Auditions

The Lamplighters

By Glenn Chandler

Directed by Carlos Lehmann

Auditions: Sunday, 15 February from 10.00am by appointment.

Rehearsal schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7.30pm & Sundays at 2.00pm. The first readthrough will be held on Sunday, 15 March, at 7pm.

Season: 9 - 30 May, 2026

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

SYNOPSIS

On the tenth anniversary of a brutal triple murder, three former detectives reunite in a remote Cumbrian farmhouse, a place as isolated and uneasy as the past they share. What begins as a ritual of remembrance quickly becomes a reckoning, as old loyalties, buried doubts, and long-hidden secrets are dragged back into the light. When a young crime writer arrives, determined to uncover the truth, the fragile balance between the men begins to crack. Accusations simmer and memories shift as a tense standoff builds, exposing the dangerous stories people tell themselves in order to live with what they’ve done, or failed to do.

ROLES

(Ages are indicative but best reflect the intention of the script. If you feel you may be suitable for a role you are encouraged to audition).

Frank Stringer (Male, mid 30s – mid 40s)

A former Detective Sergeant living in isolation in his childhood farmhouse. Worn down by years of alcoholism and loneliness, Frank is deeply conflicted about the case that ended his career and broke his sense of self. He carries a deep sense of guilt and an almost desperate need for what he sees as absolution.

John McBurney (Male, mid 30s – mid 40s)

Another former Detective Sergeant. Physically aggressive and emotionally volatile, John masks his pain with a need for control. He is obsessed with the old case and convinced he is in the right about what happened, but his temper and bitterness put him at odds with his former colleagues.

Alan Michaels (Male, 40s)

A retired Chief Inspector and former leader of the investigation. He’s more composed on the surface than the other two, but hides as much as he reveals. While deeply guarded, he is secretly very emotionally fragile.

Jo Tempel (Female, early 20s)

A crime writer investigating the aftermath of the murders. Intelligent, empathetic and quietly courageous, Jo challenges the authority of the detectives and refuses to be intimidated by them. She brings a deep curiosity and moral conviction into a room full of damaged men.

Billy Tuttle (Male, early 20s)

A young man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Observant and unexpectedly articulate, Billy becomes a focal point for suspicion and fear from the others.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

The Lamplighters is a character-driven psychological thriller, built as much on atmosphere and tension as it is on story. At its heart, this is an ensemble piece, five deeply flawed people trapped in one space, forced to confront the things they would rather keep buried.

Every role in this play offers rich emotional terrain: anxiety, obsession, guilt, fear, denial and the desperate need for absolution. It asks actors to explore not just what their characters say, but what they are hiding, from each other and from themselves. 

This is a play about memory, responsibility and the stories we construct in order to survive. It demands honesty, emotional depth and a strong sense of connection between the cast. 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Carlos Lehmann returns to Howick Little Theatre for his second production as director. He previously made his directorial debut in 2023 with the genre-defining thriller Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott, and was Assistant Director on The Maltese Falcon in 2022.

Before working with Howick Little Theatre, Carlos built extensive experience across short films and video content. He believes that as creatives, we should always be looking for ways to improve our craft, and that genre plays are a powerful way to explore storytelling, tension, and the inner lives of emotionally complex and troubled characters.

 Watch this space for details of upcoming auditions for plays in the 2026 season. Meanwhile, you can sign up to the emailing list to receive advance information.