R AINBOW SHAKESPEARE 2022 – CHILDREN ’S CASTING BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Rainbow Shakespeare was started in 1999 by Nick Young and Alex Croft to create clear, exciting productions that could be enjoyed by family audiences and Shakespeare buffs alike. The Company, which is a charity, was a n offshoot from Rainbow Theatre that has been bringing drama to schools for over 35 years. Nick Young, the director trained as a director with the RSC, has directed the Ludlow Festival, and worked for ten years in rep at the Connaught Theatre . His great love and enthusiasm is Shakespeare. Ov er the past twenty years, Rainbow Shakespeare has built up a fan - base of enthusiastic family audiences who come every year to watch the plays and picnic at our ‘home’ which is the beautiful and magical Highdown Gardens, just outside Worthing. Rainbow Sha kespeare has ofte n included children performing in past productions up at Highdown Gardens including A Midsummer Night’s Dream , The Winter’s Tale , Richard III and past productions of As You Like It and The Merry Wives of Windsor. THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTIONS 2 022 : AS YOU LIKE IT opens Tue 12 th July and plays until the Sun 17 th July TH E MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opens Tue 19 th July and plays until the Sun 24 th July. Performances at 7.30pm with matinees at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday CASTING REQUIREMENTS : AS YOU LIKE IT: Two PAGES attendant on Duke Senior who must be able to sing; they can be boys or girls and ideally around 11 - 12 years of age. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR: 6 Children, disguised as Fairies ; again they can be girls or boys and aged 8 - 10 years of age. Also, ROBIN who is Sir John Falstaff’s page - boy who needs to be a small boy between 11 - 13 years of age. Rehearsal times would be arranged for afternoons/early evenings on agreed/selected dates. We are aiming to have two teams of PAGES (As You Lik e It) and FAIRIES (Th e Merry Wives of Windsor) so that the run of 8 performances (for each play) would be shared/split between them. The FAIRIES in The Merry Wives of Windsor would not need to arrive to get ready/costumed until late on in the peformance a s they do not come on stage until towards the end of the play. Rainbow Shakespeare has a separate changing tent for all child performers and mum volunteers who will chaperone. The company has a Safeguarding Policy and the majority of actors (who are experienced school ’s workshop leaders) have got DBS checks. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST & AUDITIONS: Parents of children interested in being considered for this summer’s open - air Shakespeare productions should contact Nick Young via rainbowtheatrecompany@yahoo.o.uk OR PLEASE CALL Nick on 07973 984175 and mention the subject CHILDREN’S CASTING FOR RAINBOW SHAKESPEARE 2022. Please clearly state whether your c hild wishes to be consi dered for one of the PAGES (As You Like It) or for one of the FAIRIES or for ROBIN (Merry Wives of Windsor) Nick Young – Artist ic Director Rainbow Shakespeare