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AUDITIONS for our 2026 plays



Gaslight


by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Elizabeth Waite
Season: 13 to 29 March 2026

AUDITIONS 10:00am on SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2025
at the theatre.

For more details about auditions/rehearsals, or to have a look at the audition sides please email Liz at

ABOUT GASLIGHT

This classic Victorian thriller, first produced in 1935, remains a gripping psychological drama almost 100 years later.

Set in the shadowy confines of a London townhouse, the play follows Jack and Bella Manningham, a seemingly respectable couple whose elegant home hides a chilling secret. Behind closed doors, Jack is slowly and methodically manipulating his wife, convincing her that she is losing her mind. His cruel mind games leave Bella terrified and doubting her own sanity.

Just as her world seems on the brink of collapse, salvation arrives in the unexpected form of Rough, a retired detective who suspects that Manningham is not the man he claims to be. Rough reveals a dark history of crime, deception, and murder, setting in motion a tense and suspenseful battle of wits. With courage and cunning, Bella finds the strength to confront the truth and reclaim her sanity. In a satisfying turn of justice, she helps expose her husband's true identity and finally savours a moment of triumphant revenge for all the torment she has endured.

CHARACTERS

Mr Jack Manningham (M, 30s - 50s)
Charming, intelligent, and utterly ruthless beneath the surface. Outwardly a respectable Victorian gentleman, but under the surface he is cold blooded and calculating.

Mrs Bella Manningham (F, 20s - 40s)
Jack's gentle, nervous wife - fragile but not weak. A demanding emotional role, requiring vulnerability, subtlety, and a powerful transformation.

Mr Rough (M, 50s+)
A retired police detective with a rough exterior and a warm heart. Blunt, witty, and full of energy, Rough is both comic relief and moral anchor. He's determined to right an old wrong and expose Jack's crimes. Needs strong presence, excellent timing, and a sense of humanity beneath his bluster.

Elizabeth (F, 40s - 60s)
The senior servant in the Manningham household. Loyal, steady, and quietly observant.

Nancy (F, 18 - 30)
The Manninghams' young maid. Flirtatious, insolent, and ambitious. She enjoys teasing Bella and openly flirts with Jack. Please note that Nancy and Jack kiss at the start of Act 3.


Details for further auditions here in due course.








Note to auditionees: TheatreWorks Birkenhead is a community theatre group. All performers are requested to become paid members of TheatreWorks, and you may be asked to provide a plate for Gala night.

Anyone attending our drama classes is automatically a member of the club.

Check out our membership page for more details.