Hamlet
by Walking Shadow Shakespeare

Sep. 20 - Sep. 22

Auditions for a role in Hamlet with Walking Shadow Shakespeare on Sep 20 through Sep 22.

(www.walkingshadowshakespeare.com)

Hamlet Audition Details

I know it's a lot, but we want to make sure we explain all of the details.  - Steph

Casting 6 artists for an immersive production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that will be collaboratively directed by the ensemble. 
Please read the full audition details below before submitting!

About the Show

This will be an 8-person cast, tracks as follows:

  • Hamlet (tentatively cast)

  • Horatio
  • Gertrude
  • Claudius
  • Polonius
  • Ophelia (tentatively cast)
  • Laertes/First Player
  • Marcellus/Guildencrantz/Gravedigger/Osric


This will be our first time exploring a collaboratively directed format, and we’re so excited for the opportunities it presents, especially with this play. The script is edited and overall vision constructed (costuming, some key action moments), and the ensemble will build motivation and arcs for each character, moments to involve the audience in this immersive experience, and blocking/movement in the space. The bones are there, but the meat will come from the ensemble. 

This will be a modern-dress adaptation utilizing technology. It will be performed in an immersive style, blurring the lines between actor and audience, in a fully functioning bar/event space. By putting agency into the hands of each artist to build their place in the world of the show, we hope to create an experience for the audience that reinforces the themes of grief, (mis)trust, and familial obligation that so many can relate to. 

Who We’re Looking For

If you’re enthusiastic about the concept but don’t feel like you meet any of the below bullet-points, we absolutely want you to come audition! No previous experience with Shakespeare or directing is required, we are ultimately just looking for a solid artist who is ready to experiment, play, and build a beautiful story.  

Our ideal artist is:

  • interested in exploring the text and characters on a deep, analytical level
  • excited about and comfortable with improvisation and immersive audience engagement
  • ready to receive and give feedback in a positive and constructive manner to and from fellow cast members
  • prepared to spend time outside of rehearsals researching, planning, and analyzing text 
  • experienced in conceptualizing and communicating movement motivated by the text and characters
  • confident in their ideas but free of ego and willing to compromise in collaboration
  • willing to be open and flexible as part of a first-time experimental process that will evolve in real time


We encourage actors of all races, genders, sizes, abilities, and ages to audition!

The Audition Process

For the audition, each actor will complete the audition form and sign up for a 10-minute time slot. Please prepare (memorize) one speech from Hamlet and be ready to have a discussion about the speech, the character who speaks it, and its implications in the broader context of the play. If you need help choosing a speech or learning more about the play to give you a foundation, we’re happy to help! Just email info@walkingshadowshakespeare.com and let us know.

In your monologue, we want to see that you can comfortably engage with the production team as if they’re audience members you’re pulling into the world of your piece - they’ll be sitting around the room so plan for a 360* environment. Please don’t restrict yourself just to a speech from a character you’d like to play, choose freely from the text. In the discussion process, we don’t want you to think about it as a test with ‘right’ answers, we just want to see the way you think about the play and hear your ideas! 

The Callback Process

The callback process will be constructed as a workshop. Each actor will be given a short scene and a role in that scene and will be put into a small group. You will be expected to come prepared with your character’s lines memorized and ideas on:

  • Movement
  • Character motivation 
  • What you would need from the other characters in the scene and how you relate to them in your vision
  • Ways/specific moments to engage the audience
  • We will provide a template to use if you wish


Groups will be given one hour together to discuss their ideas and work together to build and block the scene collaboratively with a test audience. We understand that this callback process is intense and requires a lot more work than traditional auditions. All actors who are invited to the callback process will receive a small honorarium of $25 to compensate a bit for prep time. 

Important Dates

Auditions: Friday Sept 20, 2024 6-9 pm, Sun Sept 22 11 am - 2 pm
Callbacks: Sat Oct 5 (morning/afternoon), Sun Oct 6 (afternoon)
Rehearsals: Oct 29-Jan 6 (with breaks for holidays - the goal is for the heaviest work to be done by Thanksgiving so we can run and finetune through December)
Rehearsal Days (proposed): Sun, Tues, Thurs - may be amended based on actor availability
Performances: Jan 7, 9-12, 14, 21, 2025 at Sterling Stage Austin (6134 E Hwy 290, Austin)

For this show, each actor will receive a $300 honorarium. 

If you have any questions at all, feel free to email info@walkingshadowshakespeare.com