What’s On?
open auditions
We’re looking for new actors who want to work with us in the future. This post is a sort of FAQ about the open auditions. Not interested in an FAQ? Then skip ahead and sign up for an audition here
What’s an open audition?
We have a few slots to fill for a production we will stage in September (for which you will be considered if you’re available and interested) but mostly this is an opportunity for us to see who is out there that might want to work with us in the future.
Who are you looking for?
We’re keen to meet people of all ages and genders. We’re an amateur company but we’re very experienced, so we’re not looking for total beginners. We don’t need you to be professional level, but you should have some stage experience behind you. (If you have improv, stand up or film experience we’re keen to meet you too.) DSL is proud of the diverse national backgrounds that form our company, so we do not give priority or extra preference to native English speakers. However, you should be comfortable sight reading complex texts, sometimes in colloquial English, and being able to pull out meaning and nuance. Above all, we’re looking for people who are friendly, easy-going and hungry to create lovely theatre with a nice group of people.
How will the auditions work?
Fill out the form and sign up for an audition here indicating when you are available. We’ll be in touch soon to confirm the exact time and place (the auditions will be in Amsterdam in any case). Auditions will be informal. We’ll tell you a bit about DSL and answer any questions you might have. Then you’ll read a few short texts with at least one other actor. The whole thing will take 30-40 minutes.
Do I need to prepare anything?
No. Not at all. We will provide a few short texts to read on the day.
I’m not available on June 6 or 8 but I really want to audition. What can I do?
Don’t worry. This won’t be your only chance. Drop us a line here and let us know you would like us to keep you in mind for the future. You can also sign up for our newsletter, where we will announce forthcoming shows and auditions.
Do you pay? Is there any chance of profit shares? Can DSL make me rich?
Downstage Left is run entirely by volunteers as a community venture. Key to our mission is making sure our tickets are affordable. We’ll never say never but it’s unlikely we will be in a position to pay anyone any time soon.
Sounds great. What do I do?
About us
Downstage Left is an Amsterdam-based international theatre company. We perform in English but we come from many backgrounds, cultures and languages. Roughly half of our performances are local-brew plays written in English in Amsterdam. We dish up original theatre in conventional and unconventional settings.
Active since 2017, Downstage Left’s work so far includes Tamara, Playground 1: Love in Pieces, A 2016 Love Story, Playground 2: Crossed Wires, Marc Camoletti’s Don’t Dress for Dinner, Playground 3: One Night Stand and Proof. The company has performed together in several venues around Amsterdam including De Nieuwe Anita, Mezrab, the Clifford, the Polanentheater, Juan C Tajes Studio, and ZID. More recently we’ve been dabbling in festivals. We’ve had shows in the 10′ International Theater Festival, the FEATS Fringe Festival, and Imagine Belfast.
Who are you people?
Downstage Left was founded by Anastasia Reshetnikova, Andy Cowie, Annika van der Vegt, Ben Evans, Borislava Todorova, Brian Ligthart, Denis Burke, Jon Calado, Katharina Olsen, Silvia Pietrosanti and Yulia Prokhorova. Quin Mero, Katarina Barcikova, Christine Blakely, Jess Graham, Abigail Levine and Evonne Dunne came on board a little while later.
how can I get involved with Downstage Left?
A sensible question. We are often looking for technicians, lighting designers, stage managers, stage crew, set designers and builders, marketing and fund raising support, and even actors and directors. Downstage Left is run entirely by volunteers so please note we are not in a position to offer paid work. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch here
Images: Jess Graham, Arjen Veldt, Daniel Fornies Soria, Brian Ligthart, Victoria Prokhorova
KvK number: 72885920
Contact
Say hello and we’ll get back to you. If you’re looking for our newsletter it’s over here.
Downstage Left 