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Scratch It! Casting Breakdown

Scratch It!

Scratch It! is Tigz Theatre’s new new writing event that will be staged twice a year. The aim of the event is to discover new pieces that we can then consider for further development. February’s event is focusing on LGBT issues as part of LGBT History Month.

The event contains 5, 20 minute pieces that deal with a range of LGBT themes.

The pieces are:

 

‘Happiness Darker’ by James Aden

The piece deals with the period of time when national swimmer Mike discovers that he has become HIV positive. It also shows how his family cope with the fact Mike that has left home suddenly after telling his parents he is gay.

The section also deals with his new friendship with Jud, who he blames for his HIV diagnosis when Jud gives him the drugs that led the HIV infection to occur via chem sex.

 

‘Wren’ by Lara Barbier

Sephy has gone back to University to pursue her true passion, printmaking through a part time MA. There she meets enigmatic Wren, straight-talking Lou and affable Matt. The four quickly become close-knit friends. In their first term Sephy’s long term partner, Sam proposes to her, and Sephy accepts. However, as she and Wren become closer and attraction begins to bloom, Sephy’s belief in a stable relationship and marriage as her benchmark for success and a happy life, are thrown in to doubt. When Sephy sleeps with Wren, Sephy has to choose whether she will tell Sam what happened, but also whether she can admit that it was more than just ‘experimenting’ and her attraction for women may in fact be a longed for part of herself that has gone unexplored and unexpressed for a long time.

 

‘Loving Her’ by Stephen Hornby

Two men meet by chance in a hotel in Blackpool in 1975 at the Conservative Party Conference. They conduct a secret affair over the next dozen years. There are key turning points when they meet at subsequent Tory Party Conferences in Brighton in 1981 and in Blackpool again in 1987.

 

‘An Unequal Freedom’ by Edwin Preece

The play takes place in two time periods. The early 1960’s when homosexuality was still illegal and the present day. Colin, a bank clerk and Tony, a bin man meet in 1961 and have to keep their relationship secret whereas Caitlin and Sinead who live in Dublin are about to get married.

The early scenes trace the start of Colin and Tony’s relationship and as the play progresses it will become apparent that Tony is the driving force behind the relationship and has a very clear idea that he wants to settle down with the much more closeted Colin.

Caitlin wants a wedding that will mark a ‘special’ day for her and Sinead goes along with this. They are successful women who both earn enough to buy a house in the Dublin suburbs. When Sinead’s friend Declan calls and tells them that one way he is raising money to buy a flat is that he’s thinking of donating to a private sperm bank, Caitlin begins to think that the next logical step for the girls after marriage is to start a family.

Colin hears that Tony has been to look at a house that a colleague at work is thinking of renting. He suggests that Colin move in with him and they share the cost. To his surprise Colin agrees.

 

‘The Secret Life of Shadows’ by Steven Lancefield

Daniel is a shy young pupil at the Armada drama school. Daniel excels in dance, but his dreams of becoming a professional dancer are cruelly dashed after he is pushed to the ground by a fellow classmate, Kieran. Kieran, who is charismatic yet deeply insecure, continues to bully Daniel until the day they both leave the school.

Nearly twenty years later, Daniel happens to bump into Kieran in a London pub. Kieran is now a successful actor, well known from stage and screen. Kieran invites Daniel to come to his lavish house for dinner, partly to apologise for his previous behaviour. Daniel meets Kieran’s handsome husband, Jamie, and Kieran’s agent and best friend, Sooz.

It transpires that Daniel is down on his luck. He has lost his job and his girlfriend in the space of a few weeks, and feels embittered about Kieran’s success and happiness. Daniel has been shadowing Kieran’s career for the past fifteen years, waiting for his opportunity to strike.

As the dinner party gets increasingly tense, Daniel announces that he will go to the press about the bullying he endured at the Armada, unless Kieran abides to his conditions. For three months, Daniel would like not only Kieran’s house and money. He also wants Kieran’s husband and Kieran’s career.

Terrified of losing all that is dear to him, Kieran reluctantly agrees to Daniel’s terms, for what will be three torturous months for all concerned

 

Casting Breakdown

Female One

Sephy (in ‘Wren’) – Mature student studying printmaking. She is engaged to Sam but falls in love with Wren and sleeps with her at a house party. Confused about who she is and what he future holds. She is the protagonist of Wren and has moments of direct address to the audience.

Caitlin (in ‘An Unequal Freedom’) – She is Looking for a ‘special day’ for her and Sinead’s wedding. She owns the flat that they both live in and has plans to move after the wedding so they can set a home for both of them. She is a dreamer and is the gregarious one in the relationship. The script calls for an Irish accent but we would happily consider any actress who is able to perform with a convincing Irish accent.

The performer must be comfortable kissing both male and female performers.

 

Female Two

Wren (in ‘Wren’) – Mature Student who is studying printmaking. She is comfortable with who she is, not arrogant or cocky just self-assured. The script states that she is Argentinian but we would happily consider actresses from any Country who are able to do a convincing Argentinian accent.

Sooz (in Happiness Darker) – Sassy, ambitious, witty and strong willed, she attended the same drama school as Kieran and Daniel. Not interested in either men or women she is content with who she is.

The performer must be comfortable performing a same-sex kiss.

 

Female Three

Lou (in ‘Wren’) – A straight taking student who is studying printmaking. Friends with Sephy, Wren and Matt. She is a recreational drug user along with Matt. She is the kind of woman who would rather drink beer than be thin.

Sinead (in ‘An Unequal Freedom’) – Fiancée to Caitlin. She is grounded and level headed and would happily get married in the civic offices in the clothes that they are wearing. She is happy to gives Caitlin the day that she wants. She is the level headed part of the relationship.

The performer must be comfortable performing a same-sex kiss.

 

Male One

Matt (in ‘Wren’) – Friends with Sephy, Wren and Lou. He is an easy going MA printmaking student. He uses recreational drugs at a house party.

Jud (in ‘Happiness Darker’) – A young HIV positive man who also takes drugs recreationally. He is world wise he sees being HIV positive as a chance to relax and stop worrying about contracting the condition. He thinks it is a manageable condition, not a death sentence. Sees himself as Mike’s friend and guardian angel. Jud is responsible for taking Mike to a chem sex party and getting him high.

Kieran (in ‘Secret Life of Shadows’) – A successful, charming, competitive, and caring actor. He come out to the world and no one really minded. He has a dark past as when he and Daniel where at drama school he bullied Daniel, and caused an accident that ruined the chances of Daniel becoming of professional dancer. Married to Jamie who he met on one of his films. Decides to give in to Daniel’s demands and give him his life, money and Husband.

 

Male Two

Sam (in ‘Wren’) – Sephy’s supportive fiancé who encourages her to explore who she is. Proposes to her at the start of the piece and supports her as she undertakes her printmaking course. Understands when Sephy sleeps with Wren and suggests that Sephy explore who she is before they marry.

Mike (in ‘Happiness Darker) – Young Swimming Champion who leaves home to explore his sexuality. Attends a chem sex party with Mike and ends up with HIV. Mike sees the diagnosis as a death sentence that will ruin his chances of being a pro athlete. Has the start of what appears to be a drug addiction.

Daniel (in ‘Secret Life of Shadows) – Embittered, lonely, jealous and highly intelligent. He has been following Kieran’s career with great interest waiting for the moment to strike and bring Kieran down. He believes that if he breaks the bullying story to the wold’s media it will ruin Kieran’s life. He demands that Kieran gives him everything for 3 months. His house, money and husband.

 

Male Three

Tony (in ‘Unequal Freedom’) – A Bin Man in 1960’s London. More open about is Homosexuality than Colin. Tony is the driving force behind the relationship with Colin and is more open sexually.

Anthony Coulthard (in ‘Loving Her’) – Vice-Chair of St. Albans conservative’s association. Attended Westminster Boy School and comes from an affluent background. Speaks as part of the Conservative Campaign for Homosexual Equality and becomes more disillusioned with the party as the piece goes on.

James (in ‘Happiness Darker’) – Mike’s brother. Accepting of his brother’s coming out. Willing to stand up to his dad.

Kieran (in ‘Secret Life of Shadows’) – A successful, charming, competitive, and caring actor. He come out to the world and no one really minded. He has a dark past as when he and Daniel where at drama school he bullied Daniel, and caused an accident that ruined the chances of Daniel becoming of professional dancer. Married to Jamie who he met on one of his films. Decides to give in to Daniel’s demands and give him his life, money and Husband.

The performer must be comfortable performing a same-sex kiss.

 

Male Four

Colin (in ‘An Unequal Freedom’) – A Bank Clerk in 1960’s London. Hopes to be promoted to Bank Manager one day. Is more reserved about his sexuality than Tony and worries what people will think of him if they find him out.

Charlie Bankhurst (in ‘Loving Her’) – from Doncaster, Yorkshire. Treasurer of local conservative association. Working class who was expelled from school and worked in his father’s shop. He has built up a convenience store empire. Works his way up to become a junior minister in the Thatcher government. Slightly racist and homophobic in his views. Revealed to be HIV positive at the end of the extract. The script states that he is from Doncaster but we would happily consider actor who is able to do a convincing Doncaster accent.

John (in ‘Happiness Darker’) – Mike and James’ father, married to Pat. Doesn’t cope well with Mikes’ coming out. Feels that homosexuality is not normal. Worried about what people will say when people find out about his son being gay.

The performer must be comfortable performing a same-sex kiss.

David Evans - February 7, 2016