Performances 22-27 September 2025 in the Auditorium

Directed by Polis Loizou

Synopsis

A fogbound London, 1880. Bella Manningham lives an upper-middle-class existence but she is constantly on edge, in fear that she is losing her mind. The reproaches – and frequent disappearances – of her attractive but stern husband only increase her anxiety. One night, another cause for concern comes knocking on her door: a private investigator who claims that Bella’s husband isn’t who he says she is, and that she is in very real danger. Who can Bella trust? Is she really losing her grip on reality?

Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight (also Gas Light and Angel Street) is the dark and thrilling tale of a marriage shrouded in suspicion – a play whose power, proven by the recent usage of ‘gaslighting’, continues to reverberate.

Characters / Roles

Bella Manningham (playing age: 30s) – the protagonist. She lives a comfortable life in terms of material wealth, but her mental health is in tatters. She fears she’s losing her grip on her household, her marriage and herself. She must appear fragile, ill and haunted, but she has an inner strength that is underestimated by others (especially her husband), and a strong sense of self-preservation.

Jack Manningham (playing age: 40s) – Bella’s domineering husband. Though handsome, he’s a toxic “alpha male” type, an arrogant man who can barely disguise his impatience with his wife’s mental state. This role requires a performer with a resonant voice and commanding stage presence, someone who can turn from merely patronising to downright menacing.

Inspector Rough (playing age: 60s) – a former detective, he is both authoritative and a little bit playful, amusing but also mysterious and evasive. We must wonder if Bella can trust him. He is a lively, dominant presence in the Mannighams’ home, even to the point of recklessness.

Elizabeth (playing age: 60s) – the Manninghams’ housekeeper. She’s a loyal, subservient sort, who takes her job seriously and is sympathetic to her mistress. But even though she’s kind and mild-mannered, she knows when to step up, when to be firm with her mistress, and she does what needs to be done.

Nancy (playing age: 19) – a pretty, cheeky maid who is aware of her good looks and knows how to push boundaries. Despite her gender and position, she has quite a lot of power, even over her mistress, who hates her. There is a scene in which she kisses Mr Manningham – though this definitely won’t be required in the audition, applicants should be comfortable with this requirement in the show.

Auditions will take place on 10th June at 7pm at the theatre (upstairs).

Copies of the audition pieces will be available from the box office.

PLEASE NOTE: Nobody is expected to be “off-book”, but it’s strongly advised you familiarise yourself with the pieces you’re auditioning for, as the flowery Victorian language might make it quite tricky otherwise!

Audition pieces

Note: Bella and Jack are referred to as Mrs and Mr Manningham in the script.

Bella, Jack, Nancy – from the middle of p3 (“This fire’s in ashes.”) to Nancy’s exit on p6

Bella, Jack – from top of p11 (“You seem wonderfully pleased with yourself, Bella.”) to

bottom of p12, then p17

Bella, Rough – p23-25

Elizabeth, Jack – from bottom of p46 to “Yes, sir… yes, sir…” on p48

For any questions or further info, please contact the director, Polis Loizou