CASTING
Vincent Ergo is an hour long Immersive Theatre experience based on the life, love, madness & art of Vincent Van Gogh.
Vincent's story will lead audiences through our performance space and take them on a journey of the last few years of Van Gogh's life. They will participate in and witness his passion, his painting and his pain. As Vincent searches for love and peace in 19th century France.
If you have experience in Immersive Theatre, that’s awesome. However it’s not necessary, we like to team up with creative & talented people who are excited about doing a new type of theatre. We’re looking for great performers, who have a couple of tricks up their sleeves and are keen to join the Vincent Ergo family. There are multiple roles to fill and most performers will be asked to fill several roles, with major roles paired with smaller parts. There is a lot of acting to be done!
Vincent Ergo is an independant live theatre production, opening in Redfern, Sydney 2021.
This will be a ticketed production.
NB: Although funding is currently being sought, the producers are committed to making this show a reality. If external funding applications are unsuccessful a profit share method of payment will be put place.
!! PLEASE NOTE !!
Vincent Ergo is going to be intense, both in terms of schedule and production. This play is going to ask a lot of its cast, and we want everyone to be as healthy and happy as possible. To which please be aware that the production deals heavily with some tough subjects including child loss, alcohol abuse, mental illness, depression and suicide. If you are in need of someone to talk to, please contact:
Lifeline 24hr Support Line: 13 11 14
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/
Audition / Rehearsal / Production dates
Auditions will be held on Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November in Marrickville
Full day script reading with all cast, on site: Sunday 13th December.
Rehearsals commence from the 11th January in Pyrmont- 2 mid week evenings plus weekends, for 6 weeks.
Feb 23rd - Rehearsals move to onsite for 2 weeks, in RedfernProduction runs (in Redfern) from 10th March - 4th April. Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat + Sun nights approx 6pm - 10pm
Shows will run approx 1hr per show with 2 shows per day, 5 days a week. All shows will be in the evenings.
CASTING ROLES:
Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent is a tormented soul. He struggles with mental illness, depression, alcohol addiction (specifically absinthe) and expresses clear bi-polar traits. He comes from a middle class dutch family who are heavily religious. He constantly strives to impress his parents and always feels he is not worthy. Vincent’s passion is painting, however he never becomes successful in the eyes of the art world, only selling 1 painting in his lifetime. He is obsessed with the expressionist painting style, and the theory behind painting emotionally.
Vincent also spends his entire short life searching for a woman to love him, and has had a string of failed romances, many with prostitutes. He developes an unhealthy attachment and obsession with fellow artist Paul Gauguin and relies too heavily on Gauguin’s approval and companionship. When Paul leaves Vincent, Vincent takes this as the ultimate abandonment in a lifetime full of abandonment from various people including; his own mother, the many women he has loved, his brother, the art world and society in general.
Vincent’s struggle with his mental health and not being recognised for his art are his 2 biggest challenges. He is in and out of mental asylums in his lifetime and experiences extreme highs when things are going well and devastating lows when he is not well.
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin is a passionate, expressive, educated and well spoken man. He also has an inflated ego, is cocky, pretentious, and is a womaniser. He was born in Paris but spent time living in Peru as a young child with his French/Peruvian mother, and so he considers himself to have ‘Inca blood’ which accounts for his bold and fiery nature.
Paul and Vincent are friends although their relationship is a tumultuous one. Paul brags constantly about himself and how his style of painting is the correct one. Although he admires Vincent’s work, he loves to criticise Vincent’s approach.
He loves money, he’s indulgent, believes his status and talent to be above those of fellow artists, and is incredibly selfish. He knows Vincent struggles with his mental health but Paul loves to use Vincent for entertaining conversation when it suits him, and then shun Vincent when he’s had enough. He takes satisfaction in pointing out Vincen’t wrongdoings both within his personal life and art.
While they form a very strong bond and respect each other artistically, the relationship is skewed with Vincent idolising Paul, and Paul taking advantage of this behavior to make himself feel important. Paul becomes increasingly frustrated with Vincent’s maddening behaviour especially when it becomes violent.
Physical characteristics:
Paul Gauguin is 40 years old, tall and slim with dark hair, a sharp nose and a distinctly manicured moustache. He has an olive complexion due to his ‘Inca blood’. He’s a handsome man and he knows it. He expels confidence and walks with purpose, grace and a strong posture.
His speech is articulate and he speaks with a mild south american/french accent. He often speaks coyly and in a condescending manner.
Rachel Berlatier
Rachel, born and raised in Paris is one of 9 children. Her family were quite poor and due to her good looks the unwanted male attention she received as a child made it easy for her to turn to prostitution in her teens. She courted some wealthy men in her 20s but her hard lifestyle of hooking and boozing has worn her. She has lost her youthful looks. Being a woman of the night has taken its toll on her and unfortunately has led a hard life of physical abuse, poverty and often living on the streets. Work is hard to come by and the clientele are no longer aristocratic men but greedy, abusive, often penniless and diseased men
She currently lives with 2 other prostitutes in a brothel and also works the red light scene. She had a taste of fine food and clothes in her earlier years and is always on the look out for the rich handsome man to approach her. She’s not deluded by the prospect of love, and accepts that her body is to be used as a means of survival.
She feels sorry for Vincent but is generally annoyed with him pestering her as she knows he has no money, and so, in her mind is a waste of time. She changes her tune quickly when she (mistakenly) learns he has come into money, and entertains the idea of playing his beloved.
Physical characteristics:
Rachel is approaching 40, and while she was once beautiful her features have now hardened and she looks older than her years. For this reason, she wears a lot of make-up but this fools no one. She’s tall and has maintained a good body, but her face is worn and lined. She has long brown hair, walks with seduction and knows how to flaunt her body
She speaks slowly and sexily when in the presence of men. She has a neutral accent
Costume:
Rachel wears a french style corset complete with underwear, suspenders, stockings and heels. During the Night Cafe opening scene this is dressed up with a feather boa, jewellery and an updo.
The Postman
The postman has worked for La Poste for over 20 years. He feels the work is beneath him and will allude to other greater entrepreneurial endeavors he has on the horizon but the fact is, he’s uneducated, unskilled, lazy, untrustworthy and aside from working as a postman, he is unemployable. He’s a man of the streets, in that he was brought up to fend for himself, he has lived in various cities all over France and tried his hand at all kinds of illegitimate work and knows many unlawful characters. It is not beneath him to steal post parcels from the people of France if something interesting catches his eye.
The postman is extremely vocal and will complain about his ‘down and out luck’ or the pitiful people he is forced to interact with during his bothersome postal work. Although he may have little, he is actually an indulgent man, particularly when it comes to women, booze and food. He has almost no self control over these weaknesses and frequents brothels and the red light district as often as he can, often tricking the women in servicing him when he can not afford to pay them. He drinks on the job constantly, which fuels his loud and obnoxious behaviour, and eats gluttonously.
Physical characteristics:
The postman is in his late 40’s, overweight with a protruding pot belly and round chubby cheeks. He has a mop of dark messy hair and a thick bushy moustache. He speaks with a heavy, exaggerated french accent
Costume:
The postman wears a navy uniform (trousers, shirt and hat) with a yellow La Post logo on the shirt. He always has his post ‘van’ with him, which is actually a small trolley on wheels he pulls behind him filled with postal parcels wrapped in brown paper, and always, the one parcel wrapped in red. There is no horn on his trailer but he often verbally yells ‘honk honk!’
Madame Marie Ginoux
Madame is in her late 40’s and looks well for her age. She has a voluptuous figure which she knows how to move and expresses herself confidently. She’s all smiles until things don’t go her way and then she is rude, abrupt and impatient. She’s a shrewd business woman motivated by money. She speaks with a french accent
Costume:
Madame wears an elegant vintage corset covered in a chiffon robe. She wears a lot of jewelry and makeup and her hair is flowing
Juliet
Juliette is attractive with long hair she wears out. She’s self absorbed, has an attitude and is a bit of a bitch. She’s pouty, sexy and provocative towards men, and disinterested towards women. She speaks with a french accent
Costume:
Vintage style underwear + suspenders. She has a feather boa in the Night Cafe and Red Light District scenes. She wears a robe loosely open in the Ear Reveal scene
Francine
Francine is young (20’s), pretty enough, enthusiastic and uneducated. She’s often taken advantage of because of her stupidity. She works the streets and so is street smart, but also a bit of a bimbo. She’s easily excited. Francine speaks with a french accent
Costume:
Vintage style underwear + suspenders. She has a feather boa in the Night Cafe and Red Light District scenes. She wears a robe loosely open in the Ear Reveal scene
DR GATCHET
Dr Gatchet is tall and lanky. He’s an intelligent man but can be a little forgetful. His life and passion is his work at the asylum. He speaks well with a neutral accent
Costume: Dark trousers and dark long sleeved shirt
MALE WARDEN
The male warden is lanky, tall and very unsettling. He’s extremely peculiar and gives the impression that he has done terrible things. He’s articulate and well spoken. He will stare at people for uncomfortable amounts of time making them feel extremely uneasy. He speaks with a neutral accent
Costume: Dark dirty lab coat with blood stains, black trousers. Large round spectacles that magnify the eyes
WEALTHY MAN
The wealthy man is tall and proud. He’s aman of little words and likes to observe situations and take in his surroundings. He was born into money and is not concerned with flashing his money around to impressive people and ensure he gets what he wants
Costume: Smart shirt, vest and jacket, + trousers, wide brim fedora hat, gold watch
MALE NURSE
The male nurse is proud and takes his job seriously. He has a huge ego and always thinks he knows best when it comes to the patients. He likes to put them down and point out their flaws and medical conditions to make himself feel better. He’s lonely, cocky and annoying. He exaggerates his facial movements often rolling his eyes or smirking behind people’s backs. He speaks with a neutral accent
LANDLORD
The landlord is a loud man in his 60’s. He lives a good life indulging in food, booze and women. He is easily offended and excitable. He speaks with a thick french accent
VO Roles
THEO VAN GOGH
Only Theo’s voice is ever heard. In the Asylum he speaks loudly and direct. In the Crows scene he whispers harshly, loudly and eerily
LANDLORDS WIFE
The landlord’s wife’s voice only is heard coming from upstairs. She speaks with an exaggerated french accent slightly high pitched