AUDITION NOTICE: The Taming of the Shrew

[Claremont Dramatic Society]

From CTTC:

Details of auditions for CTTC's September 2025 production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

Hello We are pleased to announce that we will be presenting Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Barbara Basel at the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg in September 2025. Auditions will be held at the MOTH Hall in Newlands (next door to the Hok) on 12 April 2025. Please fill out this form to book an audition slot. About the audition Venue: MOTH Hall, Thicket Street, Newlands, Cape Town Date: 12 April 2025 Time: 10am to 12pm – short monologue from any Shakespearean play             12.30pm to 3pm – reading selections from ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ Availability Before you audition, please confirm that you are available for the rehearsal period and for the performance dates and that you have reliable transport to and from the venues. PERFORMANCES: Masque Theatre, Muizenberg                                   18–27 SEPTEMBER 2025 REHEARSALS: MOTH Hall (from 1 May)                            Tuesdays and Thursdays 7–10pm                            Saturdays 1.30 pm–4.30pm (During the early stages of rehearsals, actors will not be expected to attend every rehearsal because specific sections will be rehearsed.) About the production The Taming of the Shrew was Shakespeare’s second play written during 1591. This play has long been the subject of heated discussion amongst historians, academics and directors regarding whether or not Shakespeare is advocating a woman’s total subjection to her father, husband and other male relatives. In his later plays, Shakespeare presents many strong female characters such as Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Cleopatra (Anthony and Cleopatra), Portia (Julia Caesar), Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII) and Portia (The Merchant of Venice). Today, in the 21st century, we pride ourselves that gender equality is the order of the day and women now hold very powerful positions, such as Prime Minister and Bank Manager, and are often the main ‘breadwinner’ for their household. Unfortunately, this situation is not the case for all women. Many countries still have gender repressive laws and social practices that deny women control of their lives as a matter of custom, religion and/or physical and psychological male abuse. I have chosen to set my production of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’  sometime in the future when ‘the boot is on the other foot’ and men have to wait until their mothers choose their marriage partner, who is in most cases the woman with the largest bank balance. I have swopped the gender of the main characters but left most of the servants to be played by males. I’m still focusing on the play’s humour because we usually pay more attention to something that makes us laugh than to a moralising sermon. I should like to dedicate this production to all women whose rights have been eroded and intelligence undermined by gender prejudice, especially those currently living in Afghanistan. Dr Barbara Basel, Director How to audition Please prepare a short (1-2 minute) monologue from any Shakespearean play. Fill out the form and you will be contacted to arrange an audition timeslot. Please be available on the audition date (12 April 2025) to present your monologue at the arranged time (between 10am and 12pm) and to participate in a selection of readings from the play in the afternoon (12.30pm to 4.30pm). Available roles FEMALE CHARACTERS (Played by MEN) (5) Katherine (20–30 years in appearance)  Elder daughter of Baptista Minola. Baptista decrees that Katherine must marry before her younger sister Bianca may do so. The “shrew” of the play’s title, Katherine/Kate is hard-headed, stubborn and prone to speak her mind. She is sharp-tongued, quick-tempered and often violent, particularly against anyone who wants to marry her and, thus, a very good match for Petruchio. She initially refuses to marry Petruchio, but eventually appears to subjugate herself to him. Bianca (18–25 years in appearance)  Kate’s younger sister. Bianca is loved by Gremio, Hortensio and Lucentio but cannot have suitors or marry before her older sister Katherine. At the beginning of the play Bianca is soft-spoken, sweet and unassuming. Bianca is clearly Baptista's favourite daughter, although she may not be as sweet as she initially appears. A Widow (30–50 years in appearance) (small part)  A rich woman whom Hortensio marries after he loses Bianca. She is contemptuous of Kate but also shrewish in her own way. Petruchio’s servants: Curtis & Nathaniel (any age)  Take on a number of different small roles, mainly ‘country-bumpkin types’. MALE CHARACTERS (Played by WOMEN) (9) Minola Baptista (40–60 years in appearance)  One of the wealthiest men in Padua, who can offer substantial dowries for Kate and Bianca. He is good-natured but superficial. At the opening of the play, he is desperate to find Kate a suitor, having decided that she must marry before Bianca does. Petruchio (25–35 years in appearance)  A gentleman from Verona. Loud, boisterous, eccentric and quick-witted. He intends “to wife it wealthily in Padua”. Through his friend Hortensio, he meets Katherine and agrees to wed her for her dowry. Disregarding everyone who warns him of her shrewishness, he eventually succeeds in wooing Katherine and, apparently, silencing her tongue and temper with his own special mixture of wit and force. Grumio (30+)  Petruchio’s manservant and the fool of the play, source of much comic relief. Lucentio (20–25 years in appearance)  A good-natured and wealthy student who comes to study at Padua’s university. However, he falls in love with Bianca at first sight and changes places with his servant Tranio. He disguises himself as a classics instructor named Cambio and becomes a tutor for Bianca. He wins her love, but his impersonation gets him into trouble with his father. Tranio (18–25 years in appearance)  Lucentio’s manservant/companion. Tranio accompanies Lucentio from Pisa. Wry and comical, he plays an important part in his master’s charade – he assumes Lucentio’s identity and bargains with Baptista for Bianca’s hand on Lucentio’s behalf. Hortensio (25–35 years in appearance)  A gentleman of Padua, a suitor of Bianca, and Petruchio’s friend. Hortensio introduces Petruchio to Baptisa and Kate then dresses up as a music instructor (Lucio) to court Bianca. He and Gremio are both thwarted by Lucentio but eventually they become friends during their mutual frustration with and rejection by Bianca. Hortensio ends up marrying the widow. Gremio (50+) (small part)  An elderly gentleman of Padua and a suitor of Bianca. Rather timid and full of complaints. Vincentio (50+) (small part) Lucentio’s father. (Also the Old Man Petruchio and Kate meet on the road back to Padua.) Pedant (50+) (small part) A teacher from Mantua. He agrees to impersonate Vincentio for Tranio (he is unaware Tranio is pretending to be Lucentio). BOOK AN AUDITION Facebook Instagram Email Website