AUDITION NOTICE: Much Ado About Nothing
WT is committed to being a diverse and open organisation. Auditions are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, and we particularly welcome those who have been traditionally under-represented in theatre.
Synopsis
It is the late summer of 1940 and the pilots of fighter command are taking a well earned rest and celebrating their victory in the country mansion of Leonata, a Kent landowner. Will Benedick and Beatrice ever overcome their verbal sparring to find true love with the help of Don Pedro? Will Hero and Claudio’s love survive the evil machinations of spiv, Don John? Will Dogberry and the local Home guard achieve justice despite their well intentioned incompetence?
Parts for all in this 1940’s setting of Shakespeare’s rom-com masterpiece. The text will be edited to allow for a 2 hour run time and liberties will be taken with the comic parts of the script to allow a few catch phrases from Dad’s Army. Otherwise the text will be purely that of “The Bard”.
We will also be using the music and dance of the 1940’s, so there may be opportunities for singers, dancers.
Characters
| Character | Information |
|---|---|
| Benedick (M) | A pilot in the Battle Of Britain. He has a love-hate relationship with Beatrice. Playing age 35-40 |
| Beatrice (F) | Land Army girl. She has a love-hate relationship with Benedick. Playing age 35-40 |
| Claudio (M) | A pilot in the Battle Of Britain. Friend of Benedick. He loves Hero, then forsakes her. Playing age 20’s |
| Don Pedro (M) | Wing Commander in the Battle of Britain. Superior of but friends with Benedick and Claudio. Playing 45-55. |
| Leonata (F) | Kent landowner and mother to Hero, and aunt to Beatrice. Playing age 55–65 |
| Don John (M) | The villain of the play, is the illegitimate half brother of Don Pedro. A wartime spiv. Playing age 40-50 |
| Hero (F) | Leonata’s daughter, Beatrice’s cousin, and Claudio’s love interest. Very feminine. Playing age 20’s |
| Antonia (F) | Leonata’s sister and Hero’s aunt. Playing age 60’s |
| Balthasar (M) | Don Pedro’s batman. Playing Age. 20-40 |
| Borachio (M) | Don John’s henchman. also a spiv. Playing age 20-40 |
| Connie (F) | Don John’s Moll. Playing Age 20 -35 |
| Dogberry (M) | “Captain Mainwaring” leader of the local Home Guard. Playing age 50-65 |
| Verges (M) | “Sergeant Wilson”, Dogberry’s second in command. Playing age 50-65 |
| Watchmen (M) | “Corporal Jones”, “Pike”, “Godfrey”, “Fraser”. Playing ages as in Dad’s Army |
| Friar Francis (M) | The Vicar from Dad’s Army. Marries Hero and Claudio. |
| Margaret (F) | A friend of Hero. Playing age 20’s |
| Sexton (M) | The Verger from Dad’s Army. Playing age 40’s-50’s |
| Ursula (F) | A servant of Leonata’s household. Playing age. 20’s-60’s! |
Show Information & Auditions
Show: 16 – 26 July 2025
Auditions: Sun 2 Feb (2 – 4pm), Tue 4 Feb (7:45 – 10pm), Thu 6 Feb (7:45 – 10pm) all at WT
Rehearsals: We will start rehearsing in late April 2025.
Alan Long • Director
alan_long1@sky.com
Neil Hodgson • Production Manager
hodgson_neil@icloud.com