Audition Notice

1899, somewhere in the Arctic — the remaining survivors of the shipwrecked Carcass are on their last thread of sanity after years stranded in the ice. Starving, paranoid, and haunted by the ghosts of their cannibalised crew, they must decide whether to wait for rescue or venture out into the endless, deadly expanse… If they don't kill each another first. This absurdly dark comedy takes us to the very ends of the earth in a slapstick battle between humanity and hubris.

BLT actively encourages auditionees from ethnic minority communities and any of the parts could be played by any race.

You do not have to be a member of the company to audition, but if you are cast you must join.

Characters

Bane Bannington - Incompetent ship’s commander. “A foolish man” full of bluster, entitlement, and delusions of grandeur, with an underlying neuroticism verging on insanity. Bane commissioned an expedition to the north pole which swiftly went wrong. He wanted to prove himself — perhaps with a romanticised/poetic idea of adventure — and is wracked with guilt over the death of his crew. On the surface he is self-serving and entitled, but has moments of tenderness and reflection. Physical requirements: some slapstick fighting, a brief waltz/dance. Accent: Transatlantic/American or upper-class English. Age 25-40. Male presenting

‘Elijah‘ (Eliza) Kaneb - Ship’s chaplain (Bane’s fiancée in disguise). Sardonic and deadpan with moments of wild hysteria, passion and violence. Eliza wants to be loved, or perhaps noticed, or perhaps was tempted by the idea of adventure herself, compared to high society life in New York? She fell for Bane after a brief moment of kindness, and deep down she’s just as vulnerable as he is — albeit far more self-aware and realistic about their situation. But perhaps still clinging onto that dream, nonetheless… Physical requirements: some slapstick fighting, a brief waltz/dance. Accent: Any. Age 25-35. Female presenting

Israel (doubled with Bjorn Bjornsen) - First mate. Long-suffering dogsbody and war veteran. Mostly mute. Alternately cowed and exasperated by Bane’s ridiculous plans. Quietly spiritual/philosophical. Israel stopped speaking after a traumatic experience during the war and is perhaps seeking redemption or meaning at the Pole. S/He is treated like a pet by the others, but easily outsmarts them, and perhaps harbours their own dark thoughts about revenge. Physical requirements: some brief interpretive dancing! Accent: Canadian/American. Male or female presenting

Bjornsen (doubled with Israel) - Competent Arctic explorer, amiable, easy-going. Basically a deus-ex-machina figure who appears at the end and makes some discordant jokes. Has a brief but mysterious backstory that suggests s/he might be as bonkers as the rest of them. Accent: Scandinavian. Age 25-50. Male or female presenting