Performances 25-29 October 2022 in the studio

Directed by Lesley Brown

Funny, charming and alarming.

"I’m walking down the street and there’s a door in the fence open and inside there are three women I’ve seen before."

Three old friends and a neighbour sit for a summer of afternoons of tea and company or is it catastrophe? The four converse about topics both trivial and serious, family members, lost keys, personal maladies, the only thing missing is the tea which sits on the ground on a tray but is never touched, perhaps because there is something unspeakably nasty in the water?

Celebrating the often unheard voices of older women, Caryl Churchill’s  convention - defying play juxtaposes backyard tea with environmental disaster, exploring themes of politics, crisis, communication and female endurance scattered with humour and whimsy.

ROLES

Sally

Vi

Lena

Mrs Jarrett

They are all at least 70

Note :- I would really like to cast this play authentically empowering and showcasing older women.

AUDITION PIECES

Roles are fairly balanced except for Mrs Jarrett who has a number of lengthy monologues.

As the roles are so entwined I would like the audition pieces to run from Page 5-12. This includes two monologues which gives auditionees a choice if they wish to memorise one. There is no need to learn pieces but it would be helpful if you were familiar with the text as we will run the auditions in play reading/workshop style.

Audition pieces and a copy of the play will be available from the theatre in the next few days.

Please do not hesitate to contact me here if you wish to discuss the play further or if you have any special requirements.

If you cannot make the audition date please let me know ASAP so that we can arrange to see you before.

I’m really excited as this is my directorial debut. I’m hoping that it will be a fun, dynamic experience!!