolution)
  • your acting CV
  • a non-acting CV or a short description of your non-acting experience that outlines your administrative, managerial, marketing and/or computer skills

and a one-page cover letter that:

  • clearly states whether you are auditioning for the Core Ensemble, Apprentice Program, or both
  • includes contact details; specifically mobile and home phone numbers and an e-mail address
  • indicates if you have a preference for a particular audition time
  • details why you would like to work specifically with QSE
  • assesses your strengths and challenges as an actor

For applications for Apprenticeships, please also indicate whether you are eligible for a scholarship (i.e. you are either in your final year of studies (prior to graduating) at an Australian University or have graduated from an Australian University in the last two years).

E-mail applications should be sent to info@qldshakespeare.org

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS.

Once we have received your application we will send you an email acknowledging receipt, along with information about QSE and our 2012 activities. Your audition time will be e-mailed to you on November 28th. If you have specific time restrictions for your initial audition on December 3rd or 4th, please make these explicit in the cover-letter in your application, otherwise we cannot guarantee you a specific time.

Crucial Dates

In order to be accepted into the Core or Apprentice program, you must be available for the following:

  • Residential Training and Kick-off Intensive at Stradbroke Island: Sat Jan 28 - Wed Feb 1 (inclusive).
  • Regular Advanced Training: 6-10pm Thursdays Feb 9, 16, 23, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.
  • Core Ensemble only: the Core Ensemble meets on the third Sunday of odd-numbered months from 6-10pm. Other meetings are often held on Sunday evenings, to be confirmed.
  • Apprentices and NEW Core Ensemble members: training in voice and acting on the weekends of February 11th/12th, 18th/19th, and 25th/26th from 9am to 5pm on each day.

Rehearsals are generally held in the evenings and on weekends. More detailed information about 2012 activities and events calendar will be available prior to the audition.

If you have questions, please e-mail QSE at info@qldshakespeare.org or leave a message on 3365 3269.