Current Auditions:
Want to be involved but don’t want to act? There’s always plenty to do backstage – see our membership page for details.
Non-members are welcome but please read the notes on this page.
Membership Commitment – as part of your membership we expect all members to support the theatre by assisting with our Front of House Operations when the theatre is open for performances by either Stewarding, working on the Bar or Coffee Bar. We term this as a “Duty” and members are expected to do eight “Duties” per membership year.
New Members will be asked to do three duties before the run of any production they are cast in. Existing members should ensure that they have fulfilled their quota of duties before auditioning or they may not be considered for a production. All members should do a minimum of three duties within a four month period.
The Crescent Theatre is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities within the theatre, and affiliated projects, through the way we manage the venue and provide services to the community. No person should experience discrimination or lack of opportunities on the grounds of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. In the provision of services and in regards to the membership and visiting companies, the Crescent Theatre is committed to promoting equal opportunities for everyone. Click here for our Statement of Commitment on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. If you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to access an audition, you can let us know in advance by filling in an online audition form.
Please note the opportunities below are unpaid
Please note
While auditions are intended for members, non-members are welcome to attend on the understanding that, if successful in reading for a part, you would be expected to become a member of the theatre. This entitles you to take part in all theatre activities and to concessionary ticket prices. In return you will be expected to attend all rehearsals and performances and to undertake your required allocation of front of house duties. Your membership subscription must be paid by the end of the second rehearsal. Membership fees for a year are £60 (£25 if unwaged). More details on Crescent Membership can be found in the membership pages.
Unless stated otherwise, the venue for all readings and auditions is the Crescent Theatre.
When We Are Married
Production Dates: See Event Details – When We Are Married for a full list of performance dates.
All performances will be at the Crescent Theatre in the Ron Barber Studio.
Tech Week: Sunday 15th February – Friday 20th February 2026
Please note you will be required to attend all performance dates.
When We Are Married is a classic Edwardian farce by J B Priestley. Three couple, respective pillars of the community, all married on the same day by the same vicar, are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary when they discover to their horror the vicar in question was not qualified and they have in fact been living in sin for the past 25 years. In their eyes, the worst thing possible.
Hilarity and chaos ensues as they desperately try to stop the scandalous news spreading throughout the town, not an easy task with a viciously disgruntled charwoman, inquisitive journalist and drunk phototopographer popping in at regular intervals. Throughout the evening home truths are told, secrets are revealed and each of the couples starts to reassess their supposedly happy marriages. I’m looking for an enthusiastic cast who can bring these eccentric and colourful characters to life in this fast paced and high energy comedy.
The action all takes place one evening in the Helliwell’s sitting room at their home in the fictional town of Cleckleywyke, in the West Riding of Yorkshire in the early 1900s.
For those interested there is a very good BBC TV Movie version from 1987 on YouTube.
Characters
Please note: All characters (except Gerald) speak with a strong Yorkshire accent. Gerald has with a southern RP (Received Pronunciation) accent.
ALDERMAN JOSEPH HELLIWELL: (40s – 70s) Arrogant, conceited, thinks he is the cats’ pyjamas and far too pleased with himself for his own good. A natural host and leader. Generally level-headed and often the one to take control, ordering the other about.
MARIA HELLIWELL (40s – 70s) Helliwell’s wife. In constant game of one-upmanship with her husband and often ticking him off for various things.
COUNCILLOR ALBERT PARKER: (40s – 70s) Pompous, sententious and self- serious with no idea of how ridiculous he is. Gets very easily het up about things and prone to go into long winded tirades and speeches. Described as dull, dreary and stingy. Probably the most ridiculous and over the top of the three men.
ANNIE PARKER: (40s – 70s) Parker’s long-suffering wife. A gentle and hopeful soul. Tries to make the best with her lot in life. Calm, collected and fair but with a melancholy air about her. The most level-headed of the three women, and the only one of all six to see the funny side of the whole ordeal.
HERBERT SOPPITT: (40s – 70s) The hen-pecked husband. A bit of a pushover who through the course of the play learns to stand up for himself. Although quiet and somewhat reserved, more through force that choice, he is often the most rational and genuine of the three men. Generally looked down on and shunned by the others.
CLARA SOPPITT: (40s – 70s) Soppitt’s wife. “A noisy woman” to quote Priestley himself. Bossy, headstrong, stands no nonsense and a bit of a bully, particularly towards her husband. It is she who wears the trousers in their relationship.
HENRY ORMONROYD: (40s – 60s) A drunk photographer who has come to take a photograph of the three couples. He gets progressively drunker throughout the show. A bit of a philosopher; sentimental, nostalgic, almost wistful but jolly and determined to enjoy life. He is the antithesis of the three couples, there is no pomp and ceremony about him, he is down to earth and real. This role will be doubled with the small part of the MAYOR.
RUBY BIRTLE: (Late teens – 30s) The Helliwell’s young maid. Talkative, innocent and naive but well meaning, confident, inquisitive and somewhat cheeky. She often has to clean up after the others messes. And takes most of the flack from various characters.
GERALD FORBES: (20s – 30s) Nancy’s secret fiancée. The new organist at the local chapel. Who the three men intend to take town a peg or two for being seen out with a young lady (who they don’t know is Nancy) late at night. A pleasant young man. Confident, able to hold his own, quick witted and not afraid of the three men. It’s Gerald who delivers the devastating news and he takes great delight in watching the three arrogant men squirm under their misfortune.
MRS NORTHTOP: (30s+) The Helliwell’s hired charwoman. Aggressive, vicious, and manipulative but cheeky and humorous. She wants to use the couple’s unfortunate situation to her own gain.
LOTTIE GRADY: (40s – 60s) A cheeky and convivial barmaid who come to make trouble by revealing she has previously had an affair with Helliwell. She is a real rough diamond but also a kindly and caring sort. She is an old flame of Ormonroyd’s.
NANCY HOLMES: (20s – 30s) The Helliwell’s niece. Secretly engaged to Gerald. Genuine, kind and gentle; very unlike her uncle and aunt.
FRED DYSON/REV CLEMENT MERCER: (Any age) These parts will be doubled. A well-meaning but inquisitive reporter for the local paper who has come to interview the ‘happy’ couples and a grave parson respectively.
Intimacy
- Nancy and Gerald kiss, hold hands and hug.
- There are a couple of slaps between Soppitt and Clara.
- Soppitt puts his arm around Annie.
- There will likely be hugs, hand holding and kisses on the cheek between Lottie and Ormonroyd and between the three main couples.
The theatres intimacy policy will be followed at all time and you will not be asked to do anything you are uncomfortable with. You will not be asked to engage in any sort of intimacy during the audition.
Auditions
Sunday 23rd November at 2pm (Cumberland Room)
Monday 24th November at 7pm (Cumberland Room)
Call Backs, if needed, will be on Friday 28th November at 7pm (Cumberland Room)
Format: Please familiarise yourself with the piece(s) that you are auditioning for but you do not need to learn them. Audition extracts will be provided at the audition.
If have any questions, or are unable to make either audition, please email me at wwam@crescent-theatre.co.uk
EXTRACT 1: Lottie, Maria, Annie and Clara
EXTRACT 2: Helliwell, Maria, Parker, Annie, Soppitt and Clara
EXTRACT 4: Ruby, Gerald and Mrs Northrop
EXTRACT 5: Nancy, Gerald, Dyson and Oromonroyd
EXTRACT 6: Helliwell, Parker and Soppitt
Please sign up to audition using the form below:
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place at the Crescent Theatre starting on Sunday 14th December from 10am to 2pm and will then follow the pattern of:
Monday evenings 7pm to 10pm
Thursday evenings 7pm to 10pm
Sunday afternoons 2pm to 6pm.
There is a break over Christmas.
Nathan Hawkins
Director