About the Role
We are looking for 12 local amateur performers to join the community ensemble for our co-production with Leeds Playhouse, Nine Night. This is a play with community at its heart and we need your help to create the right atmosphere for the piece.
The Play
How do we remember the people we love? When Gloria’s time comes, her family celebrate their revered mother with the traditional Jamaican Nine Night Wake – a touching yet testing multi-generational gathering packed with music, food, laughter and tears.
Natasha Gordon’s remarkable award-winning debut play, which was originally commissioned by the National Theatre ahead of a successful West End run, holds a mirror up to family life – and loss –reflecting the heartfelt comedy and deep sorrow that occurs when they gather together to share memories, good food and grievances older than Gloria’s well-loved dining table.
Inherently funny and intensely moving, Nine Night is a family celebration of life you won’t want to miss.
Who are we searching for?
We are searching for 12 volunteers aged 18 or over, who live in Nottingham or close by, to perform in the show at Nottingham Playhouse.
People of a variety of ages (18 or over only), all gender identities and those with non-professional experience are all welcome. Please note we are unable to accept applications from volunteers who are professionally trained actors or performers.
Due to the nature of the play and its themes, applications are open to all and we are actively encouraging applicants who identify as Black British and from Caribbean or African diaspora.
Each volunteer performer will be invited to join as a background artist in various scenes in the play and perform in costume to portray family members, friends and neighbours. We imagine at this stage this could include the portrayal of a high school student, a person of faith, a public servant, a care worker, an elder / family member of the characters in the play.
We are looking for 2 teams of 6 volunteers, who we will select at an audition workshop on 17th September 2022. Successful applicants will then be required to attend two rehearsals and a technical rehearsal session and dress rehearsal session before the public performances at Nottingham Playhouse, which are between Wednesday 19 October to Saturday 5 November 2022. A full schedule of rehearsals and performances is listed below. The performances will be split between the two teams.