Fracturing the Conventions of Theatre and Film
Casting Call
"The Dying Wish" is a tragicomedy written by Mauro Fazion. The play critiques bureaucracy, the justice system, and institutionalized violence through absurdist, satirical dialogue and surreal scenarios.
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This play presents elements of the theatre of the absurd. It draws on many references from the classics, such as Fernando Arrabal, Brecht, Beckett, and others. It is a provocative play. It is a provocative work that creates a nonrealistic, strange, and unsettling world, which contrasts with the ultra-realistic themes explored within its content.
Audition Process
1st Round – Self-Tape Submission
Please apply via Mandy. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Deadline Sunday 13 July 2025.
2nd Round – In-Person Audition
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday 22 July 2025, in London (Dance Attic Studios – time slots TBC).
Important Dates
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*Times TBC
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In-Person Audition
- Tuesday, 22 July 2025 at Dance Attic Studio
Pre-Rehearsals (Study & Table Read)
- Monday, 28 July 2025
- Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Rehearsals (Blocking & Practical Exploration)
August 2025
- Tuesday, 26 August 2025
- Saturday, 30 August 2025
- Sunday, 31 August 2025
September 2025
- Mondays: 1, 8, 15, 22
- Tuesdays: 2, 9, 16, 23
- Saturdays: 6, 13, 20, 27
- Sundays: 7, 21, 28
Tech & Dress Rehearsal
To be confirmed with venue
Performance Dates at 8:30pm - Venue to be announced soon
- 30th September Tuesday
- 1st October Wednesday
The Characters
Paul | Lead. Male. 35-50
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Paul is the main character of our play. He is a father and son whose gentle nature belies the harsh reality he now faces. Accused of the most outrageous crimes, he stands on the brink of death row, grappling with a cruel injustice that threatens to define the rest of his life. Despite the weight of despair, Paul’s kindness and resilience remain a quiet but powerful force.
OBS.: self-tape should include a performance of 16–32 bars of classical music in the style of Bach’s Air on the G String. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
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Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Showreel
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Required Skills: Music/Musician: Piano/Keyboards
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Deferred: Profit Share
Ingmar
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Lead Male 35-50
He is a man who strictly obeys the law. Fragile and fearful beneath the surface, he prefers to get things done by the book and is very precise and correct—even when the world around him is brutal and chaotic. He is a hangman, nearing retirement, bound by duty and obedience despite the harshness of his role.
OBS.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
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Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
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Deferred: Profit Share
Rooney
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Lead. Male. 50-60
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Rooney is a hangman who works side by side with Ingmar. He contrasts with his colleague—he questions more, is often annoyed and impatient, feels more worn out, and approaches both the work and the world around him with a much rougher, rawer attitude. However, beneath this tough exterior, he reveals some soft and human nuances. Like Ingmar, he is also considering retirement. He is a heavy smoker.
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
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Deferred: Profit Share
Mom
Supporting. Female. 45-70
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Warm, nurturing, and full of life — she’s the heart and soul of any room she walks into. Oblivious to the chaos around her, she’s driven by one mission: to feed everyone and make them feel loved. Inspired by the classic “mama” stereotype, she arrives unannounced at the most inconvenient moment and always insists on doing things her way. Loud, and overbearing, she’s impossible to ignore. She’s taken charge of her family, stepping into the dominant role and openly dismissing her husband, whom she resents. A little bit of a control freak who does not respect/admire her husband.
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
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Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
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Deferred: Profit Share
Attorney​
Supporting. All genders. 30-40
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The Attorney, on the other hand, strives to maintain control and is doing everything he/she can to save Paul from death row, not out of personal connection, but purely as part of their professional duty.. He/She carries an air of pretentious intelligence and walks a fine line between following the rules and bending them, breaking the rules by cleverly adhering to them.
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
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Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
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Deferred: Profit Share
Kiddy
Supporting. All Genders. 18-25
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Kiddy is a drug addict and the son of the main character, Paul, who is on death row. He is completely careless and doesn’t take care of himself. He is disconnected from reality but is extremely sensitive to it—he feels the world around him deeply and is highly emotional, often unstable and all over the place.
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. The self-tape must include 30 seconds of both singing and rapping. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
Required Skills:
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Musical Style: Rap
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Singing: Other
Deferred: Profit Share
Cleaner
Supporting. All Genders. 40-60
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A part-time drug dealer with a keen, observant eye. Nothing escapes their attention — they quietly absorb everything happening around them, even when no one realizes they’re paying attention. They speak only when necessary. Acting as a low-key fixer within the prison, they’re always in the right place at the right time and seem to understand exactly what’s going on. Always one step ahead, they operate discreetly in the shadows, seeing far more than they let on.
Actors qualities: physical comedic abilities and clown experience preferred.
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
Required Skills:
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Variety: Clown Training
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Comedy: Physical Comedy
Deferred: Profit Share
Engineer
Supporting. All Genders. 25-40
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The Engineer is a self-assured, know-it-all type who thrives on his own cleverness — until it backfires. He’s confident to the point of arrogance and rarely takes responsibility when things go wrong, and blames it all on the other departments. A bold, avant-garde thinker, he believes his invention is the best thing since sliced bread. He's determined to push progress forward, but his tunnel vision and ego often get the better of him
Obs.: Selected applicants will be required to submit a self-tape as the first stage of the audition process. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in London.
Required Media: Headshot/Photo, Video Reel
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Deferred: Profit Share