Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Anne Beer
Production Assistant – Sarah Hinchliffe
Key Dates
Information Evening: Friday 6th February 7:30 start
Auditions: Friday 13th February arrive from 7.00 for a 7:30pm start
Show Dates: Wednesday 27th – Saturday 30th May 2026. (Get Out on the 31st).
Entrance to the theatre is via the back gate, at the Middle Wall end of Kemp Alley, opposite the United Reformed Church. Go through the door at the bottom of the slope and turn right to go into the bar area.
Contact
If you are interested in getting involved (either acting or in another capacity), or if you have any questions, please get in touch!
Email publicity@playhousewhitstable.co.uk and they will forward it to the director.
Synopsis
20 years ago, Alice Barlow was brutally murdered in her own home and her valuable rubies were stolen. Her murderer was never identified, nor were the rubies ever recovered. Now, in the same house, a woman fears she is losing her mind, as she is plagued by strange noises and the odd behaviour of the gas lighting. Until one night a stranger calls…
Can she trust him? What is really going on?
Although first performed in 1937 this play is a staple of the amateur repertoire, and the origin of the term ‘gaslighting’ in its modern sense. Its themes of malevolence, manipulation, resilience and redemption still resonate today.
Character Descriptions
Firstly, a word about ages. As usual, what the script says is only a guide, although it must be believable that Rough is retired and that Nancy is much younger than everyone else. Otherwise, Bella needs to look younger than Jack; and Elizabeth needs to look at least as old as Bella and preferably a bit older.
Secondly, about the line counts – these are also only a guide. Someone with only a few lines could actually have a few long speeches; conversely, someone with lots of lines may have a lot consisting of one short sentence. You will only get a full picture by reading a script!
Thirdly, a note about hair. (I know, I know, but I’m a bit of a demon for historical accuracy as far as possible.) All the men will need big bushy sideburns and (possibly) beards, with shortish head hair. The women will need long hair but ‘put up’; the maids in a plain style (eg plain bun), Bella’s slightly posher. If you think your own hair won’t cut the mustard, please let us know at the auditions so we have plenty of time to organize wigs etc if necessary.
Mr Manningham (Jack)
Onstage for 49 of 83 pages; 234 lines
What the script says: tall, good-looking, about forty-five. He is heavily moustached and whiskered. He has a fine figure, and is perhaps a little too well-dressed. His manner is suave and authoritative, with a touch of mystery and bitterness.
What Anne says: Villain of the piece, but in a very under-stated style. Menace well-hidden under suave and (apparently) reasonable exterior. Audience must find it believable that Bella hasn’t realised she’s being Gaslit (sorry). Kisses/Is kissed by Nancy several times. Until the last twenty pages he thinks everything is dandy for him, but then there has to be a gradual realization that the game’s up. On the last page he doesn’t say anything, but has to convey first a glimmer of hope he can escape and then the extinguishing of that hope.
Mrs Manningham (Bella)
Onstage for 67 of 83 pages; 303 lines
What the script says: about thirty-four. She has been good-looking, almost a beauty – but now she has a haggard, wan, frightened air, with rings under her eyes which tell of sleepless nights and worse.
What Anne says: starts as a timid mouse scared of her own shadow, who is beginning to fear she really is losing her mind but hasn’t quite given up hope yet. Dismissive of Rough to start with, but then gradually thinks there may be some truth in what he says and then to trust him. Vacillates between extremes of hope and despair several times until the final scene when the worm turns.
Rough
Onstage for 43 of 83 pages; 202 lines
What the script says: over sixty – greying, short, wiry, active, brusque, friendly, overbearing. Completely dominates the scene from his entrance.
What Anne says: sharp-witted, iron-willed and determined to get his man whatever it takes; but capable of hiding this under a genial and kindly demeanour when necessary.
Elizabeth
Onstage for 14 of 83 pages; 57 lines
What the script says: stout, amiable, subservient woman of about fifty.
What Anne says: It’s clear that she has twigged that there’s more to Jack than the façade he presents to the world, although probably not fully realizing what he’s up to. Also that she is on Bella’s ‘side’, but has the wit to try and hide that from Manningham. Physique is irrelevant!
Nancy
Onstage for 15 of 83 pages; 67 lines
What the script says: self-conscious, pretty, cheeky girl of nineteen
What Anne says: Both pert and impertinent. Clearly out for what she can get, both from life in general and from Jack in particular, including kissing/being kissed by him several times. Probably streetwise, but otherwise not particularly intelligent.
Two men
What the script says: absolutely nothing.
What Anne says: Implied but never explicitly stated that they are policemen. Ideally will be in period-accurate uniform. Non-speaking and only on stage for a few minutes right at the end. Could possibly be stage-crew with costume over their ‘blacks’, if they’re willing to grow their sideburns!
Information Evening:
7:30-8:30pm.
I will explain a bit more about the play and my vision for the production. Members of the creative team will introduce themselves and hopefully have sketches and models to show you. We will give more detail about the audition process and have hard copies of the extracts available. We will not read through the whole play, but will read a few extracts from it.
Audition Evening:
Arrive from 7.00 pm for a 7:30pm start.
The auditions will be based in the bar, accessed by the back entrance of the Theatre as above. The extracts we will be using are listed below and hard copies will be available at the Information Evening if required.
Auditionees will be asked to act out the extracts in small groups in front of the director and a small panel. Ideally (ie if time allows!) we will try different combinations of actors so you may act out the same extract more than once. There is no need to learn the lines in advance but do familiarise yourself with the text.
I aim to make casting decisions as quickly as possible, so everyone should hear back within a few days.
Audition Extracts
You can find these by clicking here
Extract A – p4 (Nancy’s entrance) to p6 (Nancy’s exit)
Extract B – p12 (BELLA You see how fine…) to p14 (JACK You had better pull yourself together, hadn’t you?)
Extract C – p21 (ELIZABETH’s entrance) to p22 (ELIZABETH I’ll call him up)
Extract D – p22 (ROUGH’s entrance) to p25 (ROUGH Ah, not the top floor)
Extract E – p38 (BELLA What are you saying?) to p41 (BELLA What do you want?) but omitting most of ROUGH’s speech on p39
Extract F – p46 (ELIZABETH’s entrance) to p48 (Jack’s exit)
Extract G – p62 (Nancy’s entrance) to p64 (NANCY What do you want?)
Extract H – p73 (JACK Now listen to me) to p75 (ROUGH’s entrance)
Extract I – p76 (BELLA’s exit) to p79 (ROUGH When the light went down)
Extract J – p82 (ROUGH’s exit) to p83 (ROUGH’s entry)
Rehearsals
Most rehearsals will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from early April. We will usually be at the Playhouse, and all rehearsals will start promptly at 7.30pm. The planned rehearsal schedule will be available at both the information and audition evenings. Please bring to the auditions a note of any dates that you will not be available so that the detailed schedule (ie who is needed for which nights) can be planned accordingly.
Hopefully this has covered everything you need to know, and I will go into more detail at the Information Evening, but if you have any questions please get in touch using the details above. I look forward to seeing you!
Anne