SEDOS  presents

 

“STEPPING OUT”

 

 

 


Written by Richard Harris

 

The Bridewell Theatre

Bride Lane (off Fleet St.) EC1

 

Tues 30th Sept - Sat 4th Oct 2008 (incl. matinee)

 

Directed by

Deryck High & Pete Bryans

 

Produced by Angharad Davies

 

Choreography by Jane Saunders

 

 


This warm & very funny play, not to be confused with the musical, enjoyed a hugely successful West End run in 1984 and won the Evening Standard Best Comedy Award. 

 

Set in North London, the story follows the lives of the members of an amateur tap class.   Each attending for their own reasons, Harris’ play is a wonderfully endearing tale of how determination, friendship and camaraderie can shape even the most bashful into proud performers. 

 

Mavis, a professional dancer who didn’t quite make it past the chorus line, now runs her own class in the local village hall for anyone in the area.  A mixed, and otherwise incompatible, group of seven women and one man meet weekly for their tap-dancing class in a dingy North London church hall.  Each struggling to conquer either their inhibitions or dance technique, or both!

 

Then the day comes when Mavis breaks the news to the group that they have been invited to perform in front of an audience for a big charity concert. 

 

With varying degrees of talent and determination we see how each class member copes with the challenge…but with only a few weeks to learn an impressive tap routine, will they do it in time?  Can they make it?  Or will they all, literally, fall flat on their faces?

 

Casting note

This play is very story and character driven, therefore we are looking for those who can embody the character of a role, define their own interpretation and bring such a character to life.  We ask that preparation involves making some decisions about the character and how it could be performed, but also being open to change/direction.

 

For anyone with little or no tap/movement experience, we are simply looking for a willingness to learn.  The audition will involve a movement audition; this is to gauge how tap/dancing is approached/enjoyed rather than how well it is performed.

 

  


W O R K S H O P   N O T I C E

 

Tuesday 15th July

7:00pm – 9:30pm

 

at Network Rail

40 Melton Street, Euston, NW1 2EE

[next to the Euston Station concourse]

 

 

 

 


Agenda

 

 

 

 

To register for the workshop please email Angharad Davies at steppingout.sedos@googlemail.com – entitling your email ‘Stepping Out Workshop – Your Name’

 

To audition you must be a member or pay a £5 audition fee. If cast, you will need to become SEDOS members (£30 for the year) and the audition fee of £5 will be refunded. All those cast are also required to pay a participation fee of £20.

 

For full membership details and other useful information please visit:  www.sedos.co.uk


A U D I T I O N   N O T I C E

 

Sunday 20th July

10:30am for 11am – 6pm

 

Venue tbc

 

 

 


There are ten very individual principle parts in this play.  We are looking for each of them to be played as naturally as possible, not to be caricatured or over the top.

 

Please note that there are some requisites for some characters; these are noted on the list of characters overleaf. 

 

Ultimately, characterisation is key so please do come prepared with some decisions you have made about the characters you wish to audition for and be open to change/direction.

 

There is a film version available on VHS, starring Liza Minnelli, Julie Walters, Ellen Greene & Shelley Winters.  Please do feel free to review this to get a feel for the piece.  It is not the same as the stage play and should only be viewed out of interest.  We are looking for all auditionees to make each character their own, rather than replicate past performances, no matter how proficient.

 

The auditions will start at 11.00am with a movement warm-up, followed by learning a short dance routine. There will be a movement/tap audition following this (auditionee choice dependant on level of tap skill) Please note: those auditioning for Mrs Fraser do not need to arrive until 12.30.

 

PLEASE BRING SUITABLE FOOTWARE - FLATS, LOW HEELS OR TAP SHOES IF YOU HAVE THEM

 

At 12.30 (after a short break) we will give you an overview of the piece, the characters and what we are looking for.

 

At 1.00 we will commence the dialogue auditions, in an informal group format.

 

You may be required to read different parts so that we can get a good sense of compatibility with other cast members.

 

Audition pieces and selections of the script to be used at the auditions are available in advance by contacting us by email with your address so we can forward them to you.

 

If you are unable to attend the Sunday 20th July audition a further opportunity will be available on Tuesday 22nd July ~ please note that this is only available if we are notified in advance.

 

Due to the closeness in timescale of Stepping Out and the yet to be announced Autumn Musical, auditionees are advised that if they are cast in Stepping Out this will preclude them from auditioning for the Autumn musical.  

 

To register for audition please email Angharad Davies at steppingout.sedos@googlemail.com

Please mark your email ‘Stepping Out Audition – Your Name’. In your email please note which character(s) you would like to audition for, also remember to note if you wish to audition on the 22nd.

 

To audition you must be a member or pay a £5 audition fee.  If cast you will then be required to become a member (£30 for the year) in which event the audition fee of £5 will be refunded, and pay a participation fee of £20. For full membership details and other useful information please visit:  www.sedos.co.uk

 

Rehearsals will be held on Sundays, Tuesday & Thursdays (venue to be advised) commencing on Thurs 24th July. Because of the nature of the show, most calls will involve the whole cast, therefore availability is preferable, although with a long rehearsal period we will be as accommodating and flexible as possible.

 

Good luck!

Deryck High ~ Director & Pete Bryans ~ Assistant Director

 

CHARACTER LIST

 

 

 

1. Mavis

the teacher, ex-pro dancer, attractive, 30 - 40

Considerate, organised and always obviously in charge of the group.

Required: proficient tap-dancer

 

 

2. Lynne

eager to please, understatedly pretty, never wears make-up, about 20-25,

a student nurse.

 

 

3. Dorothy

small, anxious, birdlike, between 25 - 45, habit of repeating other people’s last words.

…. people’s last words.

 

 

4. Maxine

Confident, attractive, Jewish business woman, big diamond rings, 30 - 40.

 

 

5. Andy

(woman), thin, 25 - 35, timid, bullied by her husband.

 

 

6. Geoffrey

shy, quiet, honest, a bit bumbling, widower, has a crush on Andy, 30 - 40.

 

 

7. Sylvia

short, bubbly, flirty, over-ample curves! Chews gum all the time, 20 - 35

 

 

8. Rose

black, larger than life, Trinidadian/Asian, wearing obvious wig,

crucifix around her neck and lots of finger rings, 30 - 40.

 

 

9. Vera

neat, proper, snob, but well-meaning, expensive tastes in clothes (but doesn’t quite get it right), immaculate hair & make-up, aspiring middle-class, 35 - 40.

 

 

10. Mrs. Fraser

the pianist, 50-ish, coat & hat, reads magazines, intolerant, sarcastic,

grumpy, believes she is doing everyone a favour just by being there.

Required: must be able to play the piano