Performances 9-14 December 2024 in the Auditorium
Directed by David Dunford
It’s the last week of June, the longest day is past, nights are starting to draw in, and it’s time to start thinking about our Christmas production.
Everyone knows the story of the miser, Scrooge, who says “Bah! Humbug!” to Christmas and begrudges his workers even the one (unpaid) day off. He is confronted by the ghost of his one-time partner, Marley, who tells him he will see three further Spirits – Christmas Past, who shows him that he has not always been so miserable; Christmas Present, who shows him that even the poor and miserable (like his clerk, Bob Cratchit) can enjoy themselves and make the most of what little they have; and the silent Christmas Yet To Come, with a chilling prediction of Scrooge’s own unmourned death if he doesn’t change. It’s no surprise to anyone that Scrooge awakes on Christmas morning a transformed man – and they all live happily ever after, including Cratchit’s sickly son, Tiny Tim.
Everyone knows the story… including probably all but the youngest members of our audiences. So our task is to present it in a way that is lively, colourful and entertaining. We are helped by the version we are using – one that involves live Christmas carols, multiple rapid costume and character changes, narrative from a Greek-style chorus and fast-moving action that dispels much of the sentimentality of the original story (and too many dramatisations). Essentially, the show has to be fun for everyone – cast and audiences - and I am looking for performers who are versatile, and have almost unlimited energy. We won’t be analysing possible backstories (apart from Scrooge himself); we will be looking for pace and larger than life characterisation.
This is the PROBABLE distribution of the main parts. But it would be possible to have one or two fewer, and several more. Casting of all of the parts (including Scrooge) will be gender- blind, and there are no playing ages, apart from Scrooge and the children.
Actor 1 SCROOGE: a massive role, on stage for almost the whole play. We need someone with immense stamina and the ability to develop as a character. (And the play does provide him with a backstory.) Playing age 40-50.
2 Bob Cratchit - Scrooge’s ill-treated but always cheerful clerk/ Ghost of Christmas Past
3 Young Scrooge / Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come
4 Fezziwig - a jolly figure, at the heart of the Christmas merry making when Scrooge was
young/ Ghost of Christmas Present
5 Marley – Scrooge’s one time partner. For much of the play he is a ghost
6 Various smaller parts – and if possible a trained/experienced baritone /mezzo soprano
singer
7 Mrs Fezziwig / Mrs Cratchit – both in character rather like their husbands
8 Belle - Scrooge’s girlfriend when he was a young man
Apart from Scrooge, everyone also plays two or three smaller parts and forms part of the narrating chorus and crowd of people
We also need SIX CHILDREN – 3 boys and 3 girls in the script but this can again be flexible:
Auditions for the children will also be on TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER AT 18.00 IN THE THEATRE. Playing ages are likely to be 10-13 (going into Years 6-9), but anyone slightly older or younger is also welcome to audition. You do not have to be a member of the Youth Theatre to audition; it will be possible to be in both this show and the YT production. Please contact the director for more information.
Music: Christmas carols form an essential part of the show. Most will be familiar to anyone who has any experience of traditional carol services. Some will be sung by the whole cast; others may be soIos or sung by small groups. Ideally the accompaniment will be by a violin/clarinet or other suitable instrument on stage – if possible played by one of the actors. Otherwise, they will be unaccompanied – we just need some people who can find an appropriate starting note! You do not need to be a trained singer, as long as you can hold a tune.
One song, “Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar”, does require a more experienced singer (baritone/mezzo-soprano) – ideally accompanied by an SATB quartet. There are alternatives if that proves too difficult.
Copies of the music are available from the director.
Auditions: as this is an ensemble show, much of the audition will consist of group activities and improvisation. There will also be some specific extracts to look at. These are:
1. Scrooge/Marley: page 23 (“Scrooge!”) to 25 (“turned to happiness”)
2. Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Past: page 29 to 31 (Act 2 Scene 1)
3. Fezziwig/Mrs Fezziwig/Scrooge: page 36 (“why, it’s old Fezziwig”) to 38 (“Very well”)
4. Belle/Young Scrooge: page 40 (“Another idol”) to 42 (“you have chosen”)
5. Bob Cratchit/Mrs Cratchit/Spirit of Christmas Present/Scrooge: page 52 (“Well my dears”) to 55 (“the child will die”)
6. Bob/Mrs Cratchit/Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come: page 78 (“I think he has walked”) to 80 (“I am very happy”)
Copies of these extracts are available in a folder in the drawer of the Box Office desk and also from the director. The folder also contains a copy of the script and the music; PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THESE AWAY FROM THE BAR AREA.
Rehearsals will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, usually from 7.30 to 9.45 in the evening. There will also be Sunday rehearsals nearer the show date. Though not everyone will be required for every rehearsal, the ensemble nature of the production means it would be hard to accommodate any lengthy absence through holidays etc. If you know you may be away during the rehearsal period, please have a word with one of the casting team before the auditions.
Any questions or if you require special audition materials (large print, coloured paper etc), please contact the director here.
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