The play : Ladies’ Day
Written by: Amanda Whittington
Directed by: Ali Vardy
Production dates : Monday 10th June to Saturday 15th June 2024 on the main stage.
Date, time and location of the audition
10am at the theatre on Sunday 3rd March. Auditions will be in the Studio. We aim to finish at or before 1pm but this will depend on how many people turn up on the day
Synopsis
An exuberant comedy about four lasses from Hull who take a day trip to the races… For one year only, Royal Ascot relocates to York and the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelly and Linda are determined to make the most of it. Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off to the races for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. Secrets are spilled with the champagne and friendships are tested to the limit. Yet as the day unfolds and tempers fray, their accumulator bet keeps quietly winning. If their luck and their nerve holds, the ladies could hit the jackpot – and more… A very Northern comedy.
Roles
There is a little bit of singing/dancing in the production but it is in a “friends having fun” fashion – you do not need to be accomplished!
Pearl mid-50s: a fish packer Pearl is kind and generous, slightly better off than the others. She is married with four children and one grandson
Jan mid-40s: a fish packer Jan is a slightly dowdy single mum with repressed romantic aspirations, who saves every penny she earns for her daughter who is about to go to university.
Shelley mid-20s: a fish packer Shelley is single, gobby, brash and she drinks too much. Dressing in a cheap and tarty fashion Shelley is a wannabe, a good time girl and on the look out for a millionaire
Linda early/mid-20s: a fish packer Also single Linda was brought up by her nan and is a huge Tony Christie fan. She is quiet, thoughtful and dresses conservatively – not at all showy – the opposite to Shelley.
Traditionally, all 6 male characters are played by 1 actor! I am open to sharing these smallish roles between 2, although audiences do tend to really enjoy the same actor reappearing, it is very funny.
Joe 40-60 years: supervisor
Fred any age: ticket tout
Jim McCormack no specified age: TV pundit
Patrick 35-45 years: Irish jockey
Kevin no specified age: gambler
Barry around 60 years: bookie
Rehearsals
Days and times will be decided when the play is cast and can be discussed at audition. We will likely begin late March.
Please feel free to email me at alivardy@googlemail.com if you have any questions regarding the audition or if you would like some more detailed info on the characters.
Thank you
