Expat Shakespeare company to hold auditions

By John Redmond

Seoul Shakespeare Company (SSC) will hold auditions for their spring 2012 main stage production, William Shakespeare's final masterpiece “The Tempest” on the weekend of Jan. 14 and 15 in Itaewon.

Taking place between 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday and midday till 2 p.m. Sunday, the auditions will be held at the Camarata Music Company rehearsal space in Haebangchon, Seoul.

The company is looking for dancers, musicians, and actors of all ages, colors and stripes.

“The Tempest” is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place, using illusion and skillful manipulation.

“Hidden amidst reality, it is a tale woven of fantastical imagination. Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, dwells on an enchanted isle with his daughter, Miranda. Twelve years earlier, the duke's brother, Antonio, and Alonso, the King of Naples, conspired to usurp his throne. They set Prospero and Miranda adrift in a boat, and they eventually found themselves marooned on the island.

“Prospero is served on his island by Ariel, a spirit who he freed from a tree with magic, and Caliban, son of the witch Sycorax. When magic reveals that a ship bearing his old enemies is sailing near the island, Prospero summons a storm to wreck their ship. The survivors make it to shore in scattered groups. Among these is Ferdinand, the son of Alonso. He is lulled to Prospero's abode by the singing of Ariel; there he meets Miranda, who is enthralled with the young prince,” states a press release.

The characters are Prospero: A great lover of the arts and in particular books, Prospero has harnessed the powers of magic whilst in exile.

Miranda: Prospero's daughter. Attractive and young at the tender age of 15 years, Miranda has lived with her father in exile for 12 years. Aside from her father, she has seen few men in her life, and quickly enchants the shipwrecked Ferdinand.

Ariel: An airy spirit, Ariel serves his master Prospero well in his many tasks of magic on Prospero's island. Once enslaved by a witch, Ariel wants his freedom now from Prospero. At the conclusion of this play Ariel is made free.

Caliban: A giant misformed beast, Shakespeare describes Caliban as "a savage and deformed slave." Hating his master Prospero, Caliban works for him out of fear of Prospero's magic.

Iris, Ceres, Juno, Nymphs and Reapers: Spirits that appear by Prospero's will.

Characters who arrive at Prospero's island by shipwreck:

Alonso: The King of Naples. When Prospero's brother Antonio, usurped (took) Prospero's dukedom, it was Alonso who recognized Prospero's brother, sealing Prospero's fate of living in exile.

Ferdinand: The much-loved son of the King of Naples. Shipwrecked, but alive, Ferdinand falls instantly in love with Miranda, when he first sees her on Prospero's island.

Sebastian: The brother of Alonso, the King of Naples. He plots to kill his king and take his title with the scheming Antonio.

Antonio: The brother of Prospero, he took Prospero's title from him when Prospero trusted him to manage his affairs. Having replaced his brother, he now encourages Sebastian to do the same to his brother, Alonso.

Gonzalo: An honest old counselor. When Prospero was to have starved to death when exiled by boat, it was Gonzalo who provided food, clothing and books to comfort Prospero and the then three year old Miranda. Stephano: A drunken butler, he attempts to kill Prospero and take the island for his own. Trinculo and Caliban whom he fools into believing he is a God help him.

Trinculo: A jester, who tries to kill Prospero.

Master of a ship, Boatswains, Mariners: Sailors who fight Prospero's storm but are ultimately shipwrecked on his island.

Contact info@seoulshakespeare.com with your name and phone number to schedule an audition. For those unable to attend the scheduled audition times, SSC is happy to organize a separate audition.

To get to Camarata Music, leave Noksapyeong Station at exit 2. Walk straight for three minutes until you come to the wall of Kimchi pots. Continue straight into Haebangchon and continue walking for three more minutes. Camarata Music Company's space will be on your left, just before the Family Mart.

SSC is a not for profit theatre company centered in Seoul. Powered by a diverse community of actors and artists, SSC produces one full length production a year financed by various scenes and monologue shows throughout the season. SSC strives to produce quality productions that reach across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Founded by Kevin Gerald Connors in 2010 as Actors Without Bard'ers, the group presented a collection of William Shakespeare's scenes and monologues in March of 2010. For many, native and non-native English speakers alike, this was a first introduction to Shakespeare in Seoul.