Youth Cast Needed for Christmas 2023

Theatre by the Lake is looking for three teams of 8 female identifying or non-binary young performers (24 people in total) to make up youth cast who play students at Miss Minchin’s Academy for Young Ladies, the girls’ school that Sara is sent to in England. These young performers will work alongside professional actors under the guidance of Director Liz Stevenson and Theatre by the Lake’s professional creative team. The roles will involve acting, movement, and some simple choral singing.

We are interested in hearing from young people aged 11 -14 years old.

Theatre by the Lake seek to cast performers who are representative of the world around us, and welcome applications from people of global majority, LGBTQI+, and those who identify as d/Deaf, neurodiverse, or living with a disability.

REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCEs

• Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 October: rehearsals / workshop sessions
• Monday 16 October – Friday 10 November: rehearsal period with the professional acting company (exact dates and times TBC but likely to be 1 or 2 evenings after school and possible Saturday sessions)
• Monday 13 – Friday 17 November: technical rehearsals prior to opening

Performances will run from Friday 17 November 2023 – Sunday 07 January 2024 (please see the attached schedule for further details). Please note that the schedule includes performances on Sundays and performances over the festive period.

A group of 24 young people will be selected from the auditions. This group will be split into three teams (8 people per group) for the performances. This means that they will be needed for approximately three or four performances in each week during school term (which would mean missing either a morning or afternoon of school). Please note that we finish the run on Sunday 07 January, so the first week of term in the New Year will be affected. We will of course do our best to minimise the amount of time required off school, but we anticipate that approximately 12 sessions (either morning, afternoon, or occasionally both) of absence from school will be required, although please be aware this is TBC and so could be subject to change.

AUDITIONS

We will be holding auditions on Sunday 18 June. To apply please complete the application and availability form and we will contact you with an audition time.

Auditions will take the form of a group workshop and will be an active, fun, relaxed session in which you’ll be working mostly as an ensemble. Our team are keen to see how you work with others through different games and activities.

Following the auditions we will contact all applicants to confirm whether or not they have been successful.  Please note that this may take some time as we may also have to consult with schools in the interim.

Please return your completed application and availability forms to Claire Dunk either by email: claire.dunk@theatrebythelake.com or post: c/o Claire Dunk, Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DJ.

A LITTLE PRINCESS is a major project for Theatre by the Lake, with young performers working alongside professional actors. Before applying to audition, all applicants and their parents/ guardians are asked to consider the large amount of commitment required from both the young person and their families for the duration of this project, including over the festive period.

As the production requires significant time off school, we recommend a conversation with schools to confirm their co-operation prior to audition. As this time off is vital for rehearsals and performances, offers to be part of the A Little Princess Youth Cast are reliant on proof of school support (either by letter or email) and, regrettably, we’re unable to make offers to any young people without this.

If you have any questions about the auditions, performances, or anything else to do with the show please contact Claire on 017687 81108 or email claire.dunk@theatrebythelake.com