AUDITIONS Season One 2027: Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall
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MIDNIGHT MURDER AT HAMLINGTON HALL
Author: Mark Kilmurry & Jamie Oxenbould
Director: James Banger
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis
It’s opening night of the Middling Cove Players’ new murder mystery, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall. Lovingly adapted by Shane Tweed from Mabel Shtint’s dubiously written novel, the play is sure to be a hit. However, mere hours before curtain up, most of the cast are stricken with “the dreaded lurgy”. Worse still, a local councillor will be in attendance to essentially decide the company’s fate. No matter! Fuelled by unbridled optimism, Shane and his two remaining cast members, with help from the stage manager, her niece, and an unwilling audience member, forge ahead. Organised chaos follows as the cast swap hats and accents in a flurry of plate spinning, prop smashing, entrance missing madness.
This hilarious and very Australian play was originally commissioned by Ensemble Theatre. In the world of amateur theatre, where passion and determination rule the day, the show must always go on… even when it sometimes probably shouldn’t!
Performances: 19 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027
CHARACTERS Acting Roles:
Shane Tweed: Writer, director, and president of the Middling Cove Players, he’s secretly in love with Phillipa. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Detective Ernest Black
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene Five
Gender: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-50
Phillipa Chidley: Leading lady and Shane’s muse, star of many past Middling Cove Players productions. She plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Mrs Gloria Whittington
- Ingrid
- Lady Smythe
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-50
Barney Simpson: An old school amateur thespian and founding member of the Middling Cove Players. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Benson
- Giles
- Taffy Hemingway
- Colonel Munster
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene Two
Gender: Male
Ages: 50+
Karen Sharp: Dry and acerbic stage manager serving her community service hours with the company. She plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Margaret Mathewson
- Madame Esmerelda
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40
Richard Greenwood: Local councillor deciding the company’s fate, unwittingly pulled onstage by Shane. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Mr Barton
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene One and Scene Three
Gender: Male
Ages: Any age
Precast Characters: None
Callbacks (as required): 7:30pm on Mon 9th Nov 2026
Audition Venue Name: The Basin Theatre
Audition Venue Address:
Corner of Simpsons Road and Doongalla Road, The Basin 3154
Audition Enquiries Contact:
James Banger, Director – [email protected]
PERFORMANCES
Season Dates: 19 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027
Showtimes:
2:00pm on:
• Sat 20th Feb 2027
• Sun 21st Feb 2027
• Sat 27th Feb 2027
• Sun 28th Feb 2027
• Sat 6th Mar 2027
• Sun 7th Mar 2027
8:00pm on:
• Fri 19th Feb 2027
• Sat 20th Feb 2027
• Fri 26th Feb 2027
• Sat 27th Feb 2027
• Fri 5th Mar 2027
• Sat 6th Mar 2027
OTHER INFORMATION
For all enquiries, and to book an audition, please contact the director via email. Auditions are individual fifteen-minute slots, with a group chemistry callback to follow, as required.
Auditionees are expected to read the full script, copies of which can be obtained from the director along with page numbers for audition pieces. Please specify the roles that interest you when booking your audition.
Rehearsals commence November 30th, 2026, with a full cast read-through. There is a break for Christmas from December 20th, 2026, recommencing January 5th, 2027. Rehearsals will occur on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoons, at The Basin Theatre. A copy of the rehearsal schedule may be obtained from the director.
While very Australian in its humour, the play does not require Australian accents. Amateur theatre is a diverse community, and casting will hopefully reflect that as much as possible.
For auditionees interested in the roles of Shane and Phillipa, the characters share one kiss near the end of the play.
Older actors are strongly encouraged to apply for the role of Barney, who performs the most roles in the titular play. They must be able to produce six distinct characters.
The role of Karen’s niece will be prerecorded.
The role of Richard begins as an audience plant, pulled onstage by Shane near the end of Act One. The actor playing him will mingle and enter with the audience prior to the play beginning. In service of this illusion, Richard will not be credited in traditional fashion. Auditionees interested in this role may discuss further with the director at their audition.
Please be aware that all roles involve a good degree of physicality crucial to the play. The specified ages are a guideline only, with auditionees encouraged to apply for any role that interests them.
Author: Mark Kilmurry & Jamie Oxenbould
Director: James Banger
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis
It’s opening night of the Middling Cove Players’ new murder mystery, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall. Lovingly adapted by Shane Tweed from Mabel Shtint’s dubiously written novel, the play is sure to be a hit. However, mere hours before curtain up, most of the cast are stricken with “the dreaded lurgy”. Worse still, a local councillor will be in attendance to essentially decide the company’s fate. No matter! Fuelled by unbridled optimism, Shane and his two remaining cast members, with help from the stage manager, her niece, and an unwilling audience member, forge ahead. Organised chaos follows as the cast swap hats and accents in a flurry of plate spinning, prop smashing, entrance missing madness.
This hilarious and very Australian play was originally commissioned by Ensemble Theatre. In the world of amateur theatre, where passion and determination rule the day, the show must always go on… even when it sometimes probably shouldn’t!
Performances: 19 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027
CHARACTERS Acting Roles:
Shane Tweed: Writer, director, and president of the Middling Cove Players, he’s secretly in love with Phillipa. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Detective Ernest Black
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene Five
Gender: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-50
Phillipa Chidley: Leading lady and Shane’s muse, star of many past Middling Cove Players productions. She plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Mrs Gloria Whittington
- Ingrid
- Lady Smythe
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-50
Barney Simpson: An old school amateur thespian and founding member of the Middling Cove Players. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Benson
- Giles
- Taffy Hemingway
- Colonel Munster
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene Two
Gender: Male
Ages: 50+
Karen Sharp: Dry and acerbic stage manager serving her community service hours with the company. She plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Margaret Mathewson
- Madame Esmerelda
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40
Richard Greenwood: Local councillor deciding the company’s fate, unwittingly pulled onstage by Shane. He plays the following roles in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall:
- Mr Barton
- Doctor Freddie Pennington-Ermington in Scene One and Scene Three
Gender: Male
Ages: Any age
Precast Characters: None
Callbacks (as required): 7:30pm on Mon 9th Nov 2026
Audition Venue Name: The Basin Theatre
Audition Venue Address:
Corner of Simpsons Road and Doongalla Road, The Basin 3154
Audition Enquiries Contact:
James Banger, Director – [email protected]
PERFORMANCES
Season Dates: 19 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027
Showtimes:
2:00pm on:
• Sat 20th Feb 2027
• Sun 21st Feb 2027
• Sat 27th Feb 2027
• Sun 28th Feb 2027
• Sat 6th Mar 2027
• Sun 7th Mar 2027
8:00pm on:
• Fri 19th Feb 2027
• Sat 20th Feb 2027
• Fri 26th Feb 2027
• Sat 27th Feb 2027
• Fri 5th Mar 2027
• Sat 6th Mar 2027
OTHER INFORMATION
For all enquiries, and to book an audition, please contact the director via email. Auditions are individual fifteen-minute slots, with a group chemistry callback to follow, as required.
Auditionees are expected to read the full script, copies of which can be obtained from the director along with page numbers for audition pieces. Please specify the roles that interest you when booking your audition.
Rehearsals commence November 30th, 2026, with a full cast read-through. There is a break for Christmas from December 20th, 2026, recommencing January 5th, 2027. Rehearsals will occur on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoons, at The Basin Theatre. A copy of the rehearsal schedule may be obtained from the director.
While very Australian in its humour, the play does not require Australian accents. Amateur theatre is a diverse community, and casting will hopefully reflect that as much as possible.
For auditionees interested in the roles of Shane and Phillipa, the characters share one kiss near the end of the play.
Older actors are strongly encouraged to apply for the role of Barney, who performs the most roles in the titular play. They must be able to produce six distinct characters.
The role of Karen’s niece will be prerecorded.
The role of Richard begins as an audience plant, pulled onstage by Shane near the end of Act One. The actor playing him will mingle and enter with the audience prior to the play beginning. In service of this illusion, Richard will not be credited in traditional fashion. Auditionees interested in this role may discuss further with the director at their audition.
Please be aware that all roles involve a good degree of physicality crucial to the play. The specified ages are a guideline only, with auditionees encouraged to apply for any role that interests them.
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Where is it happening?
Corner Doongalla & Simpsons Roads, The Basin, VIC, Australia, Victoria 3154, Bayswater, Australia
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherThe Basin Theatre
