Auditions

Directed by: Nadine Beasley
Performance dates: 3rd – 7th November 2026
Members’ dress rehearsal: 1st November 2026
Rehearsals start: 4th August 2026

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Auditions in the theatre lounge are on

Tuesday 30th June at 7pm
Thursday 2nd July at 7pm

And there will be another session in the Harlequin Room at Harborough Theatre on

Tuesday 14th July at 7pm

In this very funny and deeply human exploration of family, faith, tradition and tolerance, David Highland, a Devonshire Parish priest, with a propensity for drink and a wandering eye, a kind man with good standing in the community, finds his faith and determination challenged as he feels compelled to take an unpopular stand in the organisation of a funeral for a young girl. As he finds himself isolated from social media fuelled public opinion regarding Disney balloons, the cracks and disorder in his own family life become ever more apparent, and David faces a future that could threaten everything he holds dear.

The cast of 9 includes 3 men and 6 women. Age stated is playing age and can be flexible, as the important part is a convincing character.

Although some roles are obviously larger than others I prefer to work in a team, where size of role or number of words said is not the defining issue. To me everyone works together towards a credible ensemble

Characters:

David Highland – Middle Aged – Devonshire vicar. Not a local. Penchant for wine and women. Not sure about song! Very firmly held beliefs, dry wit, charming and self aware.

Lee Southbury – 20-30 – Uncle of the deceased child. West country accent. Troubled, manipulative, seethes with working class rage, often malicious with strange intentions.

Naomi Highland – Late 20s-30s – Naomi is the younger adopted daughter of the Highlands. Preferably a woman of colour. Left home to become an actress. Outspoken in words and dress, cynical and struggling with identity. Loves a pub and stretches boundaries.

Janet Oram – 40-50 – Bossy wife of local doctor. Busybody, snobbish and self appointed community campaigner.

Susannah Highland – mid 30s – Older daughter of the Highlands. Dutiful, unmarried school teacher, lonely, repressed and scared of losing her home.

Mary Highland – middle aged – Steely long-suffering wife of David. Descended from local gentry, she has coped for long enough with her husband’s problems. She is quietly spoken but determined.

Craig Collier – 30s – Young progressive gay curate sent to assist with the problem. Has his own hidden demons and struggles with the rules of the church.

Joy Sampson – 30s – Local no nonsense pregnant police officer. Pragmatic and unflappable, with a good heart that sees the best in people.

Tina Southbury – early 30s – Grieving mother of Taylor, the child. Brutally damaged, fiercely strong and outspoken, whose explosive grief drives the central conflict. 

This production contains themes of child loss and racism, with some strong language.

I hope many of you like the idea of getting to grips with this. If so, please contact the director on 07711285155 or nadinebeasley@btinternet.com for more information. Scripts are available from Owen in the theatre office.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Everyone is welcome to attend MHDS open auditions and be considered for any role. No prior experience is necessary. If you’re successfully cast, you will need to become a member of Market Harborough Drama Society.

Directed by: Wendy Lomas
Performance dates: 9th – 12th December 2026
Rehearsals start: 11th October 2026

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Auditions are in the theatre lounge on

Wednesday 9th September 2026 at 7pm
Sunday 13th September 2026 at 2pm

What would you do if you knew the world was going to end in a few hours? Try to find someone safe to hide? Build a shelter and hope for the best? Or, pop to your local pub for a quiz night and a few drinks?

It’s the end of the world… the last night on Earth. An asteroid is heading straight for us and there’s nothing we can do about it…

The Last Quiz Night on Earth is a play that imagines an impending apocalypse with a pub quiz as the final act of defiance. The story follows a group of quiz regulars as they navigate their pasts and present challenges on their final quiz night. But, with time ticking, some unexpected guests explode on the scene – one with an old score to settle, another looking for one last shot at love. Alison Carr’s play is an innovative comedy-drama featuring a fully interactive pub quiz for the audience to participate in, complete with real teams, real questions and really swapping each other’s answers for marking.

Characters:

• Kathy – pub landlady, forties
• Rav – bar man and quiz master, twenties
• Bobby – Kathy’s brother, forties
• Fran – Rav’s childhood sweetheart, twenties

Playing ages are suggestions only and can be flexible.

This production contains some strong language.

To ask the director more about the play contact Wendy on wendylomas@btinternet.com

To borrow a script before the auditions please contact Owen Brooks at the theatre office Mon-Sat, 9.30-12.30

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Everyone is welcome to attend MHDS open auditions and be considered for any role. No prior experience is necessary. If you’re successfully cast, you will need to become a member of Market Harborough Drama Society.

Directed by: Neil Kitson
Performance dates: 11th – 16th January 2027
Members’ dress rehearsal: 10th January 2027
Rehearsals start: 9th November 2027

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This version of the play has been adapted by Tom Basden

Auditions are in the Theatre Lounge on
Wednesday 7th October, 7pm
Monday 12th October, 7pm
Thursday 15th October, 7pm
(These are the correct dates, not the ones that were in Backstage)

An irrepressible fraudster known only as the Maniac is brought into Police Headquarters just as the officers are preparing for a judicial review of the recent ‘accidental’ death of a suspect in custody.

Outwitting his captors, the Maniac dupes them into performing a farcical recreation of the incident, exposing the absurd corruption and terrifying idiocy at the heart of the system.

• The Maniac, an unnamed, compulsive performer, the only character able to see the audience
• Burton, Inspector Burton, from the third floor
• Superintendent Curry, the station chief
• Daisy, Detective Daisy a plain cloths detective
• Jackson, PC Jackson, from the third floor
• Joseph, Agent Joseph, the superintendent’s aide
• Phelan, Fi Phelan, a journalist
• Randall, Judge Randall, also played by the Maniac

The cast of characters, four male and two female, one either, all of mid age range is:

This production contains some references to racism and mild profanity.

To ask the director more about the play before the auditions contact Neil Kitson at neil.kitson@btinternet.com

To borrow a script before the auditions ask Owen Brooks during office hours Monday to Saturday 9.30 – 12.30 01858 463673 or email owen.brooks@mhds.org.uk (please note the Theatre Office is closed from Monday 13th – Saturday 18th July due to annual leave)

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Everyone is welcome to attend MHDS open auditions and be considered for any role. No prior experience is necessary. If you’re successfully cast, you will need to become a member of Market Harborough Drama Society.

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