Audition details

Ulster American
by David Ireland

directed by Stuart Watson                                    

Please find below the details of the auditions and backstage help required for Ulster American. 

Audition dates

• Tuesday 2 August 2022, 7.30pm
• Thursday 4 August 2022, 7.30pm
  
  

• Sunday 7 August 2022, 6.30pm

Production details

Performance dates and space

• 4 - 8 October 2022, 7.45pm

Rehearsal period

Rehearsals will take place from around 14 August for two to three evenings a week, as well as around three hours of rehearsal on a Sunday. There may be a need to rehearse on Saturdays and to rehearse on different days and times. 

Audition preparation

For those actors who wish to, the script can be purchased from the usual online outlets. Some of the audition pieces will be made available for actors to prepare in advance. Actors will have time to prepare others on the day.

Please get in touch with the director, Stuart Watson, to express your interest in auditioning, and to be sent audition pieces, by emailing PTCulsteramerican@gmail.com

SYNOPSIS

Ulster American examines issues of cultural identity, abuse of power, and male privilege. It is uncompromising, exhilarating, viciously funny, and not for the faint of heart.

David Ireland is well-known for writing plays that are confrontational and provocative. Auditionees should note that the play contains strong violence, and material that some people may find offensive or disturbing. 

CHARACTERS

There are three roles, with all characters remaining onstage for much of the play’s running time (approximately 75-80 minutes). Actors auditioning for Jay should read with an American accent. Actors auditioning for Ruth should read with a Northern Irish accent (or at least attempt an Irish one). Dialect coaching will be provided as required in rehearsal. Leigh has an English accent, and although he lives in London, he could be from any region of the country. Playing ages should be regarded as a guide only.

Jay Conway, male, 30s-50s, American. Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Jay, has recently come to London to star in Ruth’s play, which he hopes will help him to get in touch with his Irish Catholic roots. He is charismatic, volatile, emotionally needy, and monstrously self-obsessed.

Leigh Carver, male, 30s-50s, English. The director, Leigh, considers himself a champion of new Irish writing. He is counting on his involvement with a high-profile hit play to boost his career. Politically, he is a left-wing remainer, who professes superficial woke opinions. Personally, he is self-satisfied and manipulative.

Ruth Davenport, female, late 20s-early 40s, Northern Irish. This is potentially a big breakthrough for playwright, Ruth. She is desperate for the play to be a success, and initially starstruck in Jay’s company, but unwilling to compromise her artistic vision, which is rooted in strong Ulster unionist sympathies. She is also dealing with the fallout from a serious road traffic accident which occurred on her way to the meeting.

Backstage opportunities include

Lighting and sound operator

Set construction,

Assistant stage managers

Costume assistants

For general queries or if you are interested in getting involved email info@putneyartstheatre.co.uk.

NOTE

We are committed to improving diversity in our casting and. unless stated for artistic reasons, we aim to actively adopt an inclusive casting policy. This is an amateur production. You do not need to be a member of PTC to audition but actors and crew will need to become members for £25 a year - Direct Debit, or £30 otherwise. A £25 show fee will also need to be paid by all actors in the production. We encourage auditionees to become a member of PTC anyway even if not cast.