Little Angels - Casting Complete

Tue 12 Jul 2011

Little Angels – a full cast but a few disappointments…

We have finally completed the casting for the Young Actors Company’s production of Little Angels. I’m sure the two actresses who play the mother and aunty in the play are delighted to be called ‘young actors’. I’m really looking forward to integrating Beryl and Maggie (very slightly over our 25 upper age limit) in with our company of young people, which worked extremely well with Paul in EQUUS. The work throughout the theatre royal is all about community integration at the moment, with amateurs taking their place alongside professionals in Two Planks and a Passion. This production being a precursor to even greater involvement through the Mysteries in museum gardens next summer. I think one of the greatest strengths of York as a city is its network of theatre provision, for people of all ages and different style preferences – be that the straight play of the exuberant musical. York Theatre Royal is certainly a conduit for this in many ways, through direct opportunity or space provision but there is thriving opportunity everywhere and seemingly at all times.

With providing opportunity for some comes the disappointment of not being able to provide opportunity for others. The nature of casting means that you are looking for a few rather than all and the criteria for selection is such that some just don’t quite fit it, for whatever reason. Little Angels required very specific casting. Careful matching up of ages (or rather playing ranges) was required, there are sisters, one who is meant to be 8 years older than the other so that’s a direct consideration with casting those two roles. Unless you believe that when they are standing next to each other that one is older than the other the piece won’t work as effectively. You may have the best actress in the world for that older part, but unless she fits visually as older than the younger sister she just won’t be right. But if they want to go drama school or into the professional world this is the reality of the industry. But its still not nice saying ‘sorry but no’ to people. But as I said at least there are other opportunities out there…

So with casting complete I can now concentrate on preparations for rehearsals. Hannah is doing a few tweaks to the script, small bits of cutting and additions that came out of our reading, which did a month or so ago. Doing a reading of a new play is hugely useful and instructive, particularly for Hannah, to see what works and what jars a little but also for me to see what comes across instinctively and what will need greater exploration and explanation. This pre-rehearsal phase is exciting, the set is near its final design (I’ll post images up soon) casting is done and there is a whole world yet to discover and to make manifest, which could seem quite daunting but I’m feeling excited by it as it’s a piece that has been in my thoughts for a long time and its time to get it up and running. I’m planning on doing a regular weekly blog should you wish to keep up to date with what we’re doing…

Julian