by Andrew Bovell. Directed by Rosanna Preston.
Performance dates and venue :
Evenings at 7.30pm : Wednesday 21 – Saturday 24 January and Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 January
Matinées at 3pm on Saturdays 24 and 31 January
To be performed at the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington
Audition dates and times :
Auditions will be on Tuesday 4 and Friday 7 November from 7pm at the Tower Theatre.
Possible recalls on Sunday 9 November from 12 noon.
Auditions are for Tower Theatre Company Members only.
If you would like to join the Company, please click here for more information.
- Please contact the director, Rosanna Preston, stating the role you would like to audition for and whether you are unavailable for either of the audition dates. Please also feel free to ask any questions you might have about the show.
- Please read the play before auditioning.
- The original production included Frantic Assembly’s signature movement work. Movement will be incorporated into this production working within the physical capabilities of the cast.
- Copies of the play are readily available to buy online.
- A copy will be left in the Tower foyer to be read on the premises only.
- If you are unable to attend any of the above dates, please let the director know and an alternative date may be arranged. When auditioning please give the director any dates during the rehearsal period that you are unavailable.
About the Play
The play follows the Price family: mum Fran, dad Bob, and children Pip, Rosie, Ben and Mark. At the start of the play Rosie has returned unexpectedly early from a trip to Europe and the family immediately comes together to support her, led by matriarch Fran. Over the course of a year we learn about the challenges and choices facing each member of the family, testing the bonds of their love until a final shattering event unites them all.
Things I Know to be True was first produced in 2016 in Adelaide as a co-production between Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia. Its first UK performance was at the Lyric Hammersmith in the same year. The original production was set in a working class suburb of Adelaide and the revived production in Yorkshire. The action takes place in the family garden through the seasons of a year.
Casting Breakdown
Playing ages are for guidance only – the most important thing is a plausible family group with the right relative ages. (Colour blind casting). This is an ensemble play where the parts are all terrific with strong complex characters, each with their own story arc. All the family are very comfortable with showing their love in physical ways such as hugs and kisses. Movement elements will also be incorporated into the action. The final decision on the location of the play will be made at casting – please don’t let the lack of an accent put you off from auditioning.
FRAN: Mother. Fran works shifts as a senior nurse. She is a strong character with a fierce protective love for all her children but maybe she has her favourites. Her long marriage to Bob is now comfortable rather than passionate and she keeps a part of herself private. Playing age 57
BOB: Father. Bob recently took voluntary redundancy from his blue collar job in a car factory and he is finding it hard to adjust to not working. He has old fashioned values and believes in living by the rules. Modern life sometimes baffles him but no-one can question his love for his family. Playing age 63
PIP: Eldest daughter, works as an administrator in the education department. She is married with children. Pip is capable and organised and slightly resentful that she always had to break new ground as the eldest child. Playing age 34
MARK/MIA: An IT specialist, Mark is a quiet, gentle and observant soul, a bit of an outsider. Mark has recently and inexplicably left his girlfriend, who the family all liked – In the play Mark comes out as a trans woman, choosing the name Mia.. Playing age 32
BEN: Ben works in the financial services industry. He embraces modern culture and always has to have the newest “toy”. He has no responsibilities and still brings his washing home. Playing age 28
ROSIE: : A late and unexpected child, adored by all the family but who doesn’t know who she is or what she wants to be yet. When Rosie is let down in Europe at the start of the play she realises how few things there are that she knows to be true. By the end of the play her list of things is much longer. She feels she has a special relationship to her brother Mark. Playing age 19
Rehearsals
Sunday 16 November 2pm – 6pm. READ THROUGH. FULL CAST.
There will be two weekday evening rehearsals and one at the weekends, usually on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoon. A full schedule will be sent with the audition details. There will be a short break over Christmas from 24 to 27 December. Please let the director know of any holiday plans etc. at your audition.
All cast members are required to assist with the get-in, which will take place all day on Sunday 18 January. Cast members must also be available for the Technical and Dress Rehearsals on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 January, and for the strike after the last performance on Saturday 31 January.
 Things I Know to be True is Rosanna Preston‘s second play as a director at the Tower. Other plays directed by her include Prodigal as part of the Tower’s Nick Hern Shorts evening and Visitors with the Woodhouse Players. Rosanna is also an actor and has appeared in several Tower productions, most recently The Children. |
Assistant Director: Trinidad Prieto
Set Design: Angelika Michitsch
Costume Design: Roxanne Ivy
Roberts
Sound Design: Colin Guthrie