THE ACTRESS by Peter Quilter

The Gage Players are calling for actors to audition to take part in its full-length spring production of The Actress, taking place from 1st-3rd May 2025 at The Lord Riddell Memorial Hall in Walton-on-the-Hill.

The Actress takes place in present time, mainly in the star dressing room of Lydia Martin on the evening of her farewell performance. As various people from her life invade her dressing room to say their goodbyes, the dressing room fills with laughter, declarations of love and insults.

The read-through/audition will be held at Walton School Hall, Walton Street, Walton on the Hill, KT20 7RR on Wednesday 8th January at 8pm. Two male roles and five females to be cast. Character ages are flexible though one female should have a playing age of 20’s to mid 30’s and one gentleman should be much older than Lydia or capable of playing such convincingly. New actors warmly welcome.

This play features a variety of characters each with their own unique traits and relationships with the central character.

Lydia Martin – central character. An actress of considerable reputation, who is in her 40s, 50s or 60s

Katherine – Lydia’s dresser. Has some poignant moments with Lydia.  Likes a ‘Keepsake’.

Harriet – Lydia’s Agent. Lydia is the only big name she manages.  Will she cope with Lydia retiring?

Charles –Lydia’s elderly fiancé. Adores Lydia and wants to take her away from the madness of the theatre

Nicole – Lydia’s daughter in her 20s or early 30s. A rebel who loves both of her parents

Paul – Nicole’s father. Suave.  Believes he and Lydia should never have split

Margaret – the company Manager. The go-between for the (unseen) director and Lydia

To register your interest in auditions and find out more, contact the director Debbie on  friends@thegageplayers.co.uk  by Friday 3^rd January.

Audition opportunity (Walton-on-the-Hill):

Last Tango in Little Grimley and Lockdown in Little Grimley
written by David Tristam  

As you may have heard, there’s been a little bit of a change of plan from what we’d originally intended.  However, we’re sure we’ve got a great show lined up, in the form of two back-to-back one-act plays from the “Little Grimley” series by David Tristam.

Imagine the possibility of everything going wrong – and then it does! And yet somehow it goes right –

Then this is the play to audition for which will take place from 28 to 30 November at The Lord Riddell Memorial Hall in Walton-on-the-Hill.

This production to be directed by Bernie Kemble and auditions will be held on Monday 9^th September at 8pm at Walton School Hall, Walton Street, Walton on the Hill, KT20 7RR.

Last Tango in Little Grimley

Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society is in trouble.  The membership has dwindled to four and it’s time for dramatic action.  There’s only one thing that sells tickets these days – sex!  But how will the locals react?  Thus begins the chaos and build up to an evening of extraordinary home-grown drama.

Lockdown in Little Grimley

In a time of lockdown, the Chairman Gordon calls an emergency meeting, complete with social distancing, to discuss his idea for the next production when restrictions ease – a touching love story in a hospital, with all profits destined to the NHS but based on their previous efforts, will the NHS actually end up worse off?

The same four characters are in both plays. – ages of the characters can be flexible

• Gordon – Chairman who doggedly believes in the society no matter what the adversity is.
• Margaret– Diva and leading lady in all the shows
• Joyce – Secretary of the Society, timid librarian and dreams of being in a musical
• Bernard – General Backstage hand and minor actor (don’t be fooled by the description)

To register your interest in auditions, please contact Bernie by 7^th September

friends@thegageplayers.co.uk  New actors warmly welcome.

 If you cannot make the date, please contact us so we can arrange to see you at a convenient time. Rehearsals will commence from the 16^{th of} September Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8pm and held at Walton School Hall

We have had to postpone Abilgail’s Party due to a clash with a professional production.

The Gage Players is calling for actors to audition to take part in its full-length winter production of Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh, taking place from 28 to 30 November at The Lord Riddell Memorial Hall in Walton-on-the-Hill.

Abigail’s Party is a timeless comedy classic, offering a sparkling, satirical take on the aspirational middle classes of England’s suburbia. Devised by Mike Leigh in 1977, the play’s witty dialogue and biting observations remain as relevant to today’s society as when it was first performed almost 50 years ago.

                                    This production to be directed by Anne Henderson

Auditions will be held on Monday 9^th September at 8pm
at Walton School Hall, Walton Street, Walton on the Hill, KT20 7RR
To register your interest in auditions, please contact Anne by 12 August
friends@thegageplayers.co.uk  New actors warmly welcome.
Rehearsals will commence from the 16^{th of} September
 on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8pm
 and held at Walton School Hall,

There are 3 female and 2 male speaking roles – ages of the characters can be flexible

• Beverley Moss – A vivacious and assertive hostess who throws a drinks party for her new neighbours.
• Laurence Moss – Beverley’s husband an estate agent who has a contrasting personality to her and often caught up in the crossfire of the evening’s drama
• Angela Cooper – a guest at the party, who is friendly but somewhat naïve
• Tony Cooper – Angela’s husband, who works as a computer operator.  He is somewhat aloof and detached.
• Susan Lawson – Another neighbour invited to the party, she is quiet and reserved, often overshadowed by the more dominant personalities around her

To register interest and find out more, friends@thegageplayers.co.uk 

Would you like to get involved but do not want to be on stage?

We are always looking for people to help out both front of house and backstage.

• Lighting and Sound
• Props
• Set building and design
• Refreshments

If you are interested, then please contact us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gageplayers/ or by email: friends@thegageplayers.co.uk