Youth Theatre seeks older actors for new play about digital legacy
The search is on for older acting company members – aged 65-plus – to join a York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre production of a specially commissioned play Legacy.
The play by Paul Birch will be performed from 12-14 April 2018 by a mixed company of actors aged 16-19 from the Youth Theatre and actors aged 65-plus from the community.
Youth Theatre Director Kate Veysey said: “We are looking for actors over the age of 65 with some acting experience who are keen to contribute to this production, both by developing their roles and being part of the company creating a play that makes people leave the auditorium talking about what they’ve seen.
“They should be actors who are not afraid to have a go, to ask questions – and to take a risk.”
Thanks to Clothworkers funding, this marks the first time the Youth Theatre has had the opportunity to commission a playwright for a main house production.
Paul Birch has already had several sessions of research and development with both age groups, independently and together, exploring their views and ideas about digital legacy.
Kate said: “This is the first intergenerational performance that we have created as a theatre. I am excited about the possibilities of two age groups working alongside each other to create this thriller for the stage. It’s a play that is not afraid to question our blogging/vlogging/social media society where you can literally find out what a stranger had for their dinner, their political views, and even which cat videos they like.”
Legacy raises questions of life, love and what we leave behind. The play finds old school police detective Simone Macdonald in a brave new world where Arisha Adler is a rising political star destined for Downing Street and Phillip Blackthorn is the founder of Legacy, a tech company which promises to change everything. Forever. These three powerful personalities find their lives turned upside down when a boy’s body is discovered on a river bank. Despite the use of new ground-breaking forensic technology there remains one problem … the boy doesn’t exist.
As Simone investigates the most unusual case of her career she finds herself in an increasingly unsettling world where nothing is what it seems and no-one can be trusted. The mysterious crime becomes buried in a blur of media manipulation, internet celebrity and wrapped in a box which makes anything possible.
Auditions are being held on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 December at York Theatre Royal. To book an audition email Community and Participation Administrator Georgia Nelson at[email protected]
If you would like an information chat about the opportunity before the audition, call the director Kate Veysey on 01904 550154.
Rehearsals begin in January on Mondays 6-8pm and Tuesdays 6-9pm as well as occasional weekend February half-term rehearsals. Actors will not be needed for all dates. Exact dates can be found by emailing Georgia at [email protected]