YORK Shakespeare Project will hold auditions next month for Henry VI, to be directed by American university professor Irwin Appel.
In April 2025, YSP will stage all three parts of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI as one show in a condensed version of the trilogy by the University of California Santa Barbara Professor of Theater. “It promises to be a fascinating piece of theatre,” says YSP chair Tony Froud.
Irwin’s interest in YSP began in 2015 when he happened to be in York on a tour of Europe researching Shakespeare’s history plays. He saw Maggie Smales’s all-female Henry V, a few days after visiting Agincourt, and loved it, vowing to come back to direct for YSP.
Next year he returns to achieve that ambition. “I am excited and honoured at the prospect of creating some truly special magic with actors in the York community,” says Irwin.
A professional actor, director and composer/sound designer, he trained at Princeton University and the Juilliard School in New York City. He is the founder and artistic director of Naked Shakes, now in its 19th season at UC Santa Barbara.
His condensed Henry VI will draw upon his award-winning adaptation of Shakespeare, The Death Of Kings, his distillation of all of Shakespeare’s History cycle into two plays.
The rehearsal process should be exciting. Joining Irwin, from the United States of America, for part of the rehearsal period will be two experienced colleagues: movement coach Christina McCarthy, a multi-disciplinary artist, who teaches and choreographs at UC Santa Barbara, and fight director Jeff Mills, an award-winning actor, director, fight director and musician, who teaches movement at DePaul University in Chicago.
Welcoming Irwin to York, Tony says: “Irwin is making a special visit for the auditions while he is in Europe. They will take place at Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe Road, on November 7 and 8 and at Theatre@41 on November 9 and 10. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this unique opportunity.”
For further information and audition details, email info@yorkshakespeareproject.org.