Auditions
HOLDING THE MAN
Directed by Bruce Akers
Sunday 14th June and Tuesday 16th June commencing at 7:00pm
Based on Timothy Conigrave’s celebrated memoir of the same name, Tommy Murphy’s stage adaptation faithfully captures the book’s warm and heart-wrenchingly honest portrayal of the love between two Australian boys over a fifteen-year relationship. The two boys meet at a Melbourne high school in the 1970s and the play realistically shows what it was like being young and gay during the eighties AIDS crisis.
Holding the Man requires two young actors to play Timothy and John from their first meeting to their battle with AIDS related illnesses.
Both parts are a gift to any young actor.
CHARACTERS
Timothy Conigrave- mid-twenties to early thirties- the narrator of his own life story. Exuberant, theatrical and self-assured. He is also very loyal.
John Caleo - mid-twenties to early thirties- athletic, a very capable Australian Rules football player at school. He is more reserved, shy and vulnerable compared to Tim.
Ensemble of 4- age 35 plus- Characters of indeterminate age but older than the boys.
The boys are supported by 4 actors, ideally 2 male and 2 female, who play those who were important in their life: trusted friends, supportive or uncompromising parents, other lovers, clinical hospital staff, caring nurses, gay bar patrons etc. They can verge on the caricature at times
- contrasted with the realistic portrayals of Tim and John.
A suggested allocation of the Ensemble roles can be found in the forward to the printed play;
their allocation can be changed within the cast and can also be increased in numbers: -
They are: -
Family Members:
Mary-Gert and Dick Conigrave- Tim’s parents, loving but conservative.
Lois and Bob Caleo- John’s parents- father is seen as stern and resistant to the relationship.
Friends and Peers:
Juliet- Tim’s close friend and partial matchmaker.
Peter Craig and Biscuit (Tim’s friends).
Other Ensemble Roles:
NIDA colleagues and drama students
Members of the Monash University gay rights club
Gay club patrons, nurses and hospital staff.
Australian accents are required.
An Intimacy Coordinator will be used with this production.
Please note: No roles have been pre-cast.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions will be held on
Sunday 14th June and Tuesday 16th June commencing at 7:00pm. Venue to be advised.
Audition pieces will be provided ahead of auditions. There is no requirement to learn your audition pieces, but it will be expected that you have read the entire play and display a good familiarity and understanding of it.
Please contact the Director, Bruce Akers, to register your interest, request a script, ask any questions or book an audition.
He can be reached on bwakers27@hotmail.com
Please bring a completed Audition Form (see below) with you, along with a non-returnable headshot.
A proposed rehearsal schedule will be available at the audition and is subject to cast availability. Rehearsals are tentatively planned as follows:
Sundays: 11.30am - 5.00pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7:00pm- 10:00pm
Fridays: 7.00pm - 10.00pm on some days
The first rehearsal at the theatre is planned for Monday 20th July commencing at 7:00pm. The first week of rehearsals will be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
However, subject to casting, rehearsals could start at another location before access is gained to the theatre.
Please ensure that you are fully available for all performance dates before auditioning. If you have a conflict with any rehearsal dates, please advise the Director at your audition and, wherever possible, we can work around it.
Season Dates: -
9 – 26 September. 2026
Showtimes
8:00pm on:
Wednesday 9 September- Saturday 12 September 2026
Wednesday 16 September- Saturday 19 September 2026
Wednesday 23 September- Saturday 26 September 2026
5:00pm on:
Sunday 13 September 2026
Sunday 20 September 2026
Holding the Man is Williamstown Little Theatre’s entrant into the
2026 Victorian Drama League Awards