SOME INFORMATION ABOUT AUDITIONS FOR “THE ANATOMIST”

When/where are the auditions?
Monday 13th July at 7.30pm in St Michael’s church hall, Parkhead.
Where exactly is St Michael’s?
St Michael’s is located at Parkhead Cross in Glasgow’s East End.  The address is 1350 Gallowgate, Glasgow G31 4DJ.  It is diagonally opposite the entrance to Cineworld cinema at Parkhead Forge Shopping Centre.  Celtic Park football stadium is located directly behind St Michael’s.
How do I get to St Michael’s?
Several buses (61, 62, 240, 255, 262) run at regular intervals along the Gallowgate, to and from the city centre (Glasgow Cross).  Coming from the city centre, you should get off the bus at the Forge Shopping Centre (at Cineworld cinema), cross the road, and walk along to the left.  There is a bus stop right outside the door if approaching from the other direction.  The nearest train station is Bellgrove.  Coming out of the station, turn left and walk down to the Gallowgate.  Turn left again and you can pick up any of the aforementioned buses at the first stop you come to.  There is also plenty of car parking space at St. Michael’s should you wish to travel by private vehicle.
What if I cannot make that date/time?
Contact AGAP to try to arrange an alternative audition time: 0141 554 1333 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
How many parts are there?
There are twelve characters in the play; 7 men and 5 women.  There are also two scenes which require additional actors to accomplish non-speaking parts.  If the response to auditions is good, we may consider double-casting and will cast people to understudy the main roles.
What age do you have to be?
All of the characters in the play are adults.  For this reason, we can only really accept people who are over 15 years of age.  The characters are of various ages.
Where/when will rehearsals take place?
Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm in St Michael’s church hall, Parkhead.  The week before the show, the cast are expected to be available to rehearse every night if required.
Where/when will the play be performed?
The play will be performed in late October (most probably the last week) as part of our “Arts in Autumn” season.  It will be performed in various parish venues to be arranged.  We may decide to space out the performances or do them all in one week.  There could be as many as nine performances.
Do you need to have previous experience?
No, experience is not as important as enthusiasm and ability.  We are looking for people who will work well together and have a good sense of humour and are dedicated to making the production a success for everyone involved.
Will we be paid for taking part in this production?
No.  This is a community (amateur) theatre production.  People get involved for a variety of reasons but finance isn’t one of them.

Do you have to be religious/Christian/Catholic to be involved?
No.  Everyone is welcome.  Whilst AGAP is an organisation within the Catholic Church and upholds a Catholic ethos, we are open to everyone and expect everyone involved to abide by this kind of code of mutual respect.  In the past, people of various faiths and none have enjoyed being involved in AGAP Theatre productions.
I don’t want to act – can I volunteer to help backstage?
Yes.  We are happy to hear from anyone who wants to work on the production side of things or even collect ticket money or make tea/coffee.
Is this a musical theatre production?
No.  There is no singing or music involved in this production except pre-recorded music.
What is the play about?
The play is about the West Port murders which took place in 19th Century Edinburgh.  It tells the story of Dr Robert Knox, the eminent professor of anatomy whose reputation comes under fire when he begins to accept corpses unquestioningly for demonstration to his students.  The famous grave-robbers turned murderers, Burke and Hare, appear in the play.
Who wrote the play?
The play was written by Scottish playwright, James Bridie, in 1930.  He is the founder of the Citizens’ Theatre and the school of drama at the RSAMD in Glasgow.  His work is rarely performed today but in his lifetime, he was one of Britain’s leading playwrights and a prominent figure in the Scottish Theatre scene.
Who will direct the play?
The play will be directed by Stephen Callaghan, Creative Director of AGAP.  He previously directed an excerpt from the play whilst at university and wishes to return to it to direct the full play.  Stephen has since then directed the Scottish premiers of two plays by the late Pope John Paul II and has written & directed several plays for AGAP, including “Paul” (2009), “Feet of Clay” (2008), and “Passionate Voices” (2007).
Why is AGAP putting on “The Anatomist”?
“The Anatomist” is an excellent play with a good story and raises ethical questions about scientific progress and the moral dilemma faced by those working in the field of medical discovery.  Staging the play not only calls to mind an important figure in Scottish theatre, James Bridie, but also provides food for reinterpretation as a drama with bioethical themes.