Lucan Audition Notice

‘Lucan’

An original stage play written by, and to be directed by Mark Jones

AUDITION

On Sunday 4^th August 2024 – 12pm (until 4pm at the latest) in the studio @ Chorley Theatre

The Performances

Mon 14 – Sat 19 October 2024 (inclusive) – at Chorley Theatre

The Rehearsals

There will be four rehearsals per week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – 7-9.30pm and Sunday – 12-4pm. Frequency of attendance will depend on what role you may get, a full rehearsal schedule will be issued once the play has been cast.

This Play

Based on a true story – in 1974 a woman was bludgeoned to death in fashionable Belgravia. The victim was Sandra Rivett, a nanny looking after the children of Lord and Lady Lucan. Lady Lucan identified the attacker as her husband, but he escaped and was never seen again… The life of Lord “Lucky” Lucan is one of privilege and entitlement, full of fast-living and scandals, leaving the enduring mystery of what really happened. It is a story of innocent victims caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. This new play to mark the 50th Anniversary of the events, reveals the cover-ups and shows how the ‘establishment’ can close ranks in order to protect their ‘own’.

The play has 22 scenes, with many roles. The aim is to produce an entertaining and powerful piece of dramatic theatre.

The Roles:- (M = Male/F = Female. Ages are a guide only, but everyone cast must be at least 20+)

Main Roles

1. Lord Lucan – M – 30+ – major part in the play – in 8 key scenes – appears throughout and plays Lucan from a young man (30ish) to an older man in their 80s. Must have experience of playing main roles before.
2. Lady Lucan – F – 20+ – in 3 key scenes – needs a strong dramatic actress. Note- does not appear in the second half of the play.
3. Old Lady Lucan – F – character age 80 but could be played by anyone aged 20+ – in 3 scenes – with her doctor, with a makeup artist, with a TV interviewer – needs a strong dramatic actress.
4. Gary Waite – M – aged 50+ – Sandra Rivett’s (the murdered nanny) son. In 5 lengthy scenes – needs a strong dramatic actor.
5. Helen – F – 20+ – Gary’s Daughter, appears in 3 key dramatic scenes.
6. John Aspinall – M – 30+ – owner of the Clermont Club. Appears in 4 key scenes.
7. Sam – M or F – aged 20+ – an investigative journalist who helps Gary track down Lord Lucan. In 4 key scenes.

Supporting Roles (speaking parts but only in one scene – could be male or female – aged 20+)

1. Detective Inspector Oakwell – one scene in the first half with Gary.
2. Dr Rosser – Lady Lucan’s doctor – in one scene discussing her health condition.
3. Make-up Artist – talks to Lady Lucan and applies make up ahead of her final TV interview.
4. TV interviewer – Interviews old Lady Lucan in her final TV interview.
5. Sandra Rivett – Lady Lucan’s nanny, who gets murdered by Lord Lucan. A few lines in the murder scene.

Other roles (non-speaking or parts with only a few lines – depending on the numbers who turn up to the audition, some of these roles may be doubled or tripled up ie: one actor playing multiple parts)

1. Old Lady dancing – F – non-speaking – opening scene – dances the waltz to music by Strauss – no dance experience necessary and in the first scene of the second half plays the trumpet – no musical ability required.
2. Old Lady with a toy baby – F – in two scenes – has one line.
3. Old Man in chair – M – in the first scene of the play – sat, immobile in it.
4. Care Home resident in a chair – M or F – in the first scene of the play, sat, immobile. In the first scene of the second half, plays the saxophone – no musical ability required.
5. Care Home resident in a chair – M or F – in the first scene of the play, sat, immobile. In the first scene of the second half, plays the saxophone – no musical ability required.
6. Old man with a walking stick – M – no lines – has a ‘Mexican stand-off’ with the Old Lady dancing. In the first scene of the second half – plays the trumpet – no musical ability required.
7. Care Worker – M or F – in 3 scenes and has a few lines.
8. 1^st Gambler – M or F – in one scene at the Clermont Club – no lines.
9. 2^nd Gambler – M or F – in one scene at the Clermont Club – no lines.
10. PA to John Aspinall – F – one small speech.
11. Detective Inspector – M – one small speech.
12. Hugh Lucan – Lord Lucan’s brother – M – one small speech.
13. Bodyguard 1 – M or F – in the final scene – couple of lines.
14. Bodyguard 2 – M or F – in the final scene – couple of lines.

My aim is to offer as many people as possible a part in this play, giving the experienced and inexperienced a chance to be part of performing in this production on the Chorley stage. There is no preparation needed for the audition – audition pieces will be issued on the day.

Because this is an original written piece, I am conscious of the fact that you will not have seen the full script. Therefore, if you are offered a role, I will send you the full script to enable you a couple of days to read it before you decide whether to accept the part.

About the Writer/Director – Mark Jones

This will be my 19th production over a 20 year period with CADOS , following on from ‘Girl on the Train’ (2023), ‘Deeds not Words’ (2022), ‘The Hauntings of Ebenezer Scrooge’ (2021) ‘The Formby Show’ (2020), ‘Our Town’ (2019),  ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes’ (2018), ‘Our House’ (2017), ‘Pals’ (2016),  ‘The Final Problem’ (2015) ‘Breaking the Code’ (2014); ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ (2013),  ‘Memory of Water’; ‘Oliver Twist’ (both 2011), ‘Blood Brothers’ (2010) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (2007), ‘Amadeus’, ‘Half a Sixpence’ (both 2005) and ‘Great Expectations’ (2004). This will be my 10^th production written by me. I have had the privilege of being Artistic Director of CADOS since 2012.

If you have any queries, then please contact me…..

Email me at – thejonesmail@aol.co.uk

Or text/message me via 07877 111 248. 

Mark Jones

Writer/Director of ‘Lucan’