Edmonton Actors! My name is Huirui Zhang and I am a U of A MFA Directing candidate casting for my upcoming production of Erin Shields’ If We Were Birds October 2026. We are looking for an ensemble of 9 actors (7F, 2M).
📌 Note: This is a voluntary commitment. Production photos will be made available for portfolio purposes.
*Welcome actors from all ethnic backgrounds!!! Priority will be given to BIPOC artists and artists who have a movement/dance background.
If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/pvhPzAmLsqSNtVjWA
About If We Were Birds:
If We Were Birds is a riveting re-imagining of Ovid’s masterpiece “Tereus, Procne, and Philomela”. Written by Erin Shields, this play explores themes of sisterhood, military violence, and the chain of vengeance. It is an uncompromising examination of the horrors of war and a harrowing exploration of violence and revenge. It places a spotlight on millions of female victims who have been silenced through violence, specifically featuring a chorus of women representing victims of 20th-century conflicts such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Nanking, and Berlin.
⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️ This is a feminist play that deeply discusses sexual violence and features difficult depictions of intimacy. Actors must be aware that the story deals with sensational events, explicitly including rape, mutilation, infanticide, and cannibalism. *An intimacy coordinator will be available during the rehearsal process and a disclosure form will be provided.
Casting Breakdowns:
Lead Roles:
• Philomela: The younger daughter of King Pandion. Her beauty triggers a chain of horrific events when Tereus’ desire triumphs over his reason.
• Procne: The older daughter of King Pandion. She is married off to war hero King Tereus and taken to live in a foreign land.
• King Tereus: The King of Thrace and a war hero. He marries Procne and takes her to Thrace. His actions ignite the chain of vengeance in the play.
• King Pandion: The King of Athens. He is the father of Procne and Philomela.
The Chorus / Ensemble Roles:
The Chorus consists of ravaged women who have been transformed into birds by the gods. The actors in the Chorus will also double as the Slave Women—a group of women captured in battle by Tereus and given to King Pandion as a gift.
• The Young One
• The Pregnant One
• The Pious One
• The One with Dwindling Dignity
• The Bleeding One: This actor will also play the Servant to Procne. Additionally, this actor will play Itys, the son of Procne and Tereus, alongside a piece of white cloth.
📅 Rehearsals begin: September 8, 2026
🎭 Performances: October 15–17, 2026
Performance Venue: Bleviss Laboratory Theatre
Estimate Runtime: 90 min
Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions, please email the director at huirui@ualberta.ca