theatre building cleaned

Auditions

Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days

Adapted by Laura Eason

Directed by Nathan Hey

 

Auditions: By appointment from 1.00pm, 20 April 2024, at Howick Little Theatre.

Rehearsal schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.00pm, and Sundays at 6.00pm.

Season: 6 – 27 July 2024.

 

Copies of the script are available upon request from the theatre office.

Synopsis

Setting: England (and around the world). 1872.

Phileas Fogg, a man of money and scientific reason in Victorian London, has staked his entire fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in only a mere 80 days. Embarking on his daring journey with his loyal valet Passepartout, they encounter a whirlwind of obstacles and unexpected adventures. From hostile bandits to runaway trains, a herd of buffalo, and a meddlesome detective interfering at every turn, Fogg and Passepartout must rely on their wits, courage, and a touch of luck to overcome every challenge and make it home in time. 

Roles

Phileas Fogg (Male, 30s – 40s)
A meticulous and wealthy gentleman adventurer. Impeccably dressed, proper, and utterly precise. Fogg is a creature of habit, ruling his life by a rigid clockwork routine. Direct and to the point, when he speaks, his words carry weight.

Jean Passepartout (Male, 30s – 50s)
The loyal and quick-witted valet to Phileas Fogg.  A lively contrast to his employer, Passepartout is energetic, resourceful, and prone to the occasional impulsive action. A man of many pasts, he possesses a dry wit and a genuine warmth.

Inspector Fix (Male, 30s – 50s)
A determined Scotland Yard inspector. Dogged, suspicious, and driven by a strong sense of duty. Fix is a man of action, not above bending the rules to achieve his goals.

Mrs Aouda (Female, 30s – 40s)
An intelligent and courageous Indian woman who joins Fogg on his adventure. Strong-willed and possessing a quiet dignity, Aouda has endured hardship but retains a hopeful spirit.

A rotating ensemble play all other characters throughout the story.

Ensemble #1 (Male, 20s - 50s)

Ensemble #2 (Male, 20s - 50s)

Ensemble #3 (Female, 20s - 50s)

Ensemble #4 (Female, 20s - 50s)

Ensemble #5 (Male, 20s – 50s)

Ensemble #6 (Male or Female, 20s - 50s)

Note: Ensemble roles will require a variety of different accents, acrobatics, and stage combat. There is flexibility in casting as the role allocation may be adjusted by the director to best suit the abilities of the final ensemble.

Director’s Notes
I am incredibly excited about this production. It is an incredible and challenging script, set in a hundred locations, with a wide array of quirky and interesting characters. It truly will be an exciting challenge for actors. I plan on setting the play in the round (where the audience fully surrounds the stage), so it will be something new for the theatre. I like to create a fun working environment where actors can be creative, create deep well-rounded characters, work as a team, and enjoy working hard to make a show the entire team can be proud of.

About the Director
Nathan Hey has several years’ experience as a director and creative across theatre and film, as well as involvement in set design, art departments, and editing. Around the World in 80 Days is his sixth play directed at Howick Little Theatre, having previously directed Shepherd (2022), Dead Simple (2020), Cruise Control (2018) and The Perfect Murder (2016). He has also directed Goodnight Mister Tom (2019) at Dolphin Theatre, written two original plays produced by the HLT Studio, and directed the feature film The Operative earlier this year.

 

Watch this space for details of upcoming auditions for our 2024 season or sign up to our emailing list to receive advance casting calls.

Auditions

Apply Online

Laughs amid the make-up in the HLT castroom. (Photo: David Marks)

Upcoming Casting Calls

Have details of HLT's casting calls emailed to you by signing up here

Auditioning

Our auditions are open to everyone. If you can’t make the actual date, let us know and we will try to find another day. If you're apprehensive about attending a casting call, Download a tip sheet.