Audition Notice

Roleystone Theatre’s March 2027 season:

Cyrano de Bergerac

Directed by Paul Treasure

by Edmond Rostand
Translated by Brian Hooker

Synopsis

The classic French romantic comedy follows the great poet and swordsman Cyrano de Bergerac, who has fallen in love with his cousin, Roxane, but believes that she can never love him because of his… somewhat inconvenient physical disfigurement. 

Roxane, however has fallen in love with Cyrano’s handsome young friend, Christian. Rather than becoming a rival, Cyrano helps Christian to woo Roxane. The play has been adapted to film three times, with Jose Ferrer, Gerard Depardieu, and Peter Dinklage in the title role, and also in the modern retelling, Roxane, starring Steve Martin.

Auditions

Auditions will be held on Saturday 24^th of October during the day, and Wednesday 28^th of October in the evening. 

You will only be required to attend one of these sessions, and while booking an audition via email, please state your preferred date.

Auditions will be held in small groups, and will consist of a series of games and exercises designed to see how well you 'play' in a group and think on your feet. So, please dress in comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely.

The original French script is in verse, and the translation we will be using is a verse translation, so please prepare one of your favourite poems to perform for the rest of your audition group. You do not have to memorise it, but please be familiar with it.

If you would like a copy of the script translation we will be working from before the audition, just ask.

To book an audition, please email the director on pauljtreasure@gmail.com

Roles available

Ensemble: 

As a late 18^th century play, it has a ridiculously large list of characters. Some of whom appear throughout the play, most of whom however, only appear in one scene and then disappear. To that end we will be performing those roles with an ensemble of actors. The ensemble players will appear as audience members in the opening act, then bakers at the start of the second act, turning into soldiers at the end of that act. Musicians in the third act, then back to soldiers for the fourth act, and finally a convent full of nuns in the final act. There will be a lot for the ensemble to do, and it should be a lot of fun.

The following roles will be played separately from the ensemble:

Cyrano de Bergerac. The title character. The greatest swordsman in France, and one of its better poets. He is full of grand romantic gestures, but hampered by his… disfigurement, and what he thinks is a well-concealed insecurity.

Roxane. Cyrano’s beautiful and intelligent cousin, who Cyrano is hopelessly in love with. In many ways just as much a hopeless romantic as Cyrano, though perhaps more astute.

Christian de Neuvilette. The third corner of our love triangle, Christian is also an accomplished soldier. He is ravishingly handsome, and, unfortunately, nowhere near as clever as either Cyrano or Roxane.

Le Comte de Guiche. Also in love with Roxane, but well aware that the only thing he really has to offer is power and privilege. He starts off being the closest the play has to a villain, but has a great redemption arc in the second half of the play.

Le Bret. Cyrano’s best friend, and the voice of reason that tries to ground Cyrano’s more fantastic ideas.

Ragueneau. A companionable and good-humoured baker and would-be poet, and another of Cyrano’s friends.

Roles that will be covered by the ensemble include:

Carbon de Castel-Jaloux
The Cadets
Lignière
Vicomte de Valvert
A Marquis
Second Marquis
Third Marquis
Montfleury
Bellerose
Jodelet
Cuigy
Brissaille
A Meddler
A Musketeer
Another Musketeer
A Spanish Officer
A Cavalier
The Porter
A Citizen
His Son
A Cut-Purse
A Spectator
A Sentry
Bertrandou the Fifer
A Capuchin
Two Musicians
The Poets
The Pastrycooks
The Pages

Roxane’s Duenna
Lise – wife to Ragueneau
The Orange Girl
Mother Marguérite de Jesus
Sister Marthe
Sister Claire
An Actress
A Soubrette
The Flower Girl