Open auditions will be as follows:- (See also:
THE GHOST TRAIN
This classic comedy/thriller, first performed in 1925, was written by Arnold Ridley of Dad’s Army fame (Private Godfrey). It played for over a year to sell-out audiences in its original London run, and is regarded as establishing the 20th century dramatic thriller genre of “strangers stranded together in a railway scenario in constrained circumstances”, leading to films such as The Lady Vanishes (1938),
Ridley was inspired to write the play after becoming stranded overnight at Mangotsfield railway station (now a “lost station” on the defunct Midland Railway Company’s main line), during a rail journey through the Gloucestershire countryside. While there he experienced the deserted station’s atmosphere, combined with the sound of the non-stop Bath to Gloucester express using an adjacent curved diversionary main line to by-pass Mangotsfield, which created the illusion of a “ghost train” approaching, passing through and departing, but not being seen.
Auditions will take place in the theatre on Saturday 10th June at 11am.
Performance dates will be 19th – 21st October.
Synopsis:
A seemingly foolish and silly young person yanks the emergency brake on a train causing it to stop at a rural station in Cornwall. All the passengers are stranded at the station that night, unable to get a connecting train until morning. The stationmaster desperately wants all of the passengers to leave the station, so he tells them a scary story about a ghost train that passes through every night, hoping that will do the trick. The passengers ignore his advice and decide to spend the night in the waiting room. They soon regret this decision as ghostly and not-so-ghostly apparitions materialise, until as dawn breaks, the young person reveals the true reasons behind the night’s events...
Cast:
| Saul | M | Stationmaster. |
| Richard and Elsie | M/F | A married couple |
| Charles and Peggy | M/F | A young couple on their honeymoon |
| Miss Bourne | F | Elderly lady with a taste for brandy. |
| Teddy | M | Seemingly foolish character. |
| Julia Herbert John |
F M M |
Three shady characters. |
| Two police officers | M/F |
Plenty of character parts to suit all tastes and inclinations!
Rehearsals will take place in the two months leading up to performance.
Please contact one of us as soon as possible to register your interest:-
Richard Pett
Charlie Smart
DARK REMEMBERED DAYS
Dark Remembered Days is a revue and cabaret-style production of words, live music and powerful visual images from the war years of 1939-45, but also reflects more widely on the experience of war. It has been created by LADS member Elizabeth Mullenger, who co-directed Salad Days for LADS, and it is hoped to extend this as an educational project in some local secondary schools.
Dark Remembered Days is a powerful and moving performance piece which requires a small group of performers who are able to work individually and in ensemble. Singing ability is very desirable but not essential.
Auditions will take place in the theatre on Saturday 1st July at 10am.
Performance dates will be Saturday 4th November in the theatre, and two midweek early-evening performances in Malvern schools during October.
Cast (ideally):
| Man 1 | M | 40s/50s |
| Man 2 | M | 20s |
| Woman 1 | F | 40s/50s |
| Woman 2 | F | 20s or younger |
Initial rehearsals start in late July, then individually according to availability during August and full cast sessions during September. Several different venues will be used for rehearsals.
If you are interested in being involved in this venture, which is not a LADS production but is fully supported by LADS, either as a performer or as part of the production team, please come along to the auditions or contact the director or producer – details below:
| Director: | Elizabeth Mullenger | Tel: 01531-670615 |
| Producer: | Shirley Lewis | Tel: 01885-490669 |