Leitheatre call-out for Campbell
Lead actor pulls out of Takin’ Over the Asylum
By Thom Dibdin
Leitheatre are on the hunt for a new lead to play Campbell in their May 2014 production of Donna Franceschild’s Takin’ Over The Asylum.
The Edinburgh amateur favourites will be staging the play in the Festival Theatre studio – the first amateur theatre company to use the facility. The actor originally cast in the role is no longer able to do so.
Don Arnott, president of Leitheatre, said: “It is an absolutely brilliant part for a young man, preferably between the age of 19 and 20-something. The young man who had been cast has started a new job which will entail travelling widely and so he is gutted to have to give up this fabulous opportunity in Takin’ Over The Asylum.
Originally a multi-award winning television series which helped to launch the careers of Ken Stott (as Eddie) and David Tennant (as Campbell), Donna Franceschild has turned it into a play which was premiered last year to great acclaim at the Royal Lyceum and The Citizens theatres.
When ‘Ready Eddie’ McKenna, Soul Survivor and replacement double-glazing salesman, arrives to re-launch a defunct hospital radio station in a psychiatric unit, he turns more than the ramshackle station upside-down.
The whisky-drinking would-be DJ meets the irrepressible Campbell, whose dreams seem untouched by reality, the hyper-organised Rosalie, who is fighting a one-woman war against germs, the electronic genius Fergus, whose voices tell him he’s stupid, and the brittle and self-destructive Francine.
While the patients battle with perception and prejudice as much as illness, Eddie — armed only with his soul music record collection — transforms their lives as well as his own.
The production is being directed by Matt Mason. Anyone who wishes to be considered for the role should contact Don Arnott on 0131 552 4845 or e-mail donald@arnott60.orangehome.co.uk to arrange an audition.
Don Arnott added: “This should be of enormous interest to all young actors. It is not often that a part as good as this comes along for a young actor.”
Takin’ over the Asylum
Studio Theatre, Potterrow
15-17 May, 7.30pm.
Leitheatre website: www.leitheatre.com
Leitheatre facebook page: www.facebook.com/Leitheatre
ENDS
This role has now been filled. See more recent story here: Leitheatre find new Tennant for Asylum