The Father by Florian Zeller, an internationally acclaimed play about memory, perception, family, and the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Rather than observing the condition from the outside, the audience experiences the world through André’s perspective. Time shifts, conversations repeat, people seem to change identity, and the familiar slowly becomes unsettling. It is an extraordinary piece of writing: moving, darkly funny at times, and deeply human.

Although the play centres on André, the supporting roles are equally important and offer some wonderful acting opportunities.

• André (m, 60+) is intelligent, charming, proud, difficult, vulnerable and increasingly uncertain of the world around him. This is a demanding lead role requiring stamina, emotional range and strong stage presence.
• Anne (f, 40+/-), his daughter, is trying to hold both her family and herself together while coping with her father’s decline. This is a complex and emotionally rich role.
• Pierre (m, 40+/-), Anne’s husband/partner, is caught in the tension between compassion, frustration, practicality and emotional exhaustion as the family struggles to cope.
• Laura (f, 30+/-), André’s carer, is warm, patient and quietly supportive. She also becomes a painful emotional reminder of André’s absent younger daughter.

The Man and the Woman appear several times throughout the play, embodying different characters as perceived through André’s fractured reality. These are fascinating, fluid roles that require versatility and subtlety.

Casting will focus primarily on truthful relationships and emotional authenticity rather than rigid age requirements.

From a production point of view, the play is deceptively ambitious. The set itself becomes part of André’s mind, subtly shifting throughout the play as reality begins to unravel. We’re therefore particularly looking for a main set designer to help shape the visual language of the production. Lighting and sound design are also part of André’s fractured reality, and we’re still looking for help with that.

This production will rely heavily on detail, precision, atmosphere, and collaboration backstage as well as on stage. This is not a loud or showy play. It is intimate, unsettling, moving and incredibly rewarding to work on. If we get it right, it will be something the audience truly feels rather than simply watches.

If you’re interested in auditioning or helping backstage, please get in touch. Even if you cannot make the audition dates, we may still be able to accommodate you. Please let us know if you’re planning to attend the auditions. Scripts will be available soon – please contact Fiona in the first instance.

Further information

• Laura Ilica, Director: [email protected]
• Fiona Carter, Production Manager: [email protected]
• Brenda Tomlin, Production Manager: [email protected]
• Stephen Kahn, Stage Manager: [email protected]