Performances 17-22 February 2025 in the Auditorium
Directed by Helen Sharp
A psychological thriller excavating the fault lines that separate the entitled from the rest, the stage version of Alys Always premiered at the Bridge Theatre, London in 2019, where the production was described as a “smart, slick psychodrama” with a mischievous satirical undercurrent. ( March, 2019 ‘Alys, Always’ review | Theatre in London (timeout.com)
Written by Lucinda Coxon, playwright and screen play author of Oscar winning The Danish Girl, the play was adapted from Harriet Lanes bestselling and gripping novel, of the same title.
The central character and narrator is the harassed and much put upon Frances, who works as a sub editor on the arts desk of a national Sunday Newspaper. She is quiet, capable, but nobody takes much notice: always in the shadows, her face pressed (metaphorically) to the window, an outsider in the world of the literati.
The play begins when Frances witnesses a fatal car accident. Shocked, she tries to comfort the dying passenger: The victim Alys (with a Y) turns out to be the wife of Laurence Kyte, a Booker-winning middle-aged writer. Called in by the police to help the Kyte family come to terms with Alys’s death, her initial rebuff to meet and talk, soon evaporates when she realises she has been thrown an opportunity to become part of this wine-sipping, school-fee- paying, garden-tending, materially comfortable world.
The fast-paced action takes place across several locations: at the office of The Questioner newspaper, the Kytes’ family home, Frances’s flat, coffee shop, the beach etc.
Additional Notes:
No specific regional accents are required but the suggestion here is London/Hampstead pack/ Home Counties.
Doubling of roles: Please note where indicated, an actor is required to play both parts.
Audition Preparation: Scanned copies of specific characters audition pages can be sent digitally on request - please email the director. A few printed copies of sections will also be available to take away from behind the box office in the bar area prior to the audition,
TWO full text scripts, are also behind the Box-office, from which you can take digital photos of the relevant pages or read whilst in the theatre, but you will not be permitted to take the scripts away. (CW// some adult themes and language)
Audition Date:
This will take place at the theatre on Tuesday 5th November from 7.15pm.
The format of the audition will follow standard protocol. You will be asked to read within a group setting, excerpts from the audition pieces allocated to the character(s) you wish to audition for. You may be asked to move around as you read/ perform therefore please come to the audition wearing comfortable clothing and shoes
The director and casting advisors will be looking at ensemble fit, plus the ability to deliver characterisation through relatively limited dialogue, across short and fast paced scenes. Please note you MUST ensure you have met casting advisors’ criteria at the time of the auditions and have paid your LMT membership by the first rehearsal, which will be on Friday 15th November.
Rehearsals will take place most Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings w/c 18th November onwards.
You will be asked to audition and read for characters from the sections in the script suggested below. If you are uncomfortable with sight reading, I recommend you take your time to review the audition pieces well in advance of the audition. Please contact the director if you require audition pieces to be provided in alternate formats at least 3 days before the audition itself. As this is an ensemble piece, I am unable to accept individual video recorded auditions on this occasion.
Finally, please be assured no-one is expected to learn anything by heart until after they are cast!
If you have any further queries or questions, please contact the director here.
Cast of characters
Frances Thorpe – Initially nervy, subservient, (bottom of the media food chain) but with the ability to turn amenability and an aptitude for “good listening” into weapons.
Displays increasingly disturbing behaviour. (Playing age: early-late 30’s.)
Alys Kyte/ Charlotte Black (NB: This is a doubled role)
Alys is the title role, but we only hear her voice at the site of her accident.
Charlotte: well-meaning family companion and former editor for Laurence. Warm, friendly.
(Playing age –Mid-50s / early 60’s NB: Alys’s voice only)
PC Nagra/ Julia Price (NB: This is a doubled role)
PC Nagra – appears in the first scene of the show. Sympathetic, kind, helpful.
Julia is a nonspeaking part and we only see her
(Playing age -Late 20’s – early 30’s)
Oliver Culpepper- a very young man who has been gifted his job because his dad is a famed journalist, swans about doing little but gossiping. Displays an oily charm.
(Playing age mid - late 20’s - early 30’s)
Mary Pym – Books Editor, Frances’s boss. Forthright, formidable, harassed, caustic.
(Playing age – late 40’s - youthful early sixties)
Audrey Cullum - Journalist. Loud, brash, extrovert.
(Playing age – late 30’s – mid 40’s)
Sid - Work colleague, attracted to Frances. Friendly, chatty.
(Playing age –30’s)
Laurence Kyte- Famous novelist. Recent Widower and not entirely able to deal with the new reality. Entitled, wealthy, limited self-awareness highlights a tendency toward self-focus, Laurence likes the attention of younger women
(Playing age – Mid/ late 50’s – youthful early 60’s)
Polly Kyte (Daughter of Laurence/ Alys)
A drama student. Expressive, challenging, Insecure, fragile, millennial,
(Playing age late teen – early 20’s)
Teddy Kyte (Son of Laurence/ Alys)
Entitled, Taciturn, angry, suspicious of everyone and initially, especially France. Does he see through her?
(Playing age mid-20’s)
Mrs Thorpe (Frances’ Mum)
Retired. Frances’s mother. Conventional, staid, set in her ways.
(Playing age – early/ mid-60’s +)
Mr Thorpe (Frances’ Dad) / Robin McAlfree (NB: This is a doubled role )
Mr Thorpe: Retired. Frances’s father. Kindly, conservative, respectable.
Robin: Harassed newspaper editor.
(Playing age – mid 60’s +)
Audition Pieces
Pp 10-18 – Frances, Alys, PC Nagra, Oliver & Mary
Pp 23-30 – Frances, Laurence, Charlotte, Polly & Teddy
Pp 35-39 – Frances, Mary, Mrs Thorpe & Mr Thorpe
Pp 40-43 – Frances & Polly (& Pp 46-51)
Pp 45-46 – Frances & Sid
Pp 53-58 – Frances, Mary, Robin & Audrey Cullum
Pp 59-63 – Frances, Laurence & Teddy
Pp 74-76 – Frances & Teddy
Pp 79-83 – Frances & Charlotte (& Pp111-113)
P 84 – Frances, Mrs Thorpe, Mr Thorpe
Pp 93-98 – Frances, Laurence & Oliver
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