Verwood
pantomime society

Auditions Policy:

Verwood Pantomime Society are committed to treating all members of the community with fairness and respect regardless of their ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or their socio-economic background.  We aim to ensure that no child or adult shall be unfairly treated, discriminated against or disadvantaged.

Verwood Pantomime Society holds auditions that are open to members and non-members.

The Auditioning Panel:

• The cast for any production shall be chosen by an audition panel that is selected by the directors and senior members of the production team, with the agreement of the committee.

• The auditioning panel shall consist of an odd number of members (usually five), and will include the director(s), musical director, producer(s), and other experienced members of the production team.

• One panel member, usually the producer, will take on responsibility for ensuring the smooth running of the auditions – they will liaise between the auditionees in the waiting room and the panel.

• A representative from the panel (also usually the producer), will oversee and guide the decisions of the panel, exercising judgement where necessary, in the best interests of the Society.

• Each panel member will make any notes they feel necessary, during the audition process.

• Every effort shall be made to keep the auditioning panel consistent through all auditions.  However, if a member of the auditioning panel cannot attend an extraordinary audition date, another appropriate individual may be selected to take their place.

Auditions Organisation:

• The audition date will be set by the society secretary, in consultation with the producer(s).  This will be publicised on social media, and an email will be sent to existing members prior to the auditions.

• While it is expected that prospective cast will audition on the agreed audition date, there is awareness that, in exceptional circumstances, some applicants may not be available on that day.  The committee retains the right to offer an alternative audition date prior to the official date, if personal circumstances warrant it.

• Auditionees are expected to arrive in plenty of time to ensure no delay occurs in the audition schedule.

• Anyone wishing to audition should put their name on the list for the part that they wish to audition for.  To ensure clarity and openness, this list will include the names of all persons wishing to try out for a part, including those who are not able to attend on the official audition evening and who have auditioned already.

• In the interest of keeping the audition schedule manageable, applicants are encouraged to consider a maximum of 3 roles to audition for.

• Auditions will be in a closed room, where only the person auditioning and the casting panel are present.

• It is acknowledged that the director’s role is onerous and therefore it may not be appropriate for a director to also have a principal role within a production.  An exception to this may be if there are two directors and one will not be appearing on the stage in the production, the other may then be considered for a principal role.

• If any member of the auditioning panel does wish to audition for a part, they should enter their name on the auditions list with everyone else.  They will then be excluded from the panel at the time when that part is being auditioned.

• On the audition date, the auditioning panel shall endeavour to cast all the principal parts which appear on the published audition list.

• If the panel is not in full agreement, a vote will be undertaken, and the resulting casting will be with the majority.

• In certain circumstances, it may be considered impossible to cast a principal part;

• when there has been no auditionee;

• when the auditionees have been cast in other principal parts;

• when the auditionees do not meet the minimum standards required by the auditioning panel.

• If the panel all agree a part cannot be cast, as a last resort and in the best interests of the show, someone from the waiting room that the panel feels may be suitable may be invited to audition for that part.

• After all other casting avenues have been completely exhausted, and no other suitable candidate can be found to fill a role, a director may step in to play the part.

• In the unlikely event that all possible casting options for a role have been considered on auditions night, the panel will have to leave it until a later date to consider a resolution to this problem.  If this is the case, members will be advised ‘this part is yet to be cast’.

After auditions

• Smaller parts not requiring audition (i.e. not on the published audition list) will be cast from the membership, at the discretion of the director(s).

• It may later become apparent that a cast member is unsuitable for the role they have been given. In such cases, the Society Chairperson, along with the director(s) and other panel members, will engage in discussions to find a resolution. This could involve a conversation with the cast member and, ultimately, the withdrawal of their role offer within the production.

• If a member of the cast is instructed to leave, or has to vacate their role, it will become necessary for the part to be recast.  Senior members of the production team and the Society Chairperson will agree the best way forward in this situation.

Important note:

If you have any specific concerns or questions regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to approach any of the VPS committee for advice.