CALL TO AUDITION:

BLITHE SPIRIT
By NOËL COWARD

“I remember her physical attractiveness, which was tremendous, and her spiritual integrity, which was nil.”

Charles Condomine is a man trapped between two wives – one living, one very much deceased.

When Charles and his second wife, Ruth, invite eccentric medium Madame Arcati to conduct a séance, he hopes to gather inspiration for his next novel. Instead, Madame Arcati inadvertently summons the mischievous ghost of Charles’s first wife, Elvira. Invisible to Ruth but impossible to ignore, Elvira sets about causing chaos in her former home.

First performed during the Blitz, Blithe Spirit offered much-needed laughter. Nearly nine decades later, Coward’s sparkling farce remains irresistibly funny and delightfully wicked.

CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
Director Rosane McNamara
Assistant Director Emily Saint Smith
Set Design Tom Bannerman
Lighting/Sound Designer Michael Schell
Lighting/Sound Operator Ricci Costa

SHOW DATES
Production Week: Sun 1 Nov – Tue 10 Nov 2026
Season: Tue 10 Nov – Sat 12 Dec 2026

REHEARSALS 
Rehearsals will start the week commencing Mon 20 Sep with a combination of weekend days, week evenings and possibly weekdays. Exact times and dates tbc, subject to cast availability.

ROLES AVAILABLE
Married characters will be within a similar age range; however, the age range is intentionally broad, with strong characterisation and comic timing taking precedence.
Charles Condamine – 30 to 50
Charles is an English novelist. Sophisticated, witty and articulate. He sets up a séance so he can get a few “tricks of the trade” for his next novel.
Ruth Condamine – 30 to 50
Charles’ second wife. Elegant, forthright, pragmatic, down-to-earth. Aware that she lacks the sensuality of Charles’ first wife but prepared to “fight to the death” to stop her marriage from becoming a menage-a-tois.
Elvira Condamine late 30 to 40
Charles’ deceased first wife and the blithe spirit of the title. In life, she was carefree, sensual and mischievous; in death she’s no different.
Madame Arcati – 35 to 70
An author and enthusiastic spiritualist. Always positive, she can come across as eccentric but is committed to her endeavours to help people contact the spirit world.
Dr George Bradman – 40 to 60
The village doctor and friends with the Condamines. A witty man and completely sceptical about spiritualism.
Violet Bradman – 35 to 60
The doctor’s wife. Not as socially adept as her husband and somewhat deferential to the Condamines but enthusiastic to experience a real séance.
Edith – 20 to 30
The Condamine’s maid, only employed a few days ago and just learning the job. She wants to get things right but her nervousness gives her a tendency to do everything at breakneck speed.

We very much encourage and welcome submissions from people who identify as First Nations, BIPoC, CaLD, LGBTQI+, gender diverse, or neurodivergent.

AUDITION EOI
It is essential to read the script BEFORE applying. There is a perusal copy of the script available for viewing here.

The initial round of auditions will be conducted in-person on the following dates:
Mon 24 Aug, 12pm to 2pm/6pm to 8pm
Tue 25 Aug, 12pm to 2pm/6pm to 8pm
Sat 29 Aug, 10am to 3pm

Call backs tba following initial round of auditions.

To submit an EOI and obtain an audition time please complete the Google form linked here. For assistance email blithent26@gmail.com.

If you are unable to attend in-person, please email the director at blithent26@gmail.com to arrange an alternative means of audition.

EOI submissions close Sat 15 Aug at 10pm, although earlier submissions are encouraged. 

PLEASE PREPARE
A two-minute monologue from Blithe Spirit, another Noël Coward comedy or a play with a similar comic style. Alternatively, you may perform a scene from Blithe Spirit. If performing a scene, please bring a scene partner.

All characters speak with either a London/South of England or neutral accent. Edith may speak with either a neutral or London Cockney accent.

PLEASE NOTE
New Theatre is an amateur theatre company and a volunteer-based organisation – there is no payment for this production.

If cast, you will be required to wash your own costumes, contribute to the show’s social media campaign and assist with production bump out.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Rosane has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English and Drama and she studied acting at the Ensemble Theatre with Hayes Gordon. For New Theatre: as Actor, Hard Times; as Director, A Man for All Seasons, The Chapel Perilous, King Lear, Oh What a Lovely War Mate, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Hay Fever, The Clean House, Broadway Bound, The Spook. She has also stage managed, production managed and operated lights/sound on many productions. For other companies: as Actor, Pride & Prejudice (Ensemble Rep); The Diary of Anne Frank (Voices Theatre); as Director, The Crucible (Ensemble Rep); Prelude to a Kiss (Belvoir Downstairs); and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Voices Theatre). Rosane is a Life Member of New Theatre and currently serves as President.