Casting Brief

Opera Australia Sydney Winter Season – Hamlet - ACTORS

Overview

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! And yet, to me, what is
this quintessence of dust?

Shakespeare’s searing portrait of a prince in crisis intimidated nearly all of history’s greatest opera
composers. Not so for Australian composer Brett Dean, who saw in Hamlet’s splintering sanity a perfect
match for his evocative music.

Now is your chance to see one of the most successful operas ever composed by an Australian.
Commissioned and premiered by Glyndebourne, and performed at the Metropolitan Opera of New York
and the Adelaide Festival to great acclaim, Hamlet finally gets its Sydney Opera House debut.

Dean composed an expansive sound world, with a massive orchestra and chorus, at times positioned
around the theatre. The effect is dramatic and luxurious, a wall of voices pressing in on Hamlet’s troubled
mind. Electronics create musical ghosts. Librettist Matthew Jocelyn carves up the text so the familiar
pops up in unexpected places.

One of Australia’s great Shakespearean directors, Neil Armfield created this “viscerally physical” (Sydney
Morning Herald) production for Glyndebourne, collaborating with Australian designers Ralph Myers and
Alice Babidge to produce a slick royal court with darkness at its heart.

The demanding title role needs an extraordinary performer: we’re excited to bring Allan Clayton to make
his Sydney Opera House debut. His performance as Hamlet is “tremendous” (The Guardian),
“mesmerising and monumental” (The Conversation). Lorina Gore reprises her “spellbinding” Helpmann
Award-winning performance as Ophelia alongside an outstanding cast. Contemporary opera specialist
Tim Anderson conducts.

1
 Conductor: Tim Anderson
Director: Neil Armfield

Venue: The Opera Centre (Surry Hills) and Sydney Opera House
Production Rehearsals: 11th June – 23rd July Between 10:30am – 5:30pm
Stage Calls: As per below Schedule (Artists are expected to be available for all
Stage Calls however a more detailed breakdown will be available)

Weekday Type Date Start End

Tuesday Piano Tech 9/07/2024 13:00 16:00
Wednesday Piano Dress 10/07/2024 10:30 13:45
Thursday Piano Dress 11/07/2024 11:00 14:15
Friday Piano Dress 12/07/2024 12:00 15:15
Friday Stage Orchestral 12/07/2024 17:45 20:45
Tuesday Stage Orchestral 16/07/2024 13:30 16:30
Tuesday Stage Orchestral 16/07/2024 18:00 21:15
Wednesday General 17/07/2024 10:30
Saturday Performance 20/07/2024 19:00 22:00
Wednesday Performance 24/07/2024 19:00 22:00
Saturday Performance 27/07/2024 12:00
Tuesday Performance 30/07/2024 19:00
Friday Performance 2/08/2024 19:00
Monday Performance 5/08/2024 19:00
Friday Performance 9/08/2024 19:00

Audition Brief & Information

This production recognises the diversity of the Australian performing community, and we seek to foster a
more realistic and more creative representation of Australia on our stages. To this end, we strongly
encourage applications from performers of varied experiences, perspectives and circumstances
including performers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and performers with
disabilities. All ethnicities are encouraged to submit an application.

4 Extras

• Male presenting
• Physically fit - Some physical work is required.
• To play withing the range of 20 - 40 years old (all ages encouraged to apply)
• Nonspeaking parts
• Character roles to cover: Waiters, Coffin Bearers, Priest

Please Note:
1. Artists should be available for the entire period. Any restrictions must be noted in the submission.
2. All artists must be Sydney based for the duration of the contract.

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Submission Process

Submissions will be accepted via the following web form only: SUBMISSIONS

You will be notified if you are offered an audition. All applications will be contacted once roles have been filled.

Submissions must include:

• Current CV (in PDF Format)

• Headshot (File clearly labelled)
• Full Body Shot (File clearly labelled)

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
MIDNIGHT (AEDT) Monday 13th MAY 2024

Auditions will be held late May during business hours.

Opera Australia are committed equal opportunity employers.

Further information
Email: auditions@opera.org.au