Audition for a Principal singer role in OSE's production of The Mikado

Auditions are hereby announced for Opera South East's production of The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan for performances on Fri 24th April and  Sat 25th April 2020 - Sung in English with the OSE Chorus and the Sussex Concert Orchestra

Whilst we always welcome new members you do not have to become a member or pay a fee in order to audition.

The auditions will be held on the evening of Tuesday 19th November 2019 in the upstairs lounge of the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, TN34 1JX  

The closing date for audition applications is lunchtime Wednesday 13th November 2019; you will be advised of your audition place by Thursday 14th November.

The application form is below...

Audition format

Please sing something in English by Gilbert & Sullivan, or similar, and provide music score if not singing from The Mikado. 
We will be reading from the following passages: (page nos from Green Chappell libretto) see links below for text

  • Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah:  from “Pooh-Bah, it seems that the festivities...” on page 9  to “No money – no grovel” on the next page
  • Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum:  Page 15, from “Yum-Yum at last we are alone” to “Happy indeed” halfway down page 16.   
  • Other characters - Three Maids, Pishtush, Nankipoo, page 31 from “Yes, everything seems to smile upon me” to “Quite ridiculous” on page 33.  
  • and for Mikado Audition Mikado Katisha Koko Poohbah Pittising, from page 45 from “All this is very interesting” to “It wasn’t written on his forehead you know” at the top of page 47
  • Please be prepared to read/act in a group situation!

All roles will be cast by audition, and fees are not expected to be offered for any roles for this particular production

To apply for auditions, please indicate your interest on the form below and our chairman, John Rycroft, will be informed immediately on submission of this form

OSE Member applications will be given priority for audition.  People interested in joining our chorus members may simply submit your details on the chorus application form at any time and join our rehearsals from January 2020, and we'll be in touch with you. ​
Director:        Denis Delahunt
Conductor: Kenneth Roberts

    Application form to Audition for The Mikado

    Max file size: 500KB
    Max file size: 500KB
Watch above this line once you hit [submit] to an audition application for any error messages or a confirmation!

Principal Fee/expense schedule for The Mikado

OSE is not planning to pay fees or expenses for main principal roles on this occasion. Show-week accommodation with company members can normally be arranged. Feel free to ask for details in the notes on your application - we are known as the friendly opera company!

Our last few productions were just great!  See the NODA write-ups (National Operatic and Dramatic Association).  In July 2015, OSE received a regional award in the NODA South-East Awards for Excellence 2014 - for Musical Excellence in OSE's production of Carmen, and this year (2019) we were awarded the 2018 NODA South-East Region award for Best Opera

About The Mikado, OSE and our audition format

OSE are performing G&S's The Mikado, in English, on Fri 24 April and  Sat 25 April 2020 at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings. 

We will be auditioning for the principal roles on the evening of Tuesday 19th November  2019, upstairs at the White Rock Theatre 

Apply on this audition application form by lunchtime Wednesday 13th November 2019 and you will be informed by Thursday 14th if you are successful in gaining a personal audition time on 19th November.
​ 
Chorus applications: As well as Principal part auditions, we also very much welcome new members of the chorus, and a separate form exists to apply for the Chrous or for back-stage or administrative roles.

Please see the notes below before submitting your audition application...
Notes on Principal audition applications:
  • Principal roles rehearsals are generally on Sunday afternoons, starting with production rehearsals on Sunday 2nd February 2020.  (Chorus music rehearsals before that are on Sunday afternoons or evenings from 5th January 2020.)
  • Please provide with your application any holidays or other commitment dates on the application form if you will not be available for a rehearsal on any Sundays from 2nd February through to the April production.  (See schedule below).  Everyone is expected for all calls for the week of the performances and the two Sundays before (i.e. the afternoon of Sunday 12th April; the afternoon & evening of Sunday 19th April to 10pm, and every evening of show-week (Monday 20th April = Sitzprobe, Tuesday 21st = Tech Rehearsal, Wednesday 22nd = Dress rehearsal 1, Thursday 23rd = Dress rehearsal 2, Friday 24th = first performance, Saturday 25th = last performance - see timings below)
  • Principal performers seeking auditions should  sing at least one piece in English (preferably from G&S)
  • We will then contact applicants via email (where possible) or phone with confirmation of your audition time if selected, and later with the results of your audition
  • Castings for principal roles will not be notified to the rest of the company until all the roles have been offered and accepted
  • New Members of the Chorus are always welcomed for all voice parts and we offer chorus training and a free trial period to cover an opera production. Volunteers for back-stage and administrative roles do not have to be held by OSE Members - there's a range of supporting & leading roles in terms of set construction, costume work, press/marketing and administration roles.  We'd love to hear from you, whether you are or are not interested in on-stage roles. Applications for chorus and back-stage roles are coming on separate pages.
  • Audition applications received by Wednesday XXth November 2019 will be considered for audition appointment by The Chairman (John Rycroft) on submission of this form.  There is no guarantee of later applications being accommodated even if you have potential for selection. 
    Please raise any problems with this auditions website form to Secretary (Greg Solomon) rather than the Chairman.
Fees: We are not planning to offer fees for this production.

Notes on the OSE rehearsal schedule:
  • Sundays: Chorus-only music rehearsals will take place from January 2020 under our Music Director, Kenneth Roberts.  These Music rehearsals generally run from 2pm-5pm, though sometimes from 6:30pm-8:30pm.  From February the main production rehearsals begin for the whole company, generally from 1pm-5pm. Rehearsals are mostly located in St Leonards-on-Sea.  Principal performers are only required from the start of production rehearsals with the Director commencing Sunday 2nd February 2020
  • There may be additional daytime Principal rehearsals, perhaps in London at other times to be mutually agreed 
  • Principal music calls will be held for major roles, wherever possible on the Sunday mornings preceding the production rehearsals
  • Minor principal roles where singers are doubling chorus will need to attend chorus rehearsals
  • There may also be additional evening Chorus rehearsals in the run-up to the production, where the focus will be entirely on music.  Principals are welcome but not expected
​Principals are expected for the following dates in bold (from February) in the schedule below, and mandatory attendance is required for dates in red: -
Draft Rehearsal schedule TBC  (chorus rehearsals are for information for Principals):
Sun 05-Jan-19 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 12-Jan-19 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 19-Jan-19 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 26-Jan-19 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 02-Feb-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 09-Feb-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 10-Feb-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 23-Feb-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 01-Mar-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 08-Mar-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Weekday evening TBC - Chorus-only music rehearsals will be added
Further Principal daytime /evening rehearsals TBC over next 3 weeks
Sun 15-Mar-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 22-Mar-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 29-Mar-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun  05-Apr-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun  12-Apr-19 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm [Easter: times t.b.d.]
Sun  19-Apr-19 - Orchestral rehearsal - morning
Sun   19-Apr-19 - Hell Sunday - 2pm-10pm
Mon 20-Apr-19 - Sitzprobe rehearsal - 7.15pm-10.15pm
Tue   21-Apr-19 - Technical rehearsal - 6pm-10:00pm
Wed 22-Apr-19 - Dress rehearsal 1 - 6pm-10:00pm
Thu  23-Apr-19 - Dress rehearsal 2 - 6pm-10:00pm
Fri 24-Apr-19 - Production night 1 - 6pm-10:30pm (7.30pm curtain-up)
Sat 25-Apr-19 - Production night 2 - 6pm-10:30pm (7.30pm curtain-up)

Audition Location

White Rock Theatre
White Rock,
Hastings
East Sussex  TN34 1JX

Primary Rehearsal Location

Primary rehearsal location:
    John Taplin Centre,
    Healey House,
    3 Upper Maze Hill,
    St Leonard's on Sea,
    East Sussex TN38 0LQ