Audition Notice
The French Lieutenant’s Woman, By John Fowles, Adapted from the novel by Mark Healy
Directed by Claire Lewis
Musical Direction by Michael James
Movement Direction by Graham Brown
Singing Coach Ciru James
Sunday 25th February 2024, 3pm (for Sarah and Charles) and 4.15pm (for other roles)
For more information and audition pieces, please contact Claire on claire.lewis@sky.com
Production Dates
Brighton Little Theatre, Fri 26–Wed 31 July (Sat & Sun Mats)
Minack Theatre, 05-08 August (Tues & Thurs Mats)
Important: please see the note below from the committee with information about performing at the Minack
Pre-Audition Info
We would like you to prepare a self-tape of you performing an own choice folk song, 1-2 minutes long (unaccompanied or with your own backing track) and send it by Saturday 24 February, to Claire (claire.lewis@sky.com) and Michael (m_james@me.com ).
Rehearsals
To begin early June 2024, 4 sessions a week (full cast will not be called for every rehearsal).
About the Play
Standing alone on the Cobb at Lyme Regis, with the waves crashing around her, the cloaked figure of a young woman, Sarah Woodruff, gazes out to sea, with her back turned on the harsh, hypocritical Victorian society that judges her. Intrigued and in a quest to discover the truth, Charles Smithson, a wealthy, respectable engaged man, throws himself into dangerous waters and risks everything he has for this mysterious woman.
Like the ground-breaking novel and film before it, Healy’s fast-paced, inventive adaptation plays with convention to create something unexpected, evocative and exciting.
Some characters will multi-role so don’t be fixed on the playing ages; the characters are all in the writer’s head. The size of the cast is slightly governed by the number of rooms we have booked in Cornwall. If we have room sharers, we may be able to expand the cast size.
Note about The Minack
As you know, we are very fortunate to be able to return to The Minack in Cornwall with our production of A French Lieutenant’s Woman in August 2024.
This is a brilliant time of year to be going, right in the middle of peak holiday season. Unfortunately, this has also meant that we are paying a very large amount for accommodation (approx. £12k in total). In previous years the accommodation has been around a third of this!
In order to help meet some of the costs of performing at The Minack, the Committee have decided that we will need to make a charge of £50 per person (this will be adjusted accordingly for couples/people sharing a room). We will also not be making a contribution to fuel costs this year.
Please note that the ability to pay will not be used in any way as part of the casting process. If you are cast and feel that you cannot afford the £50 charge, you should contact Leigh Ward (Chairman and Tour Manager) on leigh.ward@brightonlittletheatre.com so we can have a conversation about possible payment instalments or some other arrangement. This will, of course, all be treated in the strictest of confidence.
BLT actively encourages auditionees from ethnic minority communities and any of the below parts could be played by any race.
You do not have to be a member of the company to audition, but if you are cast you must join.
Characters
Sarah Woodruff - Wild protagonist and central enigma. Striking, melancholic, insightful. Born lower class, educated to middle-class. Outcast. Represents the “modern woman”. Intimacy required. Slight West Country accent. Pre-audition: In addition to the folk song, also sing 3 verses of a hymn. 25
Writer/Dr Grogan - Writer: Charismatic, engaging, charming, witty. Talks directly to the audience. 35 - 40. Doubles with Dr Grogan: Intelligent, wise, liberal minded bachelor. Irish accent. 40+
Charles Smithson - Well travelled and wealthy. An intelligent, upper-class idler with an interest in palaeontology. Distinguished, good humoured and inquiring. Engaged to Ernestina, falls for Sarah. Intimacy required. 32
Ernestina Freeman - Plucky, intelligent, wilful with delicate features. Represents conventional Victorian womanhood. 22
Sam - Charles’s cockney manservant. Ambitious, driven, likeable - flirts with Mary. 20s
Mary - Aunt Tranter’s servant. Good-natured, vibrant, flirts with Sam. West Country accent. 18/22
Mrs Poultney - Bigoted Christian. Severe, disapproving and mean-spirited. RP accent. 60+
Mrs Endicott - Knowing & discreet hotel proprietor. Devonshire accent. 40+
Mrs Tranter - Ernestina’s protective aunt. Just, optimistic and empathetic. RP accent. 50+
Tom - Charles’ old friend from Cambridge. Privileged and spirited. RP accent. 30+
Nat - Charles’ lawyer and friend from Cambridge. Playful & astute. RP accent. 30+
Ma Terpsichore - Madame of the London brothel. Raucous & accommodating. 30+
Girl - Cockney prostitute. Young mother – has an intimate scene with Charles. 20
Betsy - Prostitute, saucy, bawdy entertainer. Sings solo number. Pre-audition: In addition to the folk song, also sing 3 verses of a Music Hall style song. 25+
Mr Forsythe - Vicar of Lyme. Sincere. 50+
Ensemble - Various ensemble roles required including Detectives/Servants/Passengers/Guests/Prostitutes/Americans