PENELOPE (F, 40+)
The daughter of a king and a water nymph, wife of Odysseus. Knows how to present as the model noblewoman and wife. Intelligent, articulate and observant. An eternity in the afterlife has given her the benefit of hindsight. The actor will play Penelope from her teens through to the end of her long life.

ODYSSEUS (M, 30s-40s)
A Greek warrior and petty king. Ambitious and savvy, renowned for his cunning and charisma. The actor will play Odysseus from his early 30s through to the end of his life.

TELEMACHUS (M, 18-early 20s)
The beloved only child of Penelope and Odysseus. The actor will play Telemachus as a precocious five-year-old in one scene, and as a moody youth frustrated at being left at home while his father goes to war for the rest of the play.

THE MAIDS
The backbone of the play, Penelope’s twelve Maids act as a Greek Chorus as they observe Penelope telling her side of the story from the afterlife and remind her of the role she played in their fate. Every actor cast will play a Maid as well as other characters (see below), and will have both individual and collectively spoken dialogue. There will also be some chanting and unaccompanied singing to simple melodies.

MELANTHO (F)
One of Penelope’s younger maids. Naive, excitable, loyal. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor and possibly other roles.
TANIS (F)
One of Penelope’s younger maids. Naive, excitable, loyal. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor and possibly other roles.
KERTHIA (F)
One of Penelope’s younger maids. Naive, excitable, loyal. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor and possibly other roles.
KLYTIE (F)
One of Penelope’s younger maids. Naive, excitable, loyal. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor, an Oracle, and Penelope’s mother-in-law Anticleia.
IOLE (F)
One of Penelope’s younger maids. Naive, excitable, loyal. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor and possibly other roles.
CELANDINE (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Suitor, Sailor, and Penelope’s Naiad mother.
SELENE (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play an Ithacan maid, Suitor, and Odysseus’ loyal housekeeper Eurycleia.
ZOE (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Sailor and Antinous, the ringleader of Penelope’s bullying swaggering Suitors, and Penelope’s father Icarius.
ALECTO (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Suitor and Penelope’s sister Helen (the future Of Troy).
CHLORIS (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Sailor, Suitor, Ithacan maid, and Penelope’s father-in-law Laertes.
PHASIANA (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Sailor, Suitor and Ithacan maid.
NARCISSA (F)
One of Penelope’s maids. The actor will also play a Sailor, Suitor, and Ithacan maid.

Auditions are booked via https://www.trybooking.com/CSLKH

Actors auditioning for Penelope who also wish to audition for the Maids ensemble must also attend one of the group auditions.

Actors auditioning for Penelope, Telemachus and Odysseus are requested to prepare a short (no more than 3 minutes) monologue of their choosing they feel relates well to the character.

Scenes from the play are provided to familiarise yourself with ahead of time. You may be asked to read from any or all of them, or possibly other scenes. You do NOT need to learn these scenes by heart.

Ability to work well as an ensemble is integral to the roles of the Maids. These auditions will therefore be held in groups. As well as reading scenes from the play, there will be some improvisation exercises. We want to see not just your abilities as individual performers, but ability to collaborate, support and play with others in a scene.

Auditions for the Maids will be in 45-minute blocks and individual auditions (15 minutes) can be booked close to these group sessions.