It gives me great pleasure to announce that the March play of 2018 will be The 39 Steps. This adaptation of John Buchan’s novel and, more notably, Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller has been a popular favourite in the West End for many years winning numerous awards including the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. It has long been a desire of mine to direct it but when the time came two years ago the rights were unavailable. In the interim the rights became available once again and both Bromley Little theatre and Theatre 62 have staged it.
Now it is the Matchbox’s turn.
In the tradition of ‘The Compleat Shakspear (abridged)’ and ‘All the Great Books’ this Matchbox Sized Shakespeare Company production will have 4 (possibly 5 actors) playing all 150 parts. As one would expect it will involve a lot of physical performance from all actors who are pretty much on stage all the time. Timing and speed will be essential as well as the ability to perform this spoof with the sincerity it needs to be truly funny. The cast is as follows:
Richard Hannay (male)– playing age 30ish, tall, dark and handsome, British orphan, involved in international espionage and intrigue
Pamela, Annabella, Margaret (female)– playing age 30s, played by same actress, love interest, secret agent, Scottish wife, also involved in espionage and intrigue.
Clowns (2 or 3 – any mixture of male or female, age is open): These actors play all other supporting characters. They include spies, commuters, madmen, vaudevillians, policemen, Scots, innkeepers, heavies. Must be fairly versatile with dialects and accents and be willing to be take on a lot of physicality.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday 3rd January with the intention of doing the read-through on Monday 8th January and beginning in earnest on Sunday 14th January. Performance dates are 15th-17th March. Rehearsals will be most Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays.
If you are interested in auditioning but unable to make that date then please let me know by email or on 07940495474 and I will arrange an alternative time. They will start at 8:00 at St. Francis Church Hall, Ravenswood Ave, West Wickham.
If you wish to get involved in a backstage capacity then please let me know as and when is convenient, there will be plenty to do.
Audition pieces will be available within the next week and will be sent out upon request. Please let me know if you would like to read the play and I will send a copy to you.
As always, if there are any problems, queries or issues then please let me know and if you think there is anyone who would be interested in this and who is not on the mailing list above please forward accordingly. I look forward to seeing many of you there and adding another hugely successful show to the Matchbox repertoire.
Best wishes
Mike x
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