Dick Whittington by Tom Whalley
Directed by David Manser-Mullin
Musical Director – Lucie Nash
Choreographer – Sam Manser-Mullin
Key Dates
Auditions: Saturday 19th September 6pm
Show Dates: 21st- 31st January 2027
If you are unable to attend the date specified for auditions please contact the director to organise an audition before this date. No auditions will be held after the main audition on 19th September.
Evening Performances:
21st – 23rd January and 27th – 30th January, 7:30pm
Afternoon Performances:
23rd, 24th, 30th, 31st January 2:30pm)
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 David (d.manser@outlook.com
Scripts are not currently available but please let me know if you’re interested and as soon as they are I will provide you with a copy.
Synopsis
A magical pantomime packed with laughter, music, dazzling characters, and plenty of audience participation!
Follow Dick and his faithful feline friend on an unforgettable journey filled with larger-than-life villains, hilarious comedy, and exciting surprises around every corner.
With colourful costumes, toe-tapping songs, and all the traditional panto fun you love, it’s the perfect treat for children, families, and theatre lovers of all ages.
Cheer the heroes, boo the baddies, and get ready for a fantastic adventure! Book your tickets now and discover why Dick Whittington remains one of the nation’s favourite pantomimes!
Fun, laughter, and magic await -oh yes they do!
Character Descriptions:
Big, bold and realised! Come with larger than life characters full of energy. We want to see strong choices that will make you stand out as a part. Remember that nothing is too much for panto!
KING/QUEEN RAT
The villainous vermin. Open to all genders. A classic baddie, big, flamboyant, exceptionally evil. Although they rule the rats, they are not “ratty” in demeanour. Think glam rock, fabulous and camp.
FAIRY BOW BELLS (may be renamed)
A magical spirit. Female presenting. She’s glam! But humble and down to earth. Sparkly gowns, excellent facial expressions. She’s northern, specifically Wakefield. She’s Jane McDonald!
ALICE FITZWARREN
The Alderman’s daughter. Principal girl. Female presenting. Optimistic and very capable, she knows her own mind. A constant positive force amongst the chaos. She’s strong minded and absolutely not a damsel in distress.
ALDERMAN FITZWARREN
Owner of the local store. Male presenting. A little bombastic. Alice’s father, wealthy and a bit of a stick in the mud. He adores his daughter and is quite the character.
IDLE JACK
Sarah the Cook’s lazy and slightly silly son! Male presenting. He’s a fool, but his heart is in the right place. He brings the comedy and should be quick witted with excellent comedic timing.
SARAH THE COOK
The Dame. Open to all genders. Strong comedy role, she’s audacious, fabulous, hilarious and not to be reckoned with. Must be able to deliver quick comedy improv and will interact with the audience.
DICK WHITTINGTON
The hero. Principal boy. Male presenting, open to all genders. Painfully optimistic, hopeful and endearing. We need to fall in love with him and root for him. He might not be in on the jokes, he might be slightly delusional, but he’s good! Must be able to keep up with chaos and pull all the other characters together.
[ ] THE CAT
Dick’s furry companion. Renamed every show! Open to all genders. Not your average feline, must have a strong personality. Encouraged to bring accents, bold character and vision. Open to all interpretations, show us a cat like we’ve never seen before and think outside the litter box.
SULTAN VINEGAR
The powerful and commanding Sultan of (somewhere). Open to all genders. Loud! Bodacious! The life and soul! A warm and charming individual who’s a bit worn down by the stress of running a kingdom and being infested with rats. All characterisations welcome!
DANCING ENSEMBLE
A team of dancers able to learn multiple sets of choreo to support in all musical numbers. Will require costume changes and strong characterisation throughout.
ENSEMBLE
A small group to fill the roles of townsfolk/sailors etc during specific scenes. No dialogue but will be required to learn harmonies for singing on and off stage. Will require some level of movement during musical numbers.
Audition Evening:
6pm sign registration
6:30pm start
The auditions will be held in the bar (can be accessed by the back entrance of the Theatre). There is no need to learn the lines in advance but do familiarise yourself with the text.
The audition will consist of:
- Movement call for EVERYONE
- Dance call for dancers
- Solo singing for all named characters (only for those who have not been seen by MD before. Please prepare a verse and chorus of a song of your choice)
- Group singing for EVERYONE
- Acting auditions for all named characters
Audition Extracts:
Click here to view all the audition extracts!
Rehearsals
TBC