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.
Little Wars
Production Dates: See Little Wars for a list of performance dates. There is an additional private performance on Saturday 16th May 2026.
All performances will be at the Crescent Theatre in the Ron Barber Studio.
Tech Week: Sunday 10th May – Friday 15th May 2026
Please note you will be required to attend all performance dates.
June 1940, a dinner party in the French Alps brings together five celebrated women writers and a mystery guest. Drink is flowing and acid tongued barbs fly; the threat of global conflict looms. Steven Carl McCasland’s play has strong characters who each have huge weight and significance; it is full of rich dialogue, but at its heart it is not only about exceptional women, but about their humanity and their stand against the inhumanity of others.
Characters
Gertrude Stein (65) American. The hostess. Lesbian writer, unconventional, outspoken, formidable and ferocious.
Alice B Toklas (62) American. Gertrude’s long term life partner. Secretary, muse, art enthusiast and collector. Less strident, a peacemaker. A good foil for Gertrude.
Lillian Hellman (34) American. Youngest writer in the room. A devious, chain smoking conniving woman who is a brilliant writer. Clashes frequently with Gertrude.
Dorothy Parker (47) American. Satirist and author, a biting wit but cowtows to Lillian.
Agatha Christie (49) British crime fiction writer, hugely successful. Clever but guarded.
Mary (Muriel Gardiner) (38) American. A psychiatrist working in the Austrian Underground to rescue Jews and dissidents. A real heroine.
Bernadette (22) German. Gertrude and Alice’s maid – but she is much more than that, perhaps the most significant character, the catalyst for what follows.
Please bear in mind, although these are the ages that the real women would have been in 1940, I will be looking at an age range for each character; it is about the right person for the role, so age is not a barrier.
Intimacy
There will be physical contact between characters and all Crescent Theatre guidelines will be adhered to.
The French greeting kiss on both cheeks – “la bise” – when guests arrive Gertrude and Alice hold hands and rest their foreheads against each others.
Please note, that Little Wars deals with sensitive subject matter; details of sexual violence are revealed verbally.
Auditions
Auditions will take place at The Crescent Theatre
Monday 23rd February 7pm Cumberland Room
Wednesday 25th February 7pm Cumberland Room
Call backs if needed will be on Friday 27th February 7pm Cumberland Room
If you would like to audition but can’t make the audition dates then please contact me on the show email which is at the bottom of this notice and I will try and arrange to see you at another time.
Format:
The auditions will be held in a workshop format where I will be looking at the different extracts and working through them. I am not looking for impersonations of a real woman, but for an interpretation of a character. The interaction between actors is important. Please familiarise yourself with the extracts below for the chosen character or characters you are auditioning for. You do not need to learn them. The extracts will be available on the day as well.
Obviously five of the women are American; Agatha Christie will speak with an English R.P accent and Bernadette is German, so these will be the accents required but accent support will be available during the rehearsal process so just give it a go!
Please note it is likely you will be asked to read for more than one part where I feel it is appropriate.
DOROTHY,AGATHA,LILLIAN,BERNADETTE,MARY, ALICE ,GERTRUDE Extract
LILLIAN,GERTRUDE,DOROTHY,ALICE, MARY Extract
Mary , GERTRUDE, ALICE Extract
Please sign up to audition using the form below:
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place at both The Crescent Theatre and The Old Rep and following a pattern of
Saturday 11am – 3pm (The Old Rep)
Monday 7pm – 10pm (The Crescent Theatre)
Wednesday 7pm – 10pm (The Crescent Theatre)
Rehearsals will commence on Wednesday 11th March.
There will be a short break over the Easter weekend.
Alex Arksen
Director
If you have any questions please contact me on
littlewars@crescent-theatre.co.uk wwam@crescent-theatre.co.uk