Audition Notice
Breaking Down All the Walls
WRITTEN AND
DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS BUFALO
GENRE: A drama with comedy …. or is it a comedy with drama? You decide.
PERFORMANCE PERIOD
3-12 December 2026
Matinees at 2pm and Evenings at 8pm
SYNOPSIS
Breaking Down All The Walls is a play about the actual creation of a play, breaking the mould of traditional theatre. It is a mixture of live performance on stage and pre-recorded video scenes.
Two of the characters, Frieda and Eric, are playwrights, collaborating via video conference, drawing upon their own experiences to shape their work. The audience observes them as they discuss and workshop the development of their script.
Meanwhile, two of the play’s actors, Georgia and Hugh, begin to navigate the same rocky terrain of a new relationship as are the characters they are portraying, Charlie and Davina. This means that the same actor playing Hugh is also playing Charlie, just as the actor playing Georgia is also playing Davina.
Two other characters, Barry and Allison, sit and watch the play unfold. They exchange viewpoints on the actual performance, much like a Greek chorus would.
Life imitating Art? Or Art imitating life?
This play is a true premiere, an original work which offers a unique hybrid theatrical experience, blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality, comedy and drama, and it offers a layered exploration of love, jealousy and the human connections that bind.
This is the Mordialloc Theatre Company’s first original work, and the writer is also the director.
No specific accents are required.
Hugh 20-something
Hugh, an enthusiastic actor, has just been cast as Charlie, and is thrilled to have landed one of his first stage roles. A lifelong theatre lover, he has spent years admiring productions from the audience and is excited to finally be on stage himself.
Although he has received some acting training, Hugh knows that live performance is very different from the classes he took. Eager to learn, he throws himself wholeheartedly into rehearsals, absorbing every piece of advice and embracing each new experience. Beneath his enthusiasm lies a quiet nervousness—he wants to do justice to the role, contribute to the production, and avoid making a fool of himself. His passion, humility and determination make him an earnest and likeable member of the cast.
Georgia 20-something
Georgia is a beguiling and effusive actress cast in the play as Davina. Confident, outspoken and refreshingly direct, she is an experienced performer who has appeared in numerous stage productions. She thrives on collaboration and naturally mentors less experienced cast members, generously sharing her knowledge and encouragement.
Her warmth and openness can sometimes be mistaken for flirtation, but Georgia is simply someone who connects easily with people. She has an infectious enthusiasm for life and firmly believes that strangers are just friends she hasn’t met yet. At times, she can immerse herself into a role too much.
Barry 40-something
Barry is one of our audience members and not a regular theatre-goer. An office worker with a cheeky, blokey sense of humour, he’s far more comfortable watching stand-up comedy than sitting through a stage play. Confident and outspoken, he has a habit of saying exactly what’s on his mind—sometimes without thinking about the consequences.
He’s attending the performance because his girlfriend of ten months, Allison, is an avid theatre lover and has been particularly eager to see this production. Happy to make her happy, he agrees to come along, despite feeling out of his element. As the play unfolds, Barry struggles to make sense of what he’s seeing, and his candid observations often reveal both his confusion and his unfiltered honesty.
Allison 40-something
Allison is a confident, intelligent businesswoman who has little patience for foolishness, yet she seems to take a quiet delight in teasing Barry. She regards him with a curious blend of amusement and embarrassment, as though she knows something he does not. Beneath her composed exterior, there is clearly more at play than she is willing to reveal. To those around her, however, she appears to be a patient and supportive partner, gently guiding a bewildered Barry through the unfolding events.
Eric 60-plus
A playwright and true creative, Eric has embraced the unconventional challenge of co-writing a play via video meetings with his long-time friend, Frieda. Initially uncertain about how the collaboration would work, he has come to relish the process and the unique creative exchange it has fostered.
Intellectual and naturally drawn to academia, he is thoughtful and analytical without ever being pretentious. Usually measured and considered, he also has a playful spontaneity, happily throwing out ideas and exploring possibilities without needing them to be perfect. He is generous in collaboration, unafraid to suggest, question and experiment in the moment. Even when frustrated or challenged, he remains courteous, respectful and committed to the creative journey.
Frieda 60-something
A playwright who is genuinely excited to have Eric as her creative sounding board, she sees this project as a unique and rewarding opportunity. Welcoming the involvement of her long-time friend, she values the history and trust they share, which allows their collaboration to be both playful and instinctive.
Highly collaborative and open-minded, she is always willing to explore new ideas, but she is not afraid to challenge or discard those that don’t serve the work. For her, every creative choice must earn its place. A true perfectionist, she believes a script is never truly finished—there is always another layer to uncover, another refinement to make, and another opportunity to strengthen the story. For her, the creative process is an ongoing journey of discovery.
Please note, as indicated in the play breakdown, all the scenes between Frieda and Eric will be filmed as video conference calls, and they will then be screened to the audience throughout the play
DATES:
Saturday 5 September (afternoon)
Tuesday 8 September (evening)
LOCATION:
TBA
To book an audition:
Please email a contact phone number, a photo (it doesn’t have to be a professional headshot; a photo taken with a phone camera is perfectly acceptable) and an outline of any acting/theatre experience, a preferred date to audition and the role you’d like to audition for.
This can be sent to Breakingdownallthewalls@gmail.com
Audition scenes will then be sent out to you.
An audition reader will be available on the day, but if you prefer to provide your own, just let us know. Depending on the number of people auditioning, you may be partnered with another auditionee.
We hope that this new work, directed by the writer, is of interest to you.
If you have any queries, send them to the above email address.
Please note: Anyone who is offered a role will be asked to pay a $20 show fee for membership, insurance and refreshments.
Rehearsal venue to be announced.
Thursday 3 December – Opening Night
Friday 4 December – Evening Performance
Saturday 5 December – Matinee & Evening Performances
Sunday 6 December – Matinee Performance
Wednesday 9 December – Evening Performance
Thursday 10 December – Evening Performance
Friday 11 December – Evening Performance
Saturday 12 December– Matinee & Final Evening Performance
Please ensure you would be available for all performances before auditioning. If you have a conflict with any of the rehearsal dates, please advise the Director at audition and if it becomes relevant, every effort will be made to work with it.
Weekly rehearsals will be-
7:30-10:00pm: Tuesday evenings
7:30-10:00pm: Thursday evenings
2:00-5:00pm: Saturday afternoons, or 7-10pm Saturday evenings – according to cast preference.
Rehearsals will commence in late September but, given that this is a new work, prior to rehearsals, there will be at least one readthrough at a date and time that is convenient to all.
The only different rehearsal days will be the dress rehearsal in the Shirley Burke Theatre on Monday November 30 and a final dress rehearsal with an audience on Wednesday December 2.
Actors need to commit unconditionally not only for the entire performance season but also for all scheduled rehearsals at which their attendance is required.