What do women want? An age old question which is being tackled at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe by Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group (EGTG), with one of Shakespeare’s classic plays and a brand new script. In a year that marks the centenary of women’s right to vote and as #metoo and #timesup continue to trend on social media, EGTG are producing two plays which tackle gender politics from two very different eras.
In the early evening a new script, skirt, looks at whether women can really have it all in modern day Scotland. And late-evening sees a rendition of Shakespeare’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing and its look at how to act as a daughter and wife. The shows will run from Mon 6 Aug to Sat 11 Aug at the Royal Scots Club.
The company have now put out an open call for auditions for both pieces. These will be held at the Edinburgh Graduate Association offices at 18, Buccleuch Place, on Wed 18 Apr at 7pm and Sun 22 Apr at 2pm. Auditionees only need to attend one session.
skirt, written and directed by Claire Wood, tells the story of Becs, a single mum and leader of the opposition party in Scotland, whose oldest daughter Ellie is about to go off to university while her youngest Neve is struggling at primary school. At the same time, her mum has early onset Alzheimer’s and her best friend, Nina, and her daughters also need support. So when her party give her the chance to be their leader at Westminster, what can she do? Are women ever really free to choose?
The Grads’ version of Much Ado, meanwhile, takes place in May 1945 with the Prince and his courtiers, returning from war, to visit Leonata and her household. Upon arrival, Claudio falls in love with the fair Hero. Not content with their own happiness, they conspire to bring their long-suffering cousins, Beatrice and Benedict, together. But Dame Joan, the Prince’s misanthropic illegitimate sister, won’t be content until everyone’s new found happiness has been shattered. Will true love conquer all? Will Joan’s plot be uncovered? Will Beatrice and Benedict ever stop bickering?! The production, directed by David Grimes, may also tour for a one-off performance to The Dell in Stratford sometime over the last two weekends in August.
Full details of the auditions and cast details are available on the group’s Facebook page. Interested parties can also find the group via Twitter or their website.