If you like acting, and getting paid, then this is the brief for you…
The Teenagers, by Dan Murphy, is the latest in HighTide’s series of evening rehearsed readings. Auditions will take place on Wednesday 8 January. The performance itself will take place in the evening of Tuesday 14 January, with rehearsals all day prior. Auditions, rehearsals, and performance will all take place at HighTide’s London HQ.
Performers will be a paid a flat fee of £50.
This rehearsed reading will be directed by Steven Atkinson, Artistic Director of HighTide Festival Theatre.
About The Teenagers
You hate us, you shame us, you use us, you bruise us, you hurt us, you blame us. You made us.
In a teenage girl's bedroom we follow a group of teenagers as they try to make sense of a world fuelled by drink, sex, drugs and hormones. In a society that blames and villainises teenagers, will our protagonists prove society wrong, or give them what they want.
The Teenagers is a dark, funny and disturbing window into the world of the modern teenager.
Characters
Amber (15) - Amber is the more sensible one of the group, but has her wild moments. She is a sweet and loyal person, but has a fierce temper when pushed (especially with her dad). There is a darkness to Amber, she isn't happy with her lot and is looking/hoping for a way out.
Chelsea (15) - Chelsea is damaged goods. She uses sex to get what she wants, which is usually attention. Everything she says and thinks is always very loaded. She's grown up sexually way before her age and her overt sexuality masks a lot of insecurity and self-loathing.
Danny (17) - Danny is your typical wide boy Essex chav. He works as a drug dealer, supplying mostly to local kids. He's not the brightest guy in the world either, usually stoned and always trying to get his end away. He thinks he's the big man, he's really not. He's a bit of a joke.
Alfie (15) - Alfie is a gay, cheeky chappy. He has a quick wit and a dirty mouth. He can have a tendency towards bitchiness, but has a good heart and is always up for a laugh. The life and soul of the party. He's still coming to terms with his sexuality, and the crudeness is a way of masking those insecurities.
Lydia (15) - Lydia is the most naive of the gang and has a wide-eyed innocence about her. As innocent as a pregnant 15 year old can be. She may be sweet, but she has a dirty mouth and will stand up for herself and others when provoked. She's got a hint of chav about her.
Clive (45) - Clive isn't about to win any awards for dad of the year. He's a selfish, and quite aggressive, man. He goes from zero, to furious, with little provocation. He's a charmer, a good-looking older guy … and an absolute twat. He struggles with his teenage kids, he doesn't understand them, nor does he particularly want to.
Please note that there will be some flexibility on the age ranges for the reading.
About Dan Murphy
Dan Murphy is a graduate of both the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writer's Programme, and Studio Writer's Group. He has had work performed at Theatre 503, the Old Red Lion, Theatre Delicatessen, the Broadway Barking and Lost theatre.
Terms and conditions
- Applicants must be interested in acting in new plays for theatrical production
- You can be at any stage of your career
- You must be able to commit to all the dates mentioned, and get to, and from, London
- See www.ideastap.com/briefterms for general terms and conditions that apply to all IdeasTap briefs.
About HighTide
HighTide is one of the great recent success stories in British theatre. Starting as a three-day festival of short plays in 2007, the company has since premiered works by many of today's leading young playwrights and has produced with many of the UK's and world's leading theatres. Today the theatre is one of Arts Council England's National Portfolio Organisations, and they raise in excess of half a million pounds annually from a variety of sources.
This brief closes on Thursday 2 January 2014 at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 16 and over. We will not consider late applications under any circumstances, including technical difficulties, so allow yourself plenty time to get your application uploaded. If you have technical issues, please visit the Help Centre.
Image used under Creative Commons from Ryan Stone.
