Nell Gwyn by Jessica Swale
Quick Book
Please choose a production
Nell Gwyn by Jessica Swale
All Company of Ten auditions are open to everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, you’re very welcome to come along and be considered. We’re proud to celebrate diversity and inclusion in everything we do, especially in our casting.
If you’re cast in a production and aren’t yet a member, you’ll just need to join before rehearsals begin. We’ll also ask for permission to use your photo in marketing materials, and we do ask everyone to follow the script as written. That’s part of our licensing agreements.
Details of upcoming auditions will appear below as soon as they’re confirmed. We’d love to see you there.
The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
PERFORMANCE DATES
15 – 24 October 2026, Abbey Theatre Studio
AUDITION DATES
REHEARSAL DATES
Start 10th August, then probably Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (8-10pm). From September, Sunday rehearsals (2-5pm) will be added
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Hitchcock meets Monty Python in this fast-paced comedy spy thriller, packed with theatrical magic and adventure. When the debonair Richard Hannay becomes unwittingly entangled in a mysterious murder, he suddenly finds that he is the prime suspect. He is soon made aware that the actual perpetrators of the crime, a mysterious organisation called ‘The 39 Steps’ are hot on his heels. Hannay then finds himself in a nation-wide man-hunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale!
From the streets of London to the wild landscapes of Scotland, this fast-paced adventure races through daring escapes, clever ingenious disguises with a plot that takes unexpected twists and turns.
Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film based on John Buchan’s classic novel, Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation of ‘The 39 Steps’ provides a riotous blend of performance opportunities supported by wildly inventive stagecraft.
THE CHARACTERS
The 39 Steps is performed by just four actors – 1 woman and 3 men (or 2 women and 2 men) – covering the full cast of characters.
RICHARD HANNAY
Playing age: 30s–40s | Male
THE HEROINES
Playing age: 20s–50s | Female | Played by a single actor
Annabella Schmidt
Margaret
Pamela
CLOWN 1 & CLOWN 2
Playing age: 20s–50s | Two actors (Either 2 male, or 1 male, 1 female)
These two actors portray over 100 roles, which include heroes, villains, police officers, innkeepers, spies and even inanimate objects. They are the comedic engines of the show; they don’t just play characters, they are a double act, comedic twins. They must have well-honed comic timing and chemistry and employ and display boundless energy and high levels of physical control.
Note: some characters are well-developed; others are fleeting figures who offer supporting action.
The actors must have:
GETTING IN TOUCH
Scripts are now available in the Members Room. Please read and return promptly. Please let one of us know if you plan to audition.
If you cannot make any of the casting readings but wish to audition, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to offer you an alternative date and time.
Should you wish to have an informal chat about plans for the performance please feel free to contact me or my Assistant Director, Victoria Lenza.
David Bailey                                       Â
djebailey@gmail.com / 07522932702
Victoria Lenza
victoria.lenza@yahoo.co.uk / 07809761885
Dad’s Army by Jimmy Perry & David Croft
INITIAL AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD ON:
Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd July at 7.30 in the Club Room and Sunday 26th July at 10.30 in the Studio. Anyone who can’t make any of those dates or if you need any reasonable adaptions in order to access auditions please contact the director Katherine Barry on kabarry@btopenworld.com. ‘Final’ auditions will be held in late August if necessary.
Rehearsals will start on Monday 31st August at 7.30 and will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays (7.30 – 9.30) and Sunday mornings (10.30 – 12.30).
Performance dates are 12th to 21st November, and the play will be shown on the Main Stage.
ABOUT THE PLAY
The play is actually three episodes of the much loved TV comedy adapted for the stage. They are:
The setting is the fictional town of Warmington-on-Sea in 1940 during the second world war.
CHARACTERS IN THE PLATOON (ALL MALE PRESENTING AND OVER 50 EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED)
OTHER CHARACTERS (MALE PRESENTING – VARIOUS AGES BUT PROBABLY 40+)
OTHER CHARACTERS (FEMALE PRESENTING – VARIOUS AGES FROM 18+)
Extras of all ages will also be needed for the platoon, other service men/women, café customers and train passengers etc. so anyone wanting a small, walk on roll should also attend one of the audition dates where possible. Some doubling up will be necessary.
Around the World in 80 days adapted by Laura Eason from the novel by Jules Verne
Director Beccy Baird writes:
Main Stage 18-29 December (no performances 24th-26th). Rehearsals begin early October.
It’s 1872 and the fabulously wealthy, meticulously ordered Phileas Fogg wagers his entire fortune that he can travel around the world in just 80 days. Joined by his chaotic valet, Passepartout, he races against time through Europe, the Suez Canal, India, Hong Kong, Japan and America by train, steamer, a wind-propelled sledge and even an elephant. He’s pursued by a dogged Scotland Yard detective who’s convinced that Fogg’s fortune is stolen. And Fogg just may find love on the way too.
This year’s Christmas production is a fast moving and imaginative adaptation of the book by Jules Verne. It’s clever, theatrical and gives enormous freedom to be creative. I’m looking for a cast ready to throw themselves wholeheartedly into something ambitious and spectacular, on a beautiful set, where you might be a New York newsboy one minute, then a ship’s captain, a circus performer, a cowboy or a judge. We’ve got a fantastic backstage team and I now need an energetic, versatile cast who ready to switch characters at speed and bring this fast, funny, heartfelt play to life.
Auditions
· Thursday 3rd of September 8pm
· Sunday 6th September 2pm
· Call backs Tuesday 8th September 8pm
Everyone except for Fogg and Passepartout will play multiple roles with more than 60 parts shared across the ensemble. We’re looking for eight actors of any age over 14, gender or ethnicity, with at least one actor of south Asian heritage. Please note any actors in Years 10 and 11 will need to be double cast because of the number of performances.
Character descriptions
Actor 1: Phileas Fogg – precise, emotionally reserved, dryly funny and determined
Actor 2: Passepartout – energetic, comic, warm-hearted and chaotic
Actor 3: Mrs Aouda and others – intelligent, gentle, emotionally strong and grounded.
Actor 4: Inspector Fix and others – comic, blustering, playing lots of officials and authority figures
Actor 5: Mr Naidu and others – warm, a vivid storyteller, playing a wide variety of travellers and community leaders
Actor 6: Proctor and others – bold, confident, playing lots of military and naval authority figures
Actor 7: Miss Singh and others – comic, agile and skilled at quick transformations across male and female roles
Actor 8: Captain Speedy and others – the most extreme doubling, movement heavy and capable of lots of physical theatre
Any questions or adjustments that would help you access the auditions please contact Beccy Baird (Director) – beccybaird@hotmail.com