Directed by Pete Raine
Production Assistant – Trace Parvin
Key Dates
Information evening Tuesday 21st July 7:30pm
Auditions Sunday 26th July 2pm start
Rehearsals start Tuesday 4th August
Performances 7th to 10th October
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 auditioning, please get in touch with one of us! I have the scripts and will have them with me for most Saturday coffee mornings at the theatre – or email me on peteraine13@gmail.com or Trace on tracyparvin@gmail.com to arrange to borrow one.
Synopsis
84 Charing Cross Road is a true story adapted to a warm, witty, and deeply touching play about an unexpected friendship that blossoms across the Atlantic.
In 1949, Helene Hanff, a penniless New York scriptwriter, started a 20 year correspondence with Frank Doel, a reserved London bookseller, after ordering some hard-to-find titles.
Through years of letters, what starts as a simple business exchange grows into a rich, affectionate bond—full of humour, kindness, and a shared love of literature.
The play is a dramatisation of their letters, set in Frank’s London bookshop and Helene’s New York apartment, and covering a period of over 20 years. It’s a charming story about connection, the magic of books, and how meaningful relationships can form in the most unlikely ways.
Character Descriptions
The play is basically a two hander.
Helene Hanff – Outspoken, witty and sharp, dedicated to literature and writing. Single. A very big part, and onstage almost continuously. Must be able to sustain an American accent throughout.
Frank Doel – Quiet, sincere and very British. Married.with two children. Another big part, also onstage almost continuously.
However, the supporting parts are absolutely essential and form a choreographed background to the dialogue between Helene and Frank. Some have few or even no lines, but are no less important for that.
Cecily Farr – Bookshop assistant. Married and homely
Megan Wells – Bookshop secretary
Mr Martin – Elderly bookshop assistant
Bill Humphries – Bookshop trainee manager
Maxine Stuart – Flamboyant New York actress and friend of Helene’s
I haven’t prescribed specific ages, mostly because some ageing will be needed over the 20 years that the play covers, and so flexibility is needed.
Information Evening
7:30-8:30pm.
We’ll read through a few scenes just to get the feel of the play. I’ll be able to give an idea of the my concept of the play, to answer any questions, and we’ll introduce the creative team who will be looking after the technical side of the production.
Auditions
2.00 start but please try to be there promptly.
The auditions will be held in the studio but please assemble in the bar (which can be accessed by the back entrance of the Theatre). The audition process will involve you acting out sections of the script. We may get people to swap around so we can see who works well together. There is no need to learn the lines in advance but do familiarise yourself with the text.
Audition Extracts:
Helene and Frank
Pp 5 “Dear Miss Hanff! We are very happy” to p7 “F.P.D for Marks and Company”
P25 “Dear Miss Hanff I expect you are a bit worried” to p27 “love letters to anyone but him”
P68 “ Dear Helene It was good to hear from you again” to p71 “Love, Frank”
Cecily
p21 “Helene , my dear” to p22 “Love, Cecily”
Maxine
P28 “Dear heart, it is the loveliest old shop” to “I couldn’t stay any longer”
Megan
P24 “Dear Miss Hanff . This is just…” to “Sincerely, Megan Wells”
George Martin
P13 “Mrs Farr! About these invoices” to p 14 “Mrs Farr!”
Plus “bookshop activities” for Megan Cecily Bill and Mr Martin.
I have all the audition pieces scanned as PDFs – email me on peteraine13@gmail.com if you want one or come along to a Saturday morning coffee morning to borrow a hard copy script.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will run from August 4th until the last dress rehearsal on October 6th. They will generally be twice a week, generally on Tuesdays and Fridays, and mostly at the theatre.
Any questions, feel free to get in touch with me or Trace.
Pete Raine