AUDITIONS
Auditions
Audition
The Lady in the Van
By Alan Bennett
Directed by Graeme Roberts
Friday 23rd April at 6:00 pm - Supporting Roles
Saturday 24th April 2:30 pm - Major Roles - Alan Benett & Miss Shepherd
Please note that for all auditions, an audition time is required for the role you are seeking.
To request an audition time or further information
Please email mtladyinthevan@gmail.com
The play is set between 1974-1989. The action takes place in Alan Bennett’s house, garden and street outside in Camden, London.
Synopsis:
The Lady in the Van tells the true story of Alan Bennett’s somewhat strained friendship with Miss Mary Shepherd, a crabby, eccentric and unsanitary homeless woman whom Bennett befriended in the 1970s before allowing her to park her van in the driveway of his Camden home "for three months". She ended up residing there for 15 years. As the story develops, Bennett learns of Miss Shepherd's true identity: Margaret Fairchild, a gifted former pupil of the pianist Alfred Cortot. She had played Chopin at The Proms, attempted to become a nun, was committed to an institution by her brother, escaped, had an accident when her van was hit by a motorcyclist for whose death she believed herself to blame, and thereafter lived in fear of arrest.
Much of the dialogue is between two versions of Bennett – his "real self" and his "writer self".
During her 15-year stay in his drive, Bennett balances his writing career with watching over Shepherd and providing for his increasingly invalid mother. Though he denies caring for anyone, he slowly becomes aware of his growing friendship with Shepherd which continued until her death.
Cast requirement (all British accents):
Miss Shepherd – stage age around 65
Alan Bennett, the author’s public persona - Late 30’s early 40’s Stage age
Alan Bennett 2, his inner persona
Mam, Alan Bennett’s mother – age around 60. She is in the early stages of dementia. Subtle but can be deduced
Rufus, Alan Bennett’s neighbour - 40’s
Pauline, Rufus’s wife – 40’s -Upper Middle class Londoners. Have had a protected and privileged life. Look at life through their own filters.Social worker, female 20’s -Can be either Young and just started and so is full of enthusiasm and theoretical process OR If older, jaded, seen it all, a little tired of people “who don’t understand”. Either way a bit abrasive with Alan.
Underwood, a dilapidated figure - Anywhere between 55-65. Callous, “bad egg”, not afraid of rough stuff. Accent could be Liverpudlian, north country or Cockney but not posh.
Mam’s doctor - Early 50’s
Miss Shepard’s doctor (40’s) - Two different accents, Maybe think of Doc Martin style for one or Good G.P.
Ambulance driver
Leo Fairchild, Miss Shepard’s brother - Early 60’s. Nice, likeable, “Hale fellow, well met”
Lout Late - teenage -early 20’s
Interviewer - mid-late 20’s
Priest 40’s – 60’s
Council workmen, undertakers…
Rehearsals: Not all required at all calls.
Tue 27 April 2020 7 pm read-through
Tue and Thurs commencing 29 April 7 pm
Sunday
rehearsals are from 1pm on
6th June
27th June (HOLD)
4th July
11th July
18th July
25 July
TECH WEEK 25th July Sun/Mon/Tues/ Wed/ HOLD Thurs.29th July
Fri 30 July 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sat 31 Julyt 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sun 1 August 1 pm call for 2 pm show
Fri 6 August 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sat 7 August 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sun 8 August 1 pm call for 2 pm show
Fri 13 August 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sat 14 August 6:30 pm call for 7:30 pm show
Sun 15 August 1 pm call for 2 pm show, afterwards clean-up and after-party