Character Breakdown Michael / Dr Oblivion and Clark Clarkson / Puppeteer ensemble.
MICHAEL is Ellie’s Father in the real world. He is desperately trying and miserably failing to look after his grieving daughter, due to his own grief and his distant relationship with her.
DR OBLIVION is Michael’s comic book alter ego and exists only in Ellie’s imagination. He is a megalomaniac super villain, with a Dr Frankenstein-like obsession with creating grotesque creatures from parts of other creatures. He is Blaze’s arch Nemesis (Blaze is Ellie’s super hero persona) and is obsessed with plotting her demise. CLARK CLARKSON is the public persona of Dr Oblivion. Winning and squeaky clean, Clarkson is the city’s mayor who is secretly trying to destroy Paradise City. Similar to Superman, all Oblivion has to do is take off his glasses to become Clarkson. Whilst Oblivion has fooled everyone in the city, Blaze knows the truth behind the disguise.
PUPPETEER / ENSEMBLE – This role will involve playing multiple characters in the comic book world, including a drunken waster at Five Legged Joes Whisky Bar and Old Todd, an alcoholic tramp who doubles as a confidant to Blaze. The puppeteer role will include operating a variety of puppets that represent the character of BEAST, ranging from: a dog-like puppet, a three-person life-size humanoid puppet and a large floating head made up of several pieces. For this role, we will train you in our specific brand of life-size Japanese Bunaku style puppetry and object manipulation. This is a physically demanding role; you will be operating beast with two other puppeteers – the style is similar to that of the puppetry in War Horse in terms of the level of detail and difficulty and the connectivity between the puppeteers. There will also be smaller puppetry and object manipulation roles.
Availability:
Readthrough and Costume fittings: 20th and 21st January
Rehearsals: Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm from the 23rd of Jan to 3rd Feb. Then 5 days per week 10am – 6pm from the week beginning 6th Feb including some weekend days until Feb 19th – TBC (total 4 weeks)
Tour dates (inc some travel days)- confirmed:
Feb:
20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd
March: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 29th,
30th, 31st
April: 1st
May: 9th, 10th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
Project fee: £4,380
All transport to and from tour venues and the company’s London base will be provided as will accommodation outside of London. You will require a valid passport for travel to Jersey.
To apply, please send a headshot, acting CV and a cover letter outlining your interest in the project and relevant experience to shelley@sparkleanddark.com. Please also send your availability for audition in London on the 5th 6th 7th and 8th of January 2017.
Agents: please also outline in some detail your client’s suitability for the role or include a submission of interest from your client where possible as we normally receive a high number of applications, thank you.
Please note: we will only be able to reply to successful applicants to invite to audition.
We look forward to hearing from you!