The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Produced by Crouching Giraffe Productions in association with papermoon theatre

Directed by Kate Blackhurst

Penelope, the wise and patient wife of the ancient Greek hero Odysseus, has passed beyond the veil of death. From Hades the land of the dead Penelope can see everything about her past and present, including her historical reputation as a perfectly faithful wife. However, she is haunted by the blood on her hands: the deaths of her twelve maids who were slaughtered by Odysseus under false pretences. Begging the audience not to follow in her footsteps, Penelope re-tells the story ofThe Odysseyfrom her point of view through a series of visions spanning her life.

This is an all-female cast of thirteen actors in which the women play all the parts, both the maids at the centre of the play and the male characters who control and abuse them. Each actor (apart from the one playing Penelope) plays a double role, that of one of the maids, as well as one of the main characters familiar from the Odyssey: Odysseus, Telemachus, Helen of Troy, Eurycleia, etc. We are looking for strong, disciplined stage actors with vivid imaginations ready for demanding ensemble work as committed collaborators.

Open to any age 18+; all ethnicities welcomed and encouraged. Come and read for a maid only and/or for one of the specific parts, but please come and read. Be prepared to show your work and ability to handle the material, knowing everyone except Penelope will play multiple parts. We want an exciting, passionate, dedicated group that can create something beautiful, chilling, and provocative together.

Read the full text, available here, and prepare the monologue on page 9 and 10, as well as the specific character of your choice it is not necessary to memorise this text but to be familiar with it.