Reading and Auditions
FLT reading and audition dates for the 2017-2018 season are below. All are welcome to attend.
September 9th – 16th 2017* (on stage)
Plaza Suite by Neil Simon
Director Paul Ward
Reading Sunday 19th February 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 23rd February 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 2nd March 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy - 7m, 5f
This bittersweet comedy is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, "Visitor From Mamaroneck", introduces the audience to not-so-blissfully wedded couple Sam and Karen Nash, who are revisiting their honeymoon suite in an attempt by Karen to bring the love back into their marriage. Her plan backfires and the two become embroiled in a heated argument about whether or not Sam is having an affair with his secretary. The act ends with Sam leaving (allegedly to attend to urgent business) and Karen sadly reflecting on how much things have changed since they were young. The second act, "Visitor from Hollywood", involves a meeting between movie producer Jesse Kiplinger and his old flame, suburban housewife Muriel Tate. Muriel - aware of his reputation as a smooth-talking ladies' man - has come for nothing more than a chat between old friends, promising herself she will not stay too long. Jesse, however, has other plans in mind and repeatedly attempts to seduce her. The third act, "Visitor from Forest Hills", revolves around married couple Roy and Norma Hubley on their daughter Mimsey's wedding day. In a rush of nervousness, Mimsey has locked herself in the suite's bathroom and refuses to leave. This is the most comic of the acts, filled with increasingly outrageous slapstick moments depicting her parents' frantic attempts to cajole her into attending her wedding while the gathered guests await the trio's arrival downstairs. The scene ends and they finally get married.
November 11th to 18th 2017* (on stage)
Dick Barton – Special Agent by Phil Wilmott
Director Andrew Close
Reading Sunday 5th March 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Wednesday 8th March 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 9th March 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy - 9m, 3f
Dick Barton – Special Agent is a hilarious homage to the radio serial from the 1940’s. When Britain’s entire tea supply is threatened to be poisoned, our hero finds himself wrapped up in an adventure soaked with intrigue and mystery featuring all sorts of dastardly foes. These include temptress Marta Heartburn and the evil Baron Scarheart – all the while finding time to sing a few songs along the way. Will Dick save the day and get home in time for supper? You’ll have to come and find out! The cast includes – our hero Dick Barton; his side-kick Jock; our femme fatale Marta Heartburn; our villain Baron Scarheart, our heroine Daphne Fritters and her father Sir Stan Fritters, plus over 14 other characters played by a madly busy, flexible cast of about 4.
January 20th to 27th 2018* (on stage)
Albert Nobbs by Gordon Steel
Director Dave Eyre
Reading Sunday 2nd April 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 13th April 2017 @ 7.30pm.
(Anyone wishing to audition but unable to attend please ring Dave on 07894 903808)
Comedy - 1m, 2f
After a life of hard graft, retirement isn't all what Albert Nobbs has expected. Instead of relaxing and taking things at a leisurely pace, the curmudgeonly Albert finds himself bored and nagged senseless by his wife Connie. But Albert's world is soon turned upside down by the sudden death of Connie in a road accident, and he struggles to find a reason to carry on - until Connie returns as a ghost and sets about organising a fulfilling retirement for Albert, including matchmaking with her best friend Rose. Despite Albert's protestations, he gradually learns to overcome his reluctance and begins to explore new opportunities, so that he and Connie can continue with their journeys in different directions.
Albert Nobbs charms and delights in equal measures, simultaneously devastatingly painful and delightfully funny.
March 17th to 24th 2018* (in the round)
Neighbourhood Watch by Alan Ayckbourn
Director John Howarth
Reading Sunday 23rd April 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 27th April 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 4th May 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy Drama - 4m, 4f
Martin Massie - 40s
Hilda Massie (Martin’s sister) - 40s a little older
Luther Bradley - 30s
Magda Bradley (Music Teacher, Luther’s wife) - 20s
Gareth Janner (unemployed engineer) - 50s
Amy Janner (Gareth’s wife) - 30s
Rod Trusser (former security guard) - 60s
Dorothy Doggett (the estate gossip) - 60s
Neighbourhood Watch is Alan Ayckbourn's 75th play and was commissioned by the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in 2010. Middle class christian brother and sister, Martin and Hilda, have recently moved into their new home on the Bluebell Hill Development and have arranged a housewarming party for the residents. Martin Massie opens the play as a mild mannered, middle aged, harmless chap who has a habit of boring people with pointless stories about garden shrubbery. His prized possession is a garden gnome named Monty. Whilst looking out of the window at his gnome and Hilda’s statue of Jesus in the garden, Martin sees a young boy he assumes to be trespassing. The neighbours arrive: former security guard Ron, the estate gossip Dorothy, unemployed engineer Gareth and music teacher Magda. A decision is made to set up a Neighbourhood Watch group. When the group decide to go ahead without the involvement of any police officers, the previously quiet inhabitants of Bluebell Hill become vigilant and the play takes a darker turn. One character, Rod, suggests putting a ten foot high fence between the garden and the housing estate, saying, "They'll be walking in and out of here all day long otherwise, riff raff and vermin". What starts out as a well-intentioned neighbourhood watch scheme soon develops into something altogether more sinister.
May 19th to 26th 2018* (in the round)
A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller
Director John O'Connell
Reading Sunday 9th July 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 13th July 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 20th July 2017 @ 7.30pm
Drama - 6m, 2f
Eddie Carbone - Middle aged longshoreman. Stubborn, A good man. Over protective and improperly obsessed with his niece.
Beatrice Carbone (Eddie’s wife) - Middle aged. Loyal to Eddie but speaks her mind.
Catherine (Eddie and Beatrice’s young orphaned niece) - Sweet and pretty. 17 years old.
Alfieri (Lawyer) - Middle aged. Italian born. American accent. At times a narrator to the audience
Marco (Italian Sicilian. Illegal immigrant cousin of Beatrice) – Quiet and hard working. Very strong physically.
Rodolpho (Italian Sicilian. Marco's young brother) - Blonde hair. Good looking. Artistic sensitivity.
2 Immigration Officers, and Mr. Lipari (very small roles)
Set in 1950s America in an Italian-American neighborhood near Brooklyn Bridge New York. It has been described as a modern tragedy of Shakespearian proportions. Central character longshoreman Eddie Carbone's overprotective obsessive emotions toward his niece, amid the arrival of 2 illegal immigrant cousins from Italy lead to family destruction and tragedy.
All readings and auditions are held at the Theatre. Full details of these will be published on our website.
*Please note Play performances run from Saturday to Saturday, no performance on Sundays, 2 performances on the last Saturday (matinee at 2pm).
September 9th – 16th 2017* (on stage)
Plaza Suite by Neil Simon
Director Paul Ward
Reading Sunday 19th February 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 23rd February 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 2nd March 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy - 7m, 5f
This bittersweet comedy is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, "Visitor From Mamaroneck", introduces the audience to not-so-blissfully wedded couple Sam and Karen Nash, who are revisiting their honeymoon suite in an attempt by Karen to bring the love back into their marriage. Her plan backfires and the two become embroiled in a heated argument about whether or not Sam is having an affair with his secretary. The act ends with Sam leaving (allegedly to attend to urgent business) and Karen sadly reflecting on how much things have changed since they were young. The second act, "Visitor from Hollywood", involves a meeting between movie producer Jesse Kiplinger and his old flame, suburban housewife Muriel Tate. Muriel - aware of his reputation as a smooth-talking ladies' man - has come for nothing more than a chat between old friends, promising herself she will not stay too long. Jesse, however, has other plans in mind and repeatedly attempts to seduce her. The third act, "Visitor from Forest Hills", revolves around married couple Roy and Norma Hubley on their daughter Mimsey's wedding day. In a rush of nervousness, Mimsey has locked herself in the suite's bathroom and refuses to leave. This is the most comic of the acts, filled with increasingly outrageous slapstick moments depicting her parents' frantic attempts to cajole her into attending her wedding while the gathered guests await the trio's arrival downstairs. The scene ends and they finally get married.
November 11th to 18th 2017* (on stage)
Dick Barton – Special Agent by Phil Wilmott
Director Andrew Close
Reading Sunday 5th March 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Wednesday 8th March 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 9th March 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy - 9m, 3f
Dick Barton – Special Agent is a hilarious homage to the radio serial from the 1940’s. When Britain’s entire tea supply is threatened to be poisoned, our hero finds himself wrapped up in an adventure soaked with intrigue and mystery featuring all sorts of dastardly foes. These include temptress Marta Heartburn and the evil Baron Scarheart – all the while finding time to sing a few songs along the way. Will Dick save the day and get home in time for supper? You’ll have to come and find out! The cast includes – our hero Dick Barton; his side-kick Jock; our femme fatale Marta Heartburn; our villain Baron Scarheart, our heroine Daphne Fritters and her father Sir Stan Fritters, plus over 14 other characters played by a madly busy, flexible cast of about 4.
January 20th to 27th 2018* (on stage)
Albert Nobbs by Gordon Steel
Director Dave Eyre
Reading Sunday 2nd April 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 13th April 2017 @ 7.30pm.
(Anyone wishing to audition but unable to attend please ring Dave on 07894 903808)
Comedy - 1m, 2f
After a life of hard graft, retirement isn't all what Albert Nobbs has expected. Instead of relaxing and taking things at a leisurely pace, the curmudgeonly Albert finds himself bored and nagged senseless by his wife Connie. But Albert's world is soon turned upside down by the sudden death of Connie in a road accident, and he struggles to find a reason to carry on - until Connie returns as a ghost and sets about organising a fulfilling retirement for Albert, including matchmaking with her best friend Rose. Despite Albert's protestations, he gradually learns to overcome his reluctance and begins to explore new opportunities, so that he and Connie can continue with their journeys in different directions.
Albert Nobbs charms and delights in equal measures, simultaneously devastatingly painful and delightfully funny.
March 17th to 24th 2018* (in the round)
Neighbourhood Watch by Alan Ayckbourn
Director John Howarth
Reading Sunday 23rd April 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 27th April 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 4th May 2017 @ 7.30pm
Comedy Drama - 4m, 4f
Martin Massie - 40s
Hilda Massie (Martin’s sister) - 40s a little older
Luther Bradley - 30s
Magda Bradley (Music Teacher, Luther’s wife) - 20s
Gareth Janner (unemployed engineer) - 50s
Amy Janner (Gareth’s wife) - 30s
Rod Trusser (former security guard) - 60s
Dorothy Doggett (the estate gossip) - 60s
Neighbourhood Watch is Alan Ayckbourn's 75th play and was commissioned by the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in 2010. Middle class christian brother and sister, Martin and Hilda, have recently moved into their new home on the Bluebell Hill Development and have arranged a housewarming party for the residents. Martin Massie opens the play as a mild mannered, middle aged, harmless chap who has a habit of boring people with pointless stories about garden shrubbery. His prized possession is a garden gnome named Monty. Whilst looking out of the window at his gnome and Hilda’s statue of Jesus in the garden, Martin sees a young boy he assumes to be trespassing. The neighbours arrive: former security guard Ron, the estate gossip Dorothy, unemployed engineer Gareth and music teacher Magda. A decision is made to set up a Neighbourhood Watch group. When the group decide to go ahead without the involvement of any police officers, the previously quiet inhabitants of Bluebell Hill become vigilant and the play takes a darker turn. One character, Rod, suggests putting a ten foot high fence between the garden and the housing estate, saying, "They'll be walking in and out of here all day long otherwise, riff raff and vermin". What starts out as a well-intentioned neighbourhood watch scheme soon develops into something altogether more sinister.
May 19th to 26th 2018* (in the round)
A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller
Director John O'Connell
Reading Sunday 9th July 2017 @ 2pm
Auditions Thursday 13th July 2017 @ 7.30pm
& Thursday 20th July 2017 @ 7.30pm
Drama - 6m, 2f
Eddie Carbone - Middle aged longshoreman. Stubborn, A good man. Over protective and improperly obsessed with his niece.
Beatrice Carbone (Eddie’s wife) - Middle aged. Loyal to Eddie but speaks her mind.
Catherine (Eddie and Beatrice’s young orphaned niece) - Sweet and pretty. 17 years old.
Alfieri (Lawyer) - Middle aged. Italian born. American accent. At times a narrator to the audience
Marco (Italian Sicilian. Illegal immigrant cousin of Beatrice) – Quiet and hard working. Very strong physically.
Rodolpho (Italian Sicilian. Marco's young brother) - Blonde hair. Good looking. Artistic sensitivity.
2 Immigration Officers, and Mr. Lipari (very small roles)
Set in 1950s America in an Italian-American neighborhood near Brooklyn Bridge New York. It has been described as a modern tragedy of Shakespearian proportions. Central character longshoreman Eddie Carbone's overprotective obsessive emotions toward his niece, amid the arrival of 2 illegal immigrant cousins from Italy lead to family destruction and tragedy.
All readings and auditions are held at the Theatre. Full details of these will be published on our website.
*Please note Play performances run from Saturday to Saturday, no performance on Sundays, 2 performances on the last Saturday (matinee at 2pm).