Audition Notice

The 39 Steps, by John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock, adapted by Patrick Barlow

Sunday 5th September, 6.30pm
Recalls on Sunday 12th September, 2.30pm

For more information, audition pieces and to book an audition slot, please contact Harry on atkinsonwilliam2003@yahoo.co.uk

Director: Harry Atkinson

Production Dates

10th - 18th December 2021 (10 performances with matinees on 11th, 12th and 18th December)            

Rehearsals

Start 1st November (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) Sunday rehearsals will start at 6.00pm and weekday rehearsals will start at 7.30pm

For more information, please contact the Director, Harry Atkinson on atkinsonwilliam2003@yahoo.co.uk.

About the Play

The narrative is based on the adventure novel of the same name by John Buchan, but everything is turned on its head to make it a supremely funny play.

The indomitable Richard Hannay of the book is turned into the hapless hero of the play, and the villainous spies and indefatigable police into clumsy idiots. All of this results in a chaotic frenzy of mistakes and catastrophes, which will render the audience (and the cast) breathless. The original cast of this adaptation was three males and one female with the actors playing between them all other parts. However, this is not what we will do.

The casting I envisage will be flexible as follows: Richard Hannay will be played by one actor, one female actor will play Annabella, Margaret and Pamela, and the rest of the cast will be paired in three or four pairs (depending on who auditions), which means six or eight actors – eight or ten in total. The pairs can be male or female, but once in a pair they will usually appear together. Ages are flexible, but this is a very physical, fast paced play, so you need to be reasonably fit to be cast. You can specify that you wish to audition for Hannay or for the three main female characters, but there is no other specific character that you can audition for, since you will be auditioning for multiple roles.

Characters

Richard Hannay - Upper class English gentleman, hapless innocent abroad. 30s – 40s

Annabella, Margaret, Pamela - Annabella: slinky, sexy spy with a German accent. Margaret: Scottish lassie with a dreadful husband, falls helplessly in love with Hannay. Pamela: upper class English lady very independent, feisty, spikey, reluctantly falls in love with Hannay. 20s – 30s

Compere and Memory Man - Musical Hall act - they are central to the plot. Any age

Milkman/Mrs Higgins - Cockney Milkman. Mrs Higgins must be able to scream loudly as per Edgar Lustgarten 1930s/1940s crime films (e.g. as when the cleaning lady finds the body). Any age

Travelling Salesman 1 and 2 - Both sell ladies underwear and have a penchant for lewd jokes. Any age

Policemen 1,2,3,4 - Blundering, must be able to run around the stage and jump about. Any age

Porter/Paper Boy - Stereo typical from 1930s/40s films. Any age

Scottish Crofter/BBC radio announcer - Scottish Crofter: Margaret’s husband insanely jealous and a religious freak, full of hellfire and brimstone (must be older than Margaret). BBC announcer: 1930s/40s plummy voice. Any age

Pilots 1 and 2 - RAF Wizard prang types. Youngish

Mr and Mrs Jordon - Villainous German spies who will stop at nothing. Any age

Sheriff and Inspector - neither are very bright must have a Scottish accent. Any age

Dunwoody and McQuarrie - Representatives of an unspecified political party. Haven’t a clue about what they’re doing. Any age

Mr and Mrs McGarrigle - Scottish proprietors of the McGarrigle hotel. A bit “wink wink nudge nudge say no more” when they realise Hannay and Pamela aren’t married. Any age

Heavy 1 and Heavy 2 - Ruthless assassins who never seem to get their man. Any age

BLT actively encourages auditionees from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and any of the above parts could be played by any race.