Audition - Jekyll and Hyde
Schedule
Sun, 02 Mar, 2025 at 06:00 pm
UTC+00:00Location
9 Clarence Gardens, BN1 2EG Brighton, United Kingdom | Brighton, EN
Audition Notice - Jekyll and Hydeby Robert Louis Stevenson
adapted by Neil Bartlett
Directed by Leigh Ward
Sunday 2nd March 2025, 6pm
Production Dates: 3rd - 10th May 2025
(matinees on 4th and 10th May 2025 at 2.30pm, evenings on 3rd, 6th - 10th May 2025 at 7.45pm)
Rehearsals
30th March - 2nd May (probably Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays evenings plus Sunday early afternoon rehearsals)
If you are unable to make the audition date and for more information and audition pieces, please contact Leigh on [email protected]
A series of random nocturnal assaults in the back streets and alleyways of Victorian London are spreading fear and panic and the friends of a respected doctor begin to wonder why he goes missing…
Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Gothic Jekyll and Hyde explores male violence, guilt and privilege through the eyes of Dr Stevenson a young, tough, but also inexperienced, newly-qualified doctor who is both intimated by and dangerously attracted to Dr Jekyll.
Along with Dr Stevenson, the story is told by two other strong female characters – The Girl and The Matron both of whom help Dr Stevenson in the search for answers.
Of course, we have the mysterious and ultimately flawed Dr Jekyll (who also plays Mr Hyde). He is in his prime as a respected, cultivated and extremely wealthy single doctor but like all highly functioning addicts he is a highly skilled liar.
In addition, there are several male characters who both play roles but also work together as a menacing and dark chorus known as The Gentlemen (one of whom needs to be physically similar in height and build to Dr Jekyll – for reasons that become clear during the play!). These can be cast gender blind, however you will need to play and dress as a male identifying character.
Jekyll and Hyde will be performed with minimal set and costumes. The Gentlemen also have to do some movement (honestly, nothing too complicated) and singing (as a chorus, nothing complicated) and also help to change the set (and costumes) as needed.
If you are interested in working backstage please contact me.
BLT actively encourages auditionees from ethnic minority communities and any of the parts could be played by any race.
You do not have to be a member of the company to audition, but if you are cast you must join.
Characters
Dr Stevenson - The tough but inexperienced newly-qualified doctor who is both attracted to and intimated by Dr Jekyll. She is ultimately pushed beyond her fears into anger and action. Female identifying. Playing age: Mid 20s – 30s
The Matron - A formidable woman in a world dominated by men. She runs the ward (and with it the stage). She is as solid as a rock: stern, efficient and robust. Also doubles as Mrs Poole. Female identifying. Playing age: 50s
The Girl - My Hyde’s first victim who prompts Dr Stevenson and The Matron in to a search for the truth about the attacks. She is a working class sex worker, illiterate and fearless. Female identifying. Playing age: Early 20s
Mr Enfield - Pompous and middle-aged but hiding some dodgy habits underneath his “man about town” façade. Also plays as The Chorus. Male identifying. Playing age: 40s
Mr Utterson - A senior and well-connected lawyer. Was at school and college with Dr Jekyll and is now his solicitor. Believes he lives a life of iron-willed self control. Refuses to believe anything bad about Dr Jekyll, until it is too late. Also plays as The Chorus. Male identifying. Playing age: 40s
Dr Lanyon - Distinctly old school, conservative doctor. Was at same school as Jekyll but a few years above him. Like Utterson, he refuses to believe anything bad about Jekyll. Also plays as The Chorus. Male identifying. Playing age: 50s
Inspector Newcome - Refuses to believe the criminal could be from the same class as his informants. Close-minded, he is as lost as the others. Also plays as The Chorus. Male identifying Playing age: Late 30s – 50s
Mr Guest - Loves the gruesomeness of murder but fails to see anything wrong with that or his innuendo-laden “banter”. Also plays as The Chorus. Male identifying. Playing age: 20s/30s
Dr Jekyll - In his prime as a handsome, suave, respected, cultivated and extremely wealthy unattached doctor. His silky-smooth superiority hides a profound guilt. He is addicted to his secret experiments on mind and body as if they were a drug, however in public he is the archetypal Victorian gentleman. Also plays Hyde. Male identifying. Playing age: Late 30s – 50s
Mr Hyde - Indefinably odd, curiously upsetting and profoundly chilling – he is the opposite of everything Jekyll is. Hyde is detached, icy, bad mannered and suddenly furious. He is not the hairy, buck-toothed monster of Hollywood legend but is weirdly neat and tidy, dapper in his clothes but the essence of cruelty and malice. Also plays Jekyll. Male identifying. Playing age: Late 30s – 50s
Mrs Poole - Jekyll’s housekeeper with a borderline unpleasant relish for the horrors of the story. Played by The Matron. Female identifying. Playing age: 50s
Where is it happening?
9 Clarence Gardens, BN1 2EG Brighton, United Kingdom, 9 Clarence Square, Brighton, BN1 2ED, United Kingdom
