Guidance
for Actors |
| In order to be considered
for casting in one of our rehearsed readings, competitions or showcase
evenings, an actor must normally be a current member of awl and
have an acting c.v. or biography published on the awl website. |
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Rehearsed Readings
Casting
In order to ensure fairness and an appropriate degree of equality
of opportunity, awl,
through its committee, has developed a casting priority list
system. The list is organised on the basis of:
- appearance of a professional acting biography on the awl website,
- recent awl castings
- and attendance at meetings when not cast.
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It is the director’s
responsibility to advise our casting co-ordinators of the casting
preferences for the play. The director will also be responsible
for taking into account the writer’s casting preferences.
Writers and directors are strongly discouraged from approaching
actors directly during the submission, appraisal and casting
of their plays. The actor should consider only casting
enquiries that come from a casting co-ordinator. |
All actors approached
to take part in a rehearsed reading by the casting co-ordinator
should have the opportunity to read the script before agreeing
to take on a particular role, but they are expected to respond
within two days.
Rehearsal
Once an actor has agreed to take part in a reading, it will
be assumed that they
will carry out this responsibility and attend the rehearsal,
which will usually take place
on the day before the reading between 11.am and 3.00pm in The
Emerald Room on the 4th Floor of the Polish Centre. |
If an actor is asked
by the director to attend an extra rehearsal, it is up to the
actor to decide whether to attend such a rehearsal.
All actors are reminded that punctuality for all rehearsals
is essential as the rehearsal period is very short.
Writers are expected to provide a buffet lunch for the cast
during the rehearsal. Should any writer fail to do so,
it will be the writer’s responsibility to reimburse all
concerned for the cost of a shop-bought sandwich lunch on the
production of a receipt. This expectation applies wherever
the rehearsal takes place. |
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If an additional short
rehearsal is needed on the evening of the rehearsed reading,
the actual performance space is available for only one hour:
from 6.15pm to 7.15pm.
Actors’ opinions and suggestions during rehearsals are
an invaluable part of the development of the play. However,
it is the director’s right and reponsibility to ensure
that the short rehearsal period is used for the benefit of the
whole cast, and to progress the development of the reading.
This may mean that the director has to limit discussion to make
best use of the time.
NB: Scripts should be carried and used during
all performances.
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Competition
Nights
Competition entries are usually directed by the writer or cast
members. There is no Sunday rehearsal for a competition night. The
only rehearsal space available for competitions is normally in
the Bar on the 4th floor of the Polish Centre from 6.15pm until
7.15pm on the evening of the competition.
Casting in competition sketches or plays is organised by the
casting co-ordinator in the same way as for rehearsed readings.
NB: Scripts should be carried and used
during all performances. |
Showcase Nights
awl showcase
nights are an excellent opportunity for actors new to awl to
show their skills to awl directors
and writers. To ensure that all new actors have the
opportunity of showing their work, our schedule periodically
includes evenings of monologues, speeches and items written by
our writers, to be performed by our new actors. The items
will be short and of no more than five minutes duration. |
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Our writers are invited
to submit suitable items throughout the year for use in showcase
nights. It is permissible for writers to create monologues
or sketches for specific actors who are new to awl,
subject to the agreement of the actors concerned.
It cannot be guaranteed that actors participating in showcase
nights will subsequently be cast in rehearsed readings. However,
the showcases give our writers, casting co-ordinators and directors
a greater knowledge of these new actors' potential and abilities.
It is not a requirement for any actor new to awl to
take part in a showcase night before being cast in one of our
regular rehearsed readings.
NB: Scripts should be carried and used
during all performances.
Recordings: Sound and Visual
Non-Commercial Usage
Writers may courteously request permission from the director
and actors to make audio or video recordings of the reading of
their work, on the basis that such recordings are to be used
exclusively to help with the further development of their script,
and for no other reason. Such recordings cannot be used
for any commercial use without the prior written permission of
all cast members and the director.
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In general, awl actors
are usually amenable to this kind of recording and may
even request copies for their own self-review or records. All awl actors
automatically give their consent to this kind of recording when they accept a
casting. |
Commercial Usage
Should the writer wish to exploit a recording commercially,
It must not be assumed
that awl actors
or directors will accept a commercial proposition. Actors
and directors have the right to prevent the sale of a recording
of any kind. Each actor and the director must be approached
individually to agree an accredited commercial contract. |
