Emilia Auditions

Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

Performances: NOV 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 & 15

Directed by Jessie Thompson and Hazel James

It was Hazel James who told us about this play during the 2024 Women’s Project potluck meeting. Emilia is based on the life of 17th century poet and feminist Emilia Bassano Lanier. who is considered the first professional female poet in England, and some scholars have speculated she is the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

The play was commissioned by Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in 2018. The artistic director, Michelle Terry, wanted to produce more female-led work and to explore the voices and stories that have not typically been found onstage in places such as the Globe. The play, which imagines much of Emila’s life that is unknown, uses her as a vehicle for exploring marginalized voices, erased histories, and the transformative power of writing. With a large cast—including male…