What we are looking for and tour details
We are looking for two female actors to perform the roles of Scheherazade and Dunyazad in a two-hander participatory theatre performance for ages 7 – 10 years called A Tale to Tell. Touring will take place during May and June 2017 to schools, theatre venues and library settings.
A Tale to Tell is based on The Arabian Nights and integrates bilingual performance, shadow play and participatory opportunities for the audience.
Scheherazade is a woman who has married King Shahriyawith a plan to use her storytelling to stave off threats of death. The King has made this proclamation towards all his future wives following an episode of betrayal and heartbreak. Scheherazade is brave, principled, a bit of a dreamer and gifted in the art of storytelling. She was brought up in the markets of Baghdad, but for the past three years has been living as Queen in the Royal Palace.The ability to speak proficient Arabic is essential for this role as sections of scripted performance are performed in Arabic.
Dunyazad is Scheherazade’s older sister. She is grounded, practical and resourceful. She is aware of the risks involved in Scheherazade’s plan and is often the one to think ahead, anticipating problems before they happen. The two sisters work well as a team, with Dunyazad helping Scheherazade from the wings. Experience in shadow play is desirable for this role.
Both roles require experience of acting as well as of working with children and young people or performing to young audiences. Experience of facilitation, especially in storytelling and story-making is desirable. Where none is held then a keen interest in learning the necessary skills to facilitate children’s participation is required.
The roles are very much suited to those who value creative opportunities for children and young people and a flexible and sensitive approach to the requirements of working in schools is required. There is also an expectation that the successful candidates will take an active role in developing and refining the performance in response to audience reactions.
The rolesalso involve helping with stage management duties such as unloading the van; carrying, assembling and dismantling a simple theatre set.
The contract runs from Tuesday 18th April until Sunday 18th June 2017, with the possibility of an extension of 1 week until Sunday 25th June2017 depending on bookings. All dates will be finalised prior to the commencement of the contract.
Rehearsals will take place in Leeds between Tuesday 18th April until Friday 12th May. Touring will take place nationally from Monday 15th Maywith several dates likely to be in the West Yorkshire region where the Company has a strong reputation. Touring will be on a 5 day a week basis and will include some weekend dates. Tour dates will be finalised prior to the commencement of rehearsals.
The rate of pay is £450(Equity minimum) for a five-day week exclusive of any allowances and holiday pay that may apply. If relocation to Leeds is required during rehearsals the Company can assist with finding and paying towards local accommodation. Accommodation on tour will be provided.
Theatre Company Blah BlahBlah is an Equal Opportunities employer who welcomes applications from all sections of the community. In line with Theatre Company Blah BlahBlah’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, the successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. All applicants must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.
Application and audition process
To apply for this role, you will need to:
- Complete and return an application form, together with an up to date CV to . Please also completea monitoring form. Application and monitoring forms are available to download at:
- The deadline for applications isThursday 17th November 2016at 5.00pm and shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the end of Friday 18th November 2016.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for an audition and interview in Leedson Wednesday 30th November2016. This will last approximately 60 minutes and will consist of an audition piece of your choice, a performed reading of a script extract, a short participatory activity and interview. Further details will be given at the shortlisting stage.
Who is Theatre Company Blah BlahBlah
“Exploring stories, not just telling them”
Theatre Company Blah BlahBlah is a well respected Theatre Company specialising in work for children and young people. The Company, which is based in Leeds, has over 30 years experience of creatingexciting participatory drama and theatre that draws upon what children and young people know, feel and think about the world. The Company creates compelling stories that give depth to explore and enquire, encouraging young audiences to take an active role in their own learning.
The Blahs is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisationcreating a range of projects and performances both here in the UK and internationally and the Company is currently involved in an ambitious, creative collaboration with schools and artists in India, which will culminate in a tour in both countries in 2017.
Further information aboutA Tale to Tell
A Tale to Tell is a participatory performance for 7 – 10 year olds (years 3 – 5 in school) that lasts for 75 minutes. Based on The Arabian Nights, the play features Scheherazade - a woman who has married King Shahriyawith a plan to use her storytelling to stave off threats of death towards all his future wives, following an episode of betrayal and heartbreak experienced by the King. Scheherazade is helped in her venture by her older sister Dunyazad.
Just prior to the performance Dunyazad approaches the children with a note, which seeks ‘spinners of stories’ and ‘tellers of tales’, inviting help and asking for a secret meeting in the Palace grounds. It is through this device that the children join the story.It is1000 nightssince the Queen began her storytelling to her husband and she has one final story left to tell, Sindebad the Sailor…howeverin the years she has spent at the palaceshe has forgotten most of the tale.
The structure of the performance involves the two characters playing outScheherazade’spredicament to the children, as well as storytelling and enacting Ali Baba and the 40 thieves and his clever slave girl Morgaana – a favorite story she has told to the King over the past 1000 nights.
The children are involved in moments of participation throughout the entire performance, with their main ‘task’in the later stages of the performance, being to help to make up a new version of Sindebadto tell to the King. They are also involved at the end of the piece, advising Scheherazade about how the King should make reparations for his behaviour.
The style of the piece is highly participatory, with the audience explicitly acknowledged and involved from the outset. Storytelling and shadow play are integral to the performance and the piece is bilingual,interchanging betweenEnglish and Arabic. The set and costumes are heavily influenced by Arabic design and recorded Arabic music illustrates moments of storytelling. The set consists of a Bedouin-style tent, within which the shadow play is performed, and the audience are seated on carpets and cushions. The actors remain in role throughout.
A Tale to Tell is designed to tour primarily to a school’s audience using the school hall, but is also being marketed tovenues, libraries and festivals. Audience numbers are limited to 40 in schools and 50 in venues and at festivals due to the participatory nature of the piece.
Accompanying online educational resources are available to schools making links between the performance and curriculum. These resources also include tailor made activities that draw on the bilingual performanceas a stimulus for supporting children who speak English as an Additional Language. They are available to download here:
A Tale to Tellis a co-production with The Play House in Birmingham (