'CHRIMBLESENSE' – CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS

CHILDREN’S HOSPICE & SEND SCHOOL TOUR

 

 

Casting Breakdown

 

Award-winning children’s theatre charity, Embracing Arts, are looking for performers for their annual Christmas for Kids live tour to SEND schools and children’s hospice settings. ‘Chrimblesense’, will tour two teams of three actors simultaneously: to 30 venues in the South East of England and 30 in the North of England.

 

Production:  Chrimblesense

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SUBMISSIONS: Please send submissions (CV/Spotlight link) to Mark Pettitt at In House Casting: mark@inhousecasting.com

Please include an outline of any relevant experience working with children with additional needs when you apply. 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 22nd August 2024

 

AUDITIONS: If you are invited to audition, the first round will be via self-tape (please see below). Recalls will take the form of a Workshop Audition on Wednesday 10th September in Streatham (South London). 

Please only apply if you are available on this date to meet with us.

SELF TAPE REQUIREMENTS: Short intro/ident about themselves and any relevant experience. A short song. Tell a short story/fairytale incorporating some sensory elements.​

 

REHEARSALS: 4th - 22nd November 2024, Monday-Friday. 

Rehearsal location: Streatham Space Project, South London. 

PERFORMANCES: minimum of 30 performances between the dates of Monday 25th November - Saturday 22nd December.

Production location: Team 1: Children's hospices and SEND schools in the South East of England. Team 2: Children's hospices and SEND schools in the North of England. Touring. All travel is covered for performances, including travel support for disabled artists. Travel is not covered for rehearsals (except for disabled artists - all access costs covered).

 

ROLES:  

We are looking for the following Actor-Facilitators (any ethnicity, any gender)

 

1 x JOY: A bubbly, ‘joyful’ character who loves everything about Christmas. Excitable and full of energy. Vocal range - F3 to E5 or F2 to E4 depending on gender/vocal type.

 

2 x FROSTY: A fun and friendly character who loves the sensory exploration of Christmas, particularly temperature and texture. Vocal Range - F3 to E5 or F2 to E4 depending on gender/vocal type.

 

2 x Facilitator/Touring SM and Understudy: A brilliant individual who will tour with the team and facilitate the performance with audience engagement. Vocal range - F3 to E5 or F2 to E4 depending on gender/vocal type. Responsible for prop maintenance alongside the actors, as well as running get ins/get outs at each venue. Will understudy both roles. 

 

Embracing Arts is an inclusive theatre charity, and actively encourages applications from Deaf and disabled artists, and those who identify as neuro-diverse. We are fully-funded to support a wide range of access requirements throughout rehearsals and for the duration of the tour.

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Please note we cannot employ any performer who does not possess a valid DBS certificate. If offered a role, performers will be required to show their current DBS or arrange their own check if required.

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What we are looking for in our Actor-facilitators: 

- Confident singers, with the ability to harmonise and improvise around rehearsed song structures.

- Previous experience of SEN/sensory theatre/intensive interaction preferred.

- An interest in devised work: you will be working with the creative team and will have input into the creative process of the piece.

- Flexibility: all artists need to be able to ad lib and improvise. You will be working around a set show framework, but will then adapt the show’s content to the needs of each specific audience.

- We would love to hear from actor-musicians who have their own portable instrument, particularly guitar (or similar) or woodwind. All artists need some rhythmic ability for percussion music creation.

- We are looking for good team players, who are willing to run a simple get in/get out at each venue.

- Car drivers with a full UK driving licence (manual) are preferred, as driving the small company tour van may be required. We are looking for two drivers for the tour who must be over 25. We have funding to provide travel support for disabled artists. 

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PAY CATEGORY:  Equity contract at £573/week plus holiday for rehearsals and tour. Holiday paid at the end of the tour.

EXPENSES:  All travel is covered for performance days (not rehearsal days). London base required for the duration of the tour as some of the tour will be commutable. 

Own-room hotel accommodation while on tour (particularly for the Northern Team) will be booked/paid for in advance by the company, and per diems will be given for overnight stays. 

 

Because of the very specific nature of C4K's work and our unique audience comprising children with Profound Multiple Learning Disabilities, children with Autism and children with life-limiting illnesses, successful applicants will demonstrate emotional maturity, empathy, enthusiasm for working with children who are both poorly and well, and a positive attitude towards working in SEND schools and children’s hospice settings. Performers will receive professional emotional preparation prior to commencing the tour and support throughout it. All performers will receive Child Safeguarding training during rehearsals.

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TEAM LEADERS:

We will appoint one Team Leader who will have excellent communication, organisation and numeric skills, as duties will include arranging pick-ups and drop offs, being in charge of payment card and expenses incurred by the team (petrol, etc), liaising with the care team at each hospice and taking responsibility for their team’s welfare throughout the tour. For this added responsibility, the Team Leader will receive an extra £100/week while on tour (not during rehearsal weeks).

Please let us know if you would like to be considered for the Team Leader position in your application.

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PLEASE SUBMIT ALL APPLICATIONS TO MARK PETTITT AT IN HOUSE CASTING - mark@inhousecasting.com

Please include an outline of any relevant experience working with children with additional needs when you apply.

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We look forward to hearing from you!