PAID South West performer call out

We are looking for two South West based actors for a development project supported by Arts Council England. We are developing Lavender, a new queer play, in partnership with Exeter Phoenix and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Lavender is a play by Holly Fitzpatrick about growing up LGBTQ+ in the South West. After Exeter Fringe Festival, we are undergoing two more weeks of rehearsal. This includes performances and discussions events in Exeter and Plymouth.

Holly's play explores the crude and chaotic evolution of two women as they navigate queer love and politics. It's the story of growing up in a heteronormative world-in-crisis.

Commitment and fee

You will be needed at Exeter Phoenix

• 9am to 5pm on 7-11 Feb

• 9am to 5pm on14-18 Feb

• 5pm to 8pm on Wednesday 23rd Feb

The rate is £11/hour for 83 hours.

The total fee is £913.

In the wake of VAULT Festival’s decision to cancel, we have adapted our plans for London performances. This is a changing situation, but availability in the final week of February is highly useful. This would be paid at the same rate, with London expenses/accommodation provided.

Please note we are unable to cover travel expenses for our Exeter activity - so a local base is vital. If you have any questions about how fees have been calculated, please do get in touch via the email below.

Our characters

• Lucy – a kind-hearted, naïve bisexual cis woman. A lapsed Christian, suitably anxious, middle class. Playing age: 16-22. Ethnicity: any. Accent: Southern/South West. Body type: mid to plus size.

• Nancy – a charismatic, irreverent queer AFAB person, grows from girl to a questioning woman. Candid but caring, fierce but fun, working class. Playing age: 16-22. Ethnicity: any. Accent: Southern/South West. Body type: any. GNC, ENBY and actors under the trans umbrella are welcome to apply.

How to apply

Please send us the following by Sunday 16th January.

• A self-tape of a (modern) monologue you are comfortable with

• Any showreel material you may have from previous work

• CV

• 1-2 sentences explaining why Lavender appeals to you

If any of this is difficult for you, please get in touch. We are here to help.

We highlight the work needed in understanding and addressing legacies of violence affecting communities in our industry. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from those who identify as:

• D/deaf and/or disabled

• Neurodiverse

• Working-class, benefit class, criminal class and/or underclass

• Global majority*

• Migrant

• LGBTQ+

*This includes people of Black Caribbean, Black African, South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Arab, Latinx, Jewish, Romany and Irish Traveller heritage.

All applications and questions should be directed to playlavender@gmail.com

Deadline to apply: 10am Sunday 16th January

More about the play

Watch our team introduce the play and projects in their own words-

A butch Marxist trainwreck that works in the cereal aisle. A Christian with an engagement ring and the voice of an angel. Devon. Among the rubble of polyester thongs, dolls and skipping ropes, and without a future, Nancy and Lucy have no option but to go back to where it all began: sharpening pencils and plucking wings off flies, seven-years-old.

More about the team

Holly Fitzpatrick (writer)

Holly is a South West playwright, facilitator and theatre maker driven by feminist rage and making political theatre accessible to young people. Recently she facilitated musical theatre devising workshops for young people in Doorstep Art’s ‘Climate Change AHRC Project’.

Sophie Leydon (director)

Sophie a director and theatre maker whose practice centres staging LGBTQIA+ experience through interdisciplinary forms. She is the recipient of a Developing Your Creative Practice Grant from the Arts Council, and in 2020 was invited to participate in Mountview’s inaugural Director’s Studio. Her work has previously been supported by funding from ACE and Thrive London, and has been nominated for the Sit Up Award for ‘groundbreaking work that platforms social issues’.

Susannah Bramwell (producer)

Susannah is a creative producer passionate about making socially driven female led theatre. She Executive Produced EUTCo’s production of ‘The Amber Trap’ by Tabitha Mortiboy that had a successful tour in Devon and Surrey in August, and collaborated with Exeter Maketank to create the inaugural Kinder Exeter Festival.

Finlay Carroll (producer)

Finlay is a producer specialising in creative work with queer/ecological themes. He has recently worked with Exeter Decolonising Network to explore anti-racist practice in the arts. Finlay facilitated Opening Up Exeter, a movement for queer creative spaces, and coordinated marketing for Exeter Fringe Festival 2021.

Ruby Woods (assistant producer)

Ruby is an Autistic theatre maker and disability practitioner. She is interested in strong identity pieces and work that provides authentic representation to underrepresented communities. She is Artistic Director of Animate Theatre CIC and works through-out community based theatre in the South West.

Emma Horne (production manager)

Emma is an early career Production Manager keen to explore female led work. Her most recent work includes Production Manager of ‘Anna Karenina’ directed by Derek Bond at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Amy Fawcett (dramaturg)

Amy is a dramaturg specifically interested in female and queer led theatre. Amy recently was the dramaturg for 4 shows for Theatre Royal Plymouth's 'Labstonbury' festival, and also co-directed Isabel Flynn's 'Who cares Now?' for Exeter Fringe Festival.

Adi Currie (lighting designer)

Adi is a lighting designer and technician. They recently lit JENNY, a queer sci-fi revenge fantasy by RODENT and Alicia Jane Turner, performed at Spill Festival 2021; and Julius Caesar, directed by Anna Morrissey and performed at Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Grace Duff (sound designer)

Grace is a theatre practitioner, and will be sound designer for Lavender. She recently video designed for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama's production of Julius Caesar, and is due to Production Manage their upcoming plays Intimate Apparel and Road.

Final word

If you are just visiting, we are currently raising money for the project! We are grateful for any donation you feel comfortable giving.