Arabian Nights
Adaptedby Dominic Cook for the RSC
directed by Diane Robinson
Original Music composed by Liz Ryder-Weldon
Auditions - Saturday 22nd November - 2-6pm at The New Venture Theatre
(we have allowed until 6pm, but will probably finish earlier)
Production dates - Friday 20th to Saturday 28th March 2026.
Sunday 22nd is a matinee
Rehearsals - There will be 2 weekday evenings and a Sunday daytime rehearsal each week, starting from Sunday Jan 3rd.
We are hoping to have the 1st readthrough on Saturday December 6th in the afternoon
This play is a wonderful, vibrant celebration of the universality of storytelling. A collection of 6 stories from the middle East, bound together by the frame story of Shahrazad who tells the stories to save her life and the lives of other young women.
I am looking for a cast of at least 4 females and 5 males of all ages who are fit and willing to explore, collaborate and play as part of the rehearsal process. I am particularly keen for any performers who can dance, flip, sing, play percussion or do puppetry to audition, but these are not essential. A willingness to have a go is more important.
This is an ensemble piece and all the characters, except Shahrazad, will play multiple roles, but each actor will have one main role, meaning everyone will be on the stage most of the time.
Although for audition purposes I am using the RSC’s model of 9 actors doubling up, what I am really looking for is Actors who work together well and are willing to help create the stories using a range of theatrical styles, so I may create a team of up to 15.
Please email Tamsin Mastoris, Production Manager of Arabian Nights, on
Cast
|
Main Character |
Description |
Gender/Playing age |
|
Shahrazad |
The young daughter of the vizier who is clever, brave and beautiful. She is very persuasive and needs to be engaging, with excellent storytelling skills. |
Female 16 – 30 |
|
Shaharayar |
The King, the central male figure in the frame story, an enraged sultan who marries and executes a new bride each day after being betrayed by his wife. Initially ruthless but eventually softening due to Shahrazad’s |
Male 30 - 50 |
|
Jafar, the Vizier |
He is the Vizier of King Shaharayar, and under the king’s instructions, very reluctantly, has all the brides executed until his own daughter volunteers to marry the King. He seems strict and strong, but Shahrazad gets her way. He is a loving father and ultimately a good man. |
Male Any age |
|
Ali Baba |
A poor woodcutter, he is clever, but misguidedly loyal to his brother. He ends up very rich after discovering a vast cache of treasure hidden by the Captain and the 40 thieves. |
Male any age |
|
Dinarzad |
Shahrazad’s younger sister, instrumental in the plot to save her sister and all women by requesting a story on her wedding night |
Female 20 – 30 |
|
Ali’s wife |
Plays a key role when her greed prompts her to borrow a measuring scale from her brother-in-law Kasim |
Female -any age |
|
Marjanah |
Marjanah is the quick-witted servant of Ali Baba’s brother Kasim. The actor playing this role dances a very energetic dagger dance and may take on other roles that require dancing, she ends up marrying Ali Baba’s son |
Female – Any age |
|
Es-Sindibad the sailor |
A rich merchant from Baghdad who hears the lament of Sinbad the porter. Amused by the fact they share a name, he relates his tales of his wondrous journeys to his namesake. This actor will use a puppet of his younger self to act out much of his story. |
Male -Any age |
|
Kasim |
Kasim is Ali Baba’s younger brother. He is a greedy and wealthy merchant who betrays his poorer brother Ali Baba by stealing his secret to the cave of treasures, ultimately leading to his own death. |
Male – any age |
All of our auditions are open to anyone. You don't have to be a member to audition, but you will need to join if you are cast in a production.
NVT actively encourages auditionees from ethnic minority communities, and any of the parts could be played by any race.