Cyrano de Bergerac
Call for auditions
About Cyrano
‘Look at me. Who in the world could love a face like this? My nose goes everywhere ahead of me!’
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897) is a classic French play by Edmond Rostand, although we will be performing it in English. The exuberant story gained its fame through sword fights, the poetic agony of unrequited love, a skewed self-image and, above all, panache.
Our hero is a charming and larger-than-life poet and soldier who is convinced the love of his life, Roxane, could never love him back because of his enormous nose. In a desperate attempt to at least let her hear his feelings, even if she will never know they are his, he helps the handsome but tongue-tied Christian too woo her in his place.
These rich characters are accompanied by a hateful third suitor, a wannabe-poet/baker and his far more practical wife, Roxane’s dry and witty governess, as well as a plethora of friends, musketeers, pickpockets and more.
One thing that makes this play stand out is its versatility, as it ventures into hot-blooded romance, hilarious comedy, thrilling action and heart-breaking tragedy. In short, a delicious story for actors to tackle.
Who are we looking for?
Our Cyrano and other actors could be anyone. We cast regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, age etc., and are very interested in seeing different interpretations of the characters.
As an international group we welcome accents and all levels of experience. We do ask for a decent mastery of the English language and reliability in terms of attendance and dedication.
The original play has over 40 characters. We will form a cast of 12 actors to be a mix of leads and a very involved ensemble that will spend a lot of time on stage with a whole bunch of versatility. You may be an orange-seller who moons over Cyrano in one act, a poet in the next, and a starving cadet right after that.
We will also be experimenting with different ways to deliver the longer monologues, for example through harmonised song or dance. if you have a talent in song, dance or another skill that you think might be interesting for this, mention this in your audition submission.
Crew responsibilities
As an amateur theatre group we rely on volunteers. We have found that actors’ contributions in crew are pivotal for both successful productions and our tight-knit community. That is why each cast member will be asked to take on some responsibilities as crew as well. This could mean anything from gathering and making props/costumes, building set, to keeping up social media and distributing flyers for ticket sales.
How to audition?
Due to a rise in sign-ups, we are introducing a round of video auditions to make sure that we can give everyone a fair shot. You will be asked to record a 2-minute monologue of your choice, in which we will mainly be assessing your acting basics. We will assess whether we will invite you to the in-person audition based on this video. Instructions for self-taping a video audition are found below. The deadline for video auditions is Sunday 7 September, and the results will be communicated by Sunday 14 September.
Shortlisted actors will be invited for in-person auditions, which will take place in Utrecht on:
Tuesday, 23rd of September 2025 - 19:00 - 22:00
Thursday, 25th of September 2025 - 19:00 - 22:00
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings from 19:00 - 22:00. The first rehearsal will be on the 16th of October. We will organise a rehearsal weekend, which will be off-site but close to Utrecht.
We’ll be performing Cyrano de Bergerac on 21 and 22 March 2026 in Utrecht, and on 28 and 29 March* in Amsterdam.
Some important notes:
This is an amateur production, and actors will be asked to pay a participation fee of €150**. A reduced participation fee is available if your financial situation would make participation difficult.
We will ask all cast members to help out the crew where possible. You could help out with gathering props or costumes, aid in transport, etc.
The sign-up sheet contains an availability check. Please fill this in very carefully. If you get cast and agree to participate, we will expect you to attend on all of the dates you indicated you could be there, excepting sickness and emergencies. Any unplanned absences need to be closely communicated in order to protect the quality of the rehearsals.
Registration for the auditions will close on Sunday 7 September.
Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation. If you are selected for in-person auditions, approximately a week before your audition, you’ll receive the address of the location, some additional information and materials to prepare for the audition. You will not be required to memorise any texts.
Good luck! We are looking forward to meeting you.
* Amsterdam dates are provisional as of now.
** We understand that people’s financial situations may differ. We aim to be inclusive, so if you fear you cannot afford the participation fee, please let us know directly. Asking for the reduced participation fee will not affect your chances of being cast.
You can pay with your U pas allowance
Registration form
Self-taped video audition instructions
Register yourself for the auditions through the registration form.
Record a monologue of your choice. Keep the length at approximately 2 minutes. You can choose a monologue yourself, or pick one of the suggested monologues below.
Introduce yourself very briefly at the start of the monologue. If you chose a different monologue from the ones below, mention where the monologue is from.
Email the video directly or send a link to an unlisted (YouTube) video to auditions@englishtheatreutrecht.com.
Monologue 1
Cyrano: Come now, think a moment: this nose of mine, which precedes me by a quarter of an hour wherever I go, forbids me ever to dream of being loved by even an ugly woman. You ask me whom I love? The answer should be clear to you! Whom else would I love but the most beautiful woman in the world? Of course! The most beautiful of all women! The most captivating, the most intelligent... the blondest... It's perfectly transparent. Yes, Roxanne. Look at me and tell me what hope this protuberance might leave me! I have no illusions. Sometimes in the blue shadows of evening, I give way to tender feelings. I go into a garden, smelling the fragrance of spring with my poor monstrous nose, and watch a man and a woman strolling together moonlight. I think how much I, too, would like to be walking arm in arm with a woman, under the moon. I let myself be carried away, I forget myself -- and then I suddenly see the shadow of my profile on the garden wall.
Monologue 2
THE VISCOUNT: No one? But wait! I'll treat him to. . .one of my quips!. . .
See here!. . . (He goes up to Cyrano, who is watching him, and with a conceited air): Sir, your nose is. . .hmm. . .it is. . .very big!
CYRANO (gravely): Very!
THE VISCOUNT (laughing): Ha!
CYRANO (imperturbably): Is that all?. . .
THE VISCOUNT: What do you mean?
CYRANO: Ah no! young blade! That was a trifle short!
You might have said at least a hundred things
By varying the tone. . .like this, suppose,. . .
Aggressive: 'Sir, if I had such a nose I'd amputate it!'
Friendly: 'When you sup It must annoy you, dipping in your cup;
You need a drinking-bowl of special shape!'
Descriptive: ''Tis a rock!. . .a peak!. . .a cape! --
A cape, forsooth! 'Tis a peninsular!'
Curious: 'How serves that oblong capsular?
For scissor-sheath? Or pot to hold your ink?'
Gracious: 'You love the little birds, I think?
I see you've managed with a fond research
To find their tiny claws a roomy perch!'
Truculent: 'When you smoke your pipe. . .suppose
That the tobacco-smoke spouts from your nose--
Do not the neighbors, as the fumes rise higher,
Cry terror-struck: "The chimney is afire"?'
Considerate: 'Take care,. . .your head bowed low
By such a weight. . .lest head o'er heels you go!'
Tender: 'Pray get a small umbrella made,
Lest its bright color in the sun should fade!'
Pedantic: 'That beast Aristophanes Names Hippocamelelephantoles
Must have possessed just such a solid lump
Of flesh and bone, beneath his forehead's bump!'
Cavalier: 'The last fashion, friend, that hook?
To hang your hat on? 'Tis a useful crook!'
Emphatic: 'No wind, O majestic nose,
Can give THEE cold!--save when the mistral blows!'
Dramatic: 'When it bleeds, what a Red Sea!'
Admiring: 'Sign for a perfumery!'
Lyric: 'Is this a conch?. . .a Triton you?'
Simple: 'When is the monument on view?'