Posted by Act VI Productions
Act VI Productions is seeking one non-Equity performer to join the existing ensemble cast of its summer 2025 production, Romeo and Juliet.
“Two houses, both alike in the eyes of the Christian Missionaries and Colonial Powers who control fair Verona.”
Directed by Nicholas Koy Santillo, this production will be staged exclusively outdoors, in public spaces. It will adjust to the realities of outdoor performance — no amplification, lighting, special effects or proscenium arch. An homage to the raucous, interactive origins of live performance, audiences will come and go as they please, and watch from any side.
Five actors will enter the space, playing multiple roles, and they will not leave until the show has finished.
CASTING BREAKDOWN:
Young Lover / Capulet
Primary role: Juliet
Focused and political; activated by their heart. They respect the rules, which means breaking them must be worth it. This role will be physically demanding; dance and/or stage combat skills are ideal.
Act VI Productions is seeking submissions from BIPOC performers of any age and gender for this role.
Auditions will be held in-person in a public space the weekend of February 22nd / 23rd, location to be announced.
Rehearsals will be held both virtually and in-person, indoors and out. Performances will take place outdoors, throughout downtown Toronto June 20th – July 13th, 2025.
About the Director: Nicholas Koy Santillo constantly strives to invigorate the arts in culture and connect cultures through art. A graduate of Concordia University’s Theatre Performance BFA, and LAMDA’s Classical Acting MA programs, he has performed in over 50 stage productions across the USA, UK, Canada and China. Koy has also trained at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing, and apprenticed under Fight Directors and Masters at Fight Directors Canada (FDC). During the pandemic, Koy explored storytelling off-stage, producing a number of projects in collaboration with Mohammad Yaghoubi (Nowadays Theatre) meant to be viewed in Virtual Reality. He also wrote and directed his first short film, An Actor Prepares, which was awarded Best Drama and Best Short Script at the 2024 Canadian Independent Film Festival.
Rehearsal Process: Rehearsals are currently underway, running approximately 4 hours per week online through the winter, with occasional in-person workshops. These workshops will provide the cast free training with experts in various specialized fields. In-person rehearsals will be held outdoors in the spring and summer.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
To request an audition, please email shakespeare@actvi.ca and include the following:
- Resume and headshot as one combined PDF
- Pronouns and performance age range
- Spoken languages
- Movement experience
- Musical experience / instruments played
- Availability on February 22nd and 23rd
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 9:00 AM on Monday, February 10th
Performers will be asked to prepare one Shakespearean monologue 2-5 minutes in length.
Act VI thanks all performers for their submissions, but only those selected for an audition will be contacted.
Act VI welcomes voices from diverse communities, and encourages submissions from equity-seeking groups, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Women, Trans, Nonbinary, Queer, Seniors, and intersections of those identities and beyond.
Performing in this production is a non-Equity, non-paying volunteer opportunity.