‘Give acting a go’ urges Shakespearean director

FUN TIMES: Taming of the Shrew auditions are being held on Sunday.

Aspiring Thespians who are looking to show their acting chops can now audition for Evolution Theatre’s Shakespearean romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew.

The play which is believed to have been written in the late 1590s narrates the story of a headstrong and independent woman, Katherine, who plays down the offer of marriage and is in favour of choosing her own suitor. However, when she is forced against her will to join in wedlock with an eccentric Petruccio, her new husband employs several tactics to render her as an obedient wife.

Although the play is thought to be Shakespeare’s most misogynistic, Evolution Theatre’s artistic director Dinna Myers will be putting her own modern spin to the comedy to connect more with today’s “modern audience”.

“It’s a very funny piece of theatre,” Myers said.

“Probably the important thing to understand for the play is that Kate and Petruccio fall in love at first sight.

“There are moments in the play where it’s not a matter of Petruccio trying to dominate and control Kate, but a case of them trying to taunt and tease each other and bring out the best in each other.”

The director said towards the end of the play the couple realises what an amazing match they turned out to be, as in all Shakespearean comedies “everyone gets to live happily ever after”.

As a former co-founder of Silicon Valley Shakespeare company which formed in America in 1999, Myers has about 17 years of experience directing and producing Shakespearean plays. She is confident of her craftwork and has developed great skill to direct her talent.

Her advice to upcoming actors is to just let go of the fear and embrace the language.

“Once you do that, you’ll feel that you’re having a terrific experience.”

Myers said that she was also interested in carrying out a cross-gendered casting.

“For example, the original play has Katherine’s father pushing her to marry. Based on how the casting goes, we can switch out the father with a mother and so on for several other roles, except the one of the main lovers.”

As the director and for the casting crew requirements, Myers says she is looking for actors from age 16 or above.

“All I’m going for is guys and girls with great attitude, a willingness to learn and have fun. So come and give it a go.”

For those interested in learning more about the auditions and characters visit Evolution Theatre’s facebook page.

■  Venue: Evolution Theatre Company,

75 Disraeli Street

When: 11am, Sunday May 28

Register: tinyurl.com/2p93yd76 or evolutiontheatre.org.nz