CASTING CALL – CAESONIA AND THE MOON – EDINBURGH FRINGE 2026

Description

PRODUCTION
Caesonia and the Moon is a new dramatic work inspired by Albert Camus' Caligula, reimagining the iconic tragedy through the eyes of Caesonia, the woman who remains beside the emperor as he loses his humanity. Set in Imperial Rome, the play shifts the focus from Caligula's philosophical rebellion to the emotional landscape of the woman who witnesses and endures his transformation, presenting a story of devotion, compassion, madness, and longing.

SEEKING
Performers
No previous experience required

CAESONIA | Female
Fierce, clever, proud, courageous, intuitive, compassionate, resilient, empathetic, protective.

Caesonia is the emotional center of the play.
Intelligent and perceptive, she possesses the rare ability to see beyond Caligula’s power and recognize the wounded man beneath the emperor. Loyal and fiercely protective, she remains beside him even as his grief transforms into cruelty and isolation, driven by a strong compassion and a desire to be seen and loved beyond the shadow of another woman’s memory.

CALIGULA | Male
Charismatic, sharp, ruthless, cruel, cynical, impulsive, magnetic, witty, obsessive.

As Emperor of Rome, Caligula occupies a position of absolute authority, where every decision carries political and personal consequences. Surrounded by a court built on loyalty, fear, and ambition, he exists at the center of an empire where power is concentrated in the hands of one man. His position gives him the power to shape the world around him, but it cannot protect him from loss, desire, or the limits of human existence.

DRUSILLA | Female
Graceful, tender, mysterious, radiant, sincere, joyful, sensual.

Drusilla is an absent yet ever-present force; her memory still shapes the lives of those who remain. In life, she carried a rare innocence and an innate sense of wonder. She was beautiful, joyful, kind, and playful.
To Caligula, she is more than a lost beloved. She is the moon; the impossible desire that cannot be reached, a symbol of everything he believes the world has taken from him.

HELICON | Male
Subversive, observant, curious, sharp minded, playful, loyal, insightful.

Helicon is a complex and enigmatic figure, defined by intelligence, wit, loyalty, and a sharp understanding of human nature. He possesses a playful irreverence that often masks a deeper sensitivity and emotional awareness. He is curious, observant, and capable of seeing beyond appearances, making him one of the few people who can truly perceive the contradictions within
Caligula.

CHEREA | Male
Rational, strategic, stoic, resolute, principled, pragmatic.

Cherea represents reason, order, and human limitation in opposition to Caligula’s pursuit of the absolute. Intelligent, composed, and politically astute, he understands that a world governed by one man’s desires cannot survive.

PERFORMANCE
24th August 2026
8:25 PM

REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will be organized with flexibility: two or three times a week, with the timing decided

VENUE
The Ballroom
The Voodoo Rooms
19A West Register Street
Edinburgh

RUNNING TIME
50 minutes

AUDITIONS
In person
20th, 21st & 22nd July

Online submissions close
Midnight, 22nd July

AUDITION INFORMATION
Bring a monologue that feels closest to the character you'd like to play
Or read a few lines
Script scenes available on request
Online auditions via recent self-tape or showreel

COMPENSATION
Profit sharing basis between the cast and crew

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Detailed character, production, rehearsals and auditions descriptions available in the Casting Application Form.