Adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery from the novel by Graham Greene. Directed by James McKendrick.
Performance dates and times :
Evenings at 7.30pm: Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 February & Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 February
Matinées at 3pm: Saturdays 14 and 21 February
to be performed at the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington
Audition dates and times :
Auditions will take place at the Tower Theatre on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 November from 6pm.
Possible recalls will take place on Sunday 23 November from 11am.
Please contact the Director, James McKendrick to indicate which night you would like to audition, or if you cannot make either of the auditions dates. Whilst we cannot guarantee an audition slot outside of those indicated, we will do our best to arrange an opportunity, time (and rehearsal space) permitting.
Auditions are for Tower Theatre Company Members only.
If you would like to join the Company, please click here for more information.
About the Play
Bryony Lavery’s adaptation for the stage of Graham Greene’s celebrated novel is set (in this production) in the years after World War 2 (i.e. 1940s). It is a dark thriller, set in a time of austerity and rationing where money is tight and life is cheap.
Pinkie, the precocious leader of his older gang members is out to settle scores with a rival gang and the opening setting of a Brighton Whitsun bank holiday, with the crowds gathering to drink, romance and gamble in the sunshine, contrasts with the violence that will soon follow.
There is not a published text of Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of the novel. However, a print out of the PDF script is available in the Tower Bar.
It is recommended to have read the script before auditioning.
Casting Breakdown
There are a significant number of roles in this production and several of the actors may perform in more than one role as part of an ensemble. The roles of Pinkie, Ida and Rose will not be doubled.
Pinkie Brown (playing age 17) : The precocious leader and enforcer of a Brighton criminal gang. For plotting reasons, the actor playing Pinkie needs to be able to plausibly play a precocious 17 year old leader of a gang of older people. The actual age of the actor could be early/mid twenties.
Ida Arnold (playing age, late 30s – 40s) : Pinkie’s nemesis! Ida is down from London for the bank holiday and has a chance encounter with a man who later winds up dead under the pier. The post-mortem states natural causes but Ida is convinced that there has been foul play. A role that is comic in parts and also drives much of the plot.
Rose (playing age 17/18) : Rose is a waitress at Snows restaurant where she inadvertently finds a piece of evidence that could incriminate Pinkie and his gang. To protect himself, Pinkie affects to fall in love with Rose, whereas she is genuinely in thrall to Pinkie. The actual age of the actor could be up to mid-twenties.
Pinkie’s Gang
Cubitt, Dallow and Spicer : Cubitt and Dallow are likely to be late 20s/30s / 40s, whereas Spicer is significantly older than the rest and he frequently complains of “getting too old for this” and planning his retirement.
Wider ensemble
There will be a wider ensemble covering a range of additional roles and movement work. On your audition form, you will be asked to confirm whether you are happy to be considered for named and ensemble parts.
Rehearsals
There will usually be two weekday evening rehearsals and a longer daytime rehearsal – usually on a Sunday. There will be a read through on Tuesday 25 November, with rehearsal commencing on Wednesday 26 November. Please let the director know of any holiday plans etc. covering this period at your audition.
 Brighton Rock is James McKendrick’s fourth play as director for the Tower Theatre – the others being Kafka’s Dick, Trainspotting and Death and the Maiden. Elsewhere he has directed Two, Bed, Road, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off and Work Makes You Free at the Vault and the Brighton Fringe. James is also an actor and recently appeared in Brixton Mondays at the Edinburgh Fringe in addition to completing post-graduate training at The Bridge Theatre Training Company. |
Set Design: Millie Weston
Costume Design: Grace Easterbrook
Stage Manager: Richard Davies