Current Auditions
Grand Horizons
directed by George Werther
Performances Dates: 23 Apr 2027 – 8 May 2027
Audition Dates: Monday 14 December 2026 at 7pm and Wednesday 16 December 2026, 7pm at our theatre, 29 Burke Road, Malvern East
SYNOPSIS
After 40 years of marriage, Bill and Nancy have settled into a comfortable new life in their retirement home, when Nancy suddenly decides to seek a divorce – and Bill agrees. For their two adult sons, the news is shattering, but their attempts to mediate a reconciliation expose unresolved issues for all family members.
Heart-breaking, profound and hilarious, Bess Wohl’s remarkable play explores family relationships, marriage, love, growing old, and discovering one’s true happiness, with characters that explode off the stage. Premiering on Broadway in 2020, nominated for Best Play (Tony Awards), and playing return seasons at the Sydney Theatre Company (2021, 2022), Malvern Theatre Company is proud to present the Melbourne premiere of this dazzling and beguiling play.
CHARACTERS
Nancy: female, 60-75
She has been married to Bill for forty years and suddenly decides she wants a divorce and her freedom after living with him in the Grand Horizons community. She is passionate about helping others and wants more from her life. She has regrets about lost opportunities. She is however fatalistic about the effect of her break-up with Bill. She does still care for Bill and likely still loves him. She is frustrated by the ‘selfishness’ of her sons and wants them to become independent of her and Bill, while being remarkably candid with her son, Brian, about very personal matters.
Bill: male, 60-75
Nancy’s husband of four decades, a retired pharmacist who seems mostly unfazed by the split and is ready to start a fresh chapter. He is revealed to have been having an affair on the side, so that this may be an opportunity for him. He is irresponsible in several ways, which Nancy well knows, so that she still wishes the best for him. He is a frustrated comedian and superficially unfazed by the events but ultimately expresses his love for Nancy in unexpected ways.
Ben: male, 35-45
The high-strung, stressed eldest son and lawyer who tries to manage the family crisis in practical ways, but relies on his pregnant wife, Jess, to provide level-headedness and emotional stability. He has a tense relationship with his very different brother, Brian. He ultimately breaks down emotionally, shattering his image of stability as he comes to terms with his dependable parents breaking up and leaving him emotionally stranded.
Jess: female, 35-45
Ben’s pregnant wife, who works as a therapist and gets caught up in the emotional fallout. She provides a stabilising influence, both directly and via her influence on her husband, Ben. She is the thus the ‘rock’ in the family because of both her strong and caring personality and due to her not being as emotionally invested in the parent and child bonds as her husband, Ben – with whom there are ongoing tensions.
Brian: male, 25-35
The younger adult son, who is gay, is completely blindsided by the news of his parents’ break-up but sees himself as their emotional support – in contrast to Ben’s ‘practical’ input. He teaches drama to children and feels that he is not given credit by his family for these achievements. He is stressed by his own life pressures, so that his input is not always helpful. He fails in his clumsy attempt to find emotional support from a casual acquaintance.
Tommy: male, 25-35
A late-night casual and eccentric hookup/date of Brian’s who gets swept into the family’s chaotic intervention. While he tries to jolly up Brian with light-hearted games, he is eventually spooked by Brian’s attempts to discuss his family crisis, and leaves.
Carla: female, 60-70
Bill’s secret female partner who lives nearby. She is caring and unashamedly revealing of personal details in her meeting with Bill’s wife, Nancy, with whom she gets along surprisingly well. They have a remarkably candid conversation about Bill and almost seem on the same wavelength, such that Nancy appears to facilitate their ongoing relationship. She however seems to perceive that Bill and Nancy still have a bond and she departs.
NO PRECAST CHARACTERS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Auditionees will be required to provide a theatre resume and headshot prior to the audition and will be supplied with a copy of the script, together with a list of passages to be read at the audition. It is expected that auditionees will be familiar with the play and able to discuss its essence briefly. They will be asked to read relevant sections against another actor and will also be given some simple directions and an opportunity to demonstrate simple movement. There may be call-backs during the audition week.
Auditionees are requested to book an audition time with the Director (full details on the VDL website https://vdl.org.au/auditions)
REHEARSALS
Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7.30-10.30pm
Sunday afternoons 2-5pm or evenings – to be determined
Successful auditionees must be available for the whole rehearsal period and for all performances.
VERY IMPORTANT
You must book an audition time with the Director (refer information on the Victorian Drama League website for additional information, including contact details for the Director). After you have booked an audition time, you will be emailed a link to complete an online Audition Form.