Accrington Pals Audition News
- May 31
- 2 min read
Summary
Accrington Pals by Peter Whelan
Audition
The Accrington Pals: ‘Like all Whelan’s best work, the piece is blessed with a warm unsentimental humanity, but there is toughness too, in his chronicle of the terrible waste of war, and in the tensions of class and ideals, between a group of characters we come to care about deeply. There is no mistaking the play’s power, intelligence and compassion. Daily Telegraph
The Accrington Pals ages ranged between 19 and 40. Casting will not be made on performance alone, but on how, this ensemble piece will appear to distinguish the gap between the ages of the characters i.e. a youthful 26 year old may play a 19 year old successfully! The play is ‘wordy’ and demanding. We will focus on physicality and use of gesture in a slightly ‘mannered’ style.
A read through is planned: 7.30 pm Tuesday 16th June 2026 WBDS Stamford Road, West Bridgford, NG2 6LS.
The audition is planned 7.30 pm on Tuesday 30th June 2026 as above.
Rehearsals will take place 3 times a week, including Sundays, beginning in August. The run is scheduled November 10th – 14th 2026 .
Queries to Director, Barbara Seymour 07884 318735 barbaraseymour595@gmail.com.
Cast:
· May, a stallholder, late twenties or older
· Tom, an apprentice, nineteen (he will appear as a zombie towards the end of the play)
· Ralph, a clerk, nineteen or so (who has a tin tub bath scene – decorum and modesty will be adhered to)
· Eva, a mill girl, the same age as Ralph (Eva has a short song to sing)
· Sarah, a married mill worker, mid-twenties
· Bertha, a mill girl, eighteen
· Annie, a housewife, late thirties or older
· Arthur, her husband, of similar age
· Reggie, her son, fourteen/fifteen (or of relatively youthful appearance!)
· CSM Rivers, a regular soldier, thirties/forties
Audition pieces
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