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AUDITION INFORMATION & CASTING BRIEF Matilda The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company (“RSC”) and is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny. Matilda The Musical creative team - Matthew Warchus (Director), Peter Darling (Choreographer), Rob Howell (Set & Costume Design), Chris Nightingale (Orchestrations & Additional Music), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Design), Simon Baker (Sound Design), Ellen Kane (Associate Choreographer Worldwide), Nik Ashton (Associate Director Australian Production), Fabian Aloise (Associate Choreographer Australian Production), Tom Hodgson (Australian Associate Choreographer), Stephen Amos (Australian Associate Music Supervisor/MD).

Matilda The Musical will be produced in Australia by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel & Michael Watt with Andre Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers.

PRODUCTION DATES

Rehearsals commence in Sydney on or about 25 May 2015 (Dance Captains to commence end April 2015)

Performances at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney commence end July 2015

Contracts will be Run of Play Sydney & Melbourne

AUDITIONS DATES

Preliminary round: Sydney Nov 6th & Melbourne Nov 12th, 2014 (subject to change)

* Please note that the ‘preliminary round’ is an initial stage of the casting process.

Sydney First round: Sydney Wed 21 Jan – Sat 24 Jan 2014 ( *subject to change )

Sydney Second round: Thurs 29 Jan – Fri 30 Jan 2015 ( *subject to change )

Melbourne Adults First Round: Sat 31 Jan – Wed 4 Feb, 2015 ( *subject to change )

Melbourne Adults Second Round: Fri 6 Feb – Sat 7 Feb, 2015 ( *subject to change )

Melbourne Third round: Mon 9 Feb – Tues 10 Feb, 2015 ( *subject to change )

Sydney Third round: Wed 11 Feb – Thurs 12 Feb, 2015 ( *subject to change )

FINALS: Sat 14 Feb, 2015 ( *subject to change )

* We understand some of this time falls during summer holidays, but all auditionees will only be able to be considered if they take part as required in this January/February period.

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REQUIREMENTS

. Please refer to character descriptions below for role requirements as they are quite specific. You are welcome to submit for particular characters however you will not necessarily be seen for that character.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Please email a photo and resume to:

Serena Hill – Adult Casting Director

Email : serena.hill@matildathemusical.com.au

Please be sure to include ALL the following information:

. full name

. date of birth

. current height

. principal place of residence, suburb & postcode

. agent’s details (if applicable)

. one current photo (head & shoulders) & one full length

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS –

CLOSE OF BUSINESS, THURSDAY OCTOBER 23RD, 2014

The Casting office will be in touch will all applicants regarding the progress of their application.

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MATILDA THE MUSICAL – ADULT CASTING GUIDELINES - CHARACTER NOTES MISS TRUNCHBULL (Male) Headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School. Miss Honey's Aunt. Once a famous athlete, she is described as a "gigantic Holy terror", a "fierce tyrannical monster" who "marches like a storm trooper with long arms swinging" with an "aura of menace".

Age 30 to 40ish. Physicality 6’ plus. A physical character actor - must be physically fit and agile. Vocal High baritone with a strong F sharp. Extremely good enunciation and vocal

dexterity. Dialect Heightened RP. Dance Ribbon Dance and Vaulting

NOTE; There are physical demands of this role – physical fitness is crucial.

MISS HONEY (Female) A mild, quiet person who never raises her voice and seldom seems to smile - yet possesses the rare gift of being adored by every small child under her care. She should have a curious warmth that is almost tangible.

Age 25 to 35 years old. Physicality "slim and fragile that if she fell over she would smash into a thousand pieces like

a porcelain figure". Vocal Soprano up to Bb, with a strong and solid belt up to D.

Lyrical pure sounding voice. Could even have a slightly folksy quality. Dialect RP Dance Loud and Miracle

NOTE; This role also features as a parent during the opening number. MR WORMWOOD (Male)

A dealer in second-hand cars - "a mean crooked crook" - with a penchant for wearing jackets with large, brightly coloured checks. Should ideally be a clown and could have an ex-punkish rocker voice.

Age 35 to early 40s. Physicality A weasley or ratty essence. Needs to be agile. Vocal Top A (negotiable!) To f# Dialect Essex / Estuary / East London Dance Not required

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MRS WORMWOOD (Female) Mother of Michael and Matilda, and the wife of Mr Wormwood. She is obsessed with her amateur Ballroom dancing partner and her looks. Like her husband she thinks very little of Matilda’s unique abilities and often berates her. She is as loud in her makeup and dress sense as she is in her voice – must have strong comedy. Age 30s. Physicality Above 5’ 8” preferred Vocal Really strong belt voice, with matching vocal stamina. Up to top F/G – with

higher ad libs. Dialect Essex / Estuary / East London Dance Strong understanding of movement

MRS PHELPS (Female) Warm and nurturing local librarian who encourages Matilda’s love of reading. She has an inner peace. Age 30s to 50s Physicality Generally played by a woman of non-caucasion heritage. Vocal Accomplished singer Dialect Possibly African or Caribbean or non-Caucasian Dance Basic movement skills. Appears as a parent in Miracle.

MALE ENSEMBLE / RUDOLPHO (Male) Mrs Wormwood’s dance partner. Should be genuinely fit and athletic. Should have a flare for character comedy, and have great vocal and dance stamina for the number ‘Loud’. Age 20s, early 30s Physicality Strong and fit. Vocal High baritone with consistent Fs with passing top A Dialect Any UK region Dance Very strong dancer. Latin ballroom is an advantage. NOTE: This track is an ensemble/role track during the show and may have other

principal, or non-principal, covers.

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MALE ENSEMBLE / MICHAEL WORMWOOD (Male) Must be able to fully participate in all ensemble vocal and dance numbers and also to play the Wormwood’s monosyllabic son. Needs good deadpan comedy and the ability to find a character during a lot of stage time with few words. Age 20s Physicality 5’2” to 5’7”. Teenage looking Vocal Accomplished singer. Dialect Essex / Estuary / East London Dance Physically fit and strong mover. NOTE; This role has few spoken words. This track is an ensemble/minor role track during

the show and may have other principal, or non-principal, covers. MALE ENSEMBLE / SERGEI

Russian Mafia Boss who is physically intimidating, with an accomplished Russian accent.

Age 30s Physicality Over 6ft, broad, masculine, intimidating with strong facial features. Vocal Rich Baritone. Dialect Russian and Northern or Birmingham or Estuary. Dance Auditioned as a movement track. Track This track is an ensemble/minor roles track during the show and may have

principal, or non-principal covers.

MALE ENSEMBLE / DOCTOR

Age 20s, 30s Physicality Over 5’ 10” Vocal High tenor with a comfortable top A. Rock quality. Dance Strong dance track. Salsa. NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have

principal, or non-principal covers.

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MALE ENSEMBLE / ESCAPOLOGIST

Age 20s, 30s Physicality Over 5’ 10” Vocal High lyric baritone. Dialect 1940’s RP Dance Movement track.

NOTE: This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have principal, or non-principal covers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ MALE ENSEMBLE / MECHANIC

Age 20s Physicality Up to 5’ 8” Dance Very strong mover

NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have principal, or non-principal covers.

MALE ENSEMBLE

Age 20’s,30’s Physicality Above 5’10” Dance Strong dance track. Salsa NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have

principal, or non-principal covers.

FEMALE ENSEMBLE / ACROBAT

A strong all round ensemble performer with covers.

Age 20s, 30s Physicality Above 5’4” Vocal Check for covers Dialect African, Caribbean or non-Caucasian may be required for cover. Dance Strong dance track

NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have principal, or non-principal covers.

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FEMALE ENSEMBLE

A strong all round ensemble performer with covers.

Age 20s, 30s Physicality Above 5’4” Dialect African, Caribbean, or non-Caucasian, may be required for cover. Dance Strong dance track

NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have principal, or non-principal covers.

FEMALE ENSEMBLE

A strong all round ensemble performer with covers.

Age 20s, 30s Physicality Generally played by a woman of non-Caucasian heritage. Dialect African, Caribbean, or non-Caucasian, may be required for cover Dance Good movement track

NOTE; This track is an ensemble/minor role track during the show and may have principal, or non-principal covers.

SWINGS Male Swing 1 Ensemble swing with possible principal, or non-principal covers.

5’8” to 5’9”

Male Swing 2 Ensemble swing with possible principal, or non-principal covers. 5’9” to 6’

Female Swing 1 Adult Ensemble and child swing with possible principal, or non-principal covers. Up to 5’5”.

Female Swing 2 Adult Ensemble and possible child swing with possible principal, or non-principal covers.

Adult Child Swing Slight build, looks like a child. Child swing and possible adult swing. Up to 5’ 1”.

NOTE; Please note two Dance Captain positions will be appointed. One is proposed to be the Adult Child Swing and the other to be appointed from the Swing team.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Please note that the roles in Matilda the Musical may have very particular physical, height and vocal requirements.

• We are aware that some businesses have been offering workshops 'focusing on' Matilda or offering to prepare auditionees for Matilda auditions. Please be aware that these workshops are not officially associated with the production, and therefore we cannot guarantee auditions will be granted to all workshop participants. Each applicant will be assessed independently.

• Please note that auditions may be photographed and/or recorded as part of each auditionee’s participation in, or attendance at, such auditions for casting purposes.

Working with Children

• We continue to work closely with The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian and Education Authorities to ensure that we meet all the states requirements in keeping the health and wellbeing of the child first at hand.

• All cast employed acknowledge that they will be working with children in the production of MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Please note that the Producer has developed a Working with Children’s Care Policy and it is a requirement of MATILDA AUSTRALASIA JOINT VENTURE that all production personnel undertake a Police Check annually as part of the Producers’ due diligence in working with children. In the event that such Police Check reveals any caution, arrest or conviction this may prohibit employment or continuation of employment on the Production. Compliance with the Children's Care Policy will be mandatory at all times.

• Matilda Australasia is a committed equal opportunities employer with responsible child

safeguarding practices in place.