AUDITION NOTICE – 2020 SEASON
‘Things We Do For Love’
by Alan Ayckbourn
Performances 18th to 22nd February 2020
Audition Weds 23rd October at the Oakwood Centre, 7.30
Regarded by critics as being one of Alan Ayckbourn’s finest plays, ‘Things We Do For Love’ is painfully funny, technically ingenious and very physical (in all senses). There are many screamingly funny moments but also darker strands of humour.
The action is set in a house in Fulham owned by Barbara, the complication being that Barbara’s ground floor living room is just one acting area. We also see a bit of the basement flat underneath, inhabited by Gilbert the postman, and the floor of the flat upstairs which Barbara is letting to her old school-friend Nikki, newly engaged to Hamish.
Barbara and Hamish loathe each other at first, but wind up having uninhibited nooky upstairs, while Nikki sings the dirty version of her and Barbara’s school song in the bath, but of course the only bits of upstairs activity the audience see are at floor level. It is one of Ayckbourne’s supreme comic inventions, and of course the fall-out from it fuels Act 2, including a fight.
The characters are -
Barbara, 40’s, an opinionated spinster known as Spike by her school contemporaries because of her abrasive personality. PA to the high flying boss she’s been in love with for years, who has never noticed her.
Nikki, 30’s, her school friend, slightly in awe of her (still) and so saying the wrong thing, but grateful for the loan of the upstairs flat. Head over heels in love with Hamish and still can’t quite believe her good fortune.
Hamish, 40’s, a Scot, preferably bearded, (Barbara hates bearded Scots) charming and good looking, strong-willed and not browbeaten by Barbara’s superior manner, and physically attracted to her against his better judgement.
Gilbert, 40’s, a widowed postman with a secret obsession for Barbara, collects her clothes which were bound for the charity shop and is painting a large picture of her on his ceiling. Has a brilliant drunk scene.
All ages are flexible. This is a stonking play I have put aside on several occasions because of the staging, but with Graham’s help we have a viable set design so it’s all systems go. Please come along and join the fun!!
Steve Atkins
07788 695840 atkins72@googlemail.com
‘Things We Do For Love’
by Alan Ayckbourn
Performances 18th to 22nd February 2020
Audition Weds 23rd October at the Oakwood Centre, 7.30
Regarded by critics as being one of Alan Ayckbourn’s finest plays, ‘Things We Do For Love’ is painfully funny, technically ingenious and very physical (in all senses). There are many screamingly funny moments but also darker strands of humour.
The action is set in a house in Fulham owned by Barbara, the complication being that Barbara’s ground floor living room is just one acting area. We also see a bit of the basement flat underneath, inhabited by Gilbert the postman, and the floor of the flat upstairs which Barbara is letting to her old school-friend Nikki, newly engaged to Hamish.
Barbara and Hamish loathe each other at first, but wind up having uninhibited nooky upstairs, while Nikki sings the dirty version of her and Barbara’s school song in the bath, but of course the only bits of upstairs activity the audience see are at floor level. It is one of Ayckbourne’s supreme comic inventions, and of course the fall-out from it fuels Act 2, including a fight.
The characters are -
Barbara, 40’s, an opinionated spinster known as Spike by her school contemporaries because of her abrasive personality. PA to the high flying boss she’s been in love with for years, who has never noticed her.
Nikki, 30’s, her school friend, slightly in awe of her (still) and so saying the wrong thing, but grateful for the loan of the upstairs flat. Head over heels in love with Hamish and still can’t quite believe her good fortune.
Hamish, 40’s, a Scot, preferably bearded, (Barbara hates bearded Scots) charming and good looking, strong-willed and not browbeaten by Barbara’s superior manner, and physically attracted to her against his better judgement.
Gilbert, 40’s, a widowed postman with a secret obsession for Barbara, collects her clothes which were bound for the charity shop and is painting a large picture of her on his ceiling. Has a brilliant drunk scene.
All ages are flexible. This is a stonking play I have put aside on several occasions because of the staging, but with Graham’s help we have a viable set design so it’s all systems go. Please come along and join the fun!!
Steve Atkins
07788 695840 atkins72@googlemail.com