Auditions for our March 2026 play 'The Unfriend'

'The Unfriend' - a comedy by Steven Moffat 

To be directed by Richard Jackson

We are casting for our March 2026 production, and are seeking the following characters

- The Neighbour – male, late 50s/early 60s

- PC Junkin- male 20s to 40s

- Alex Lindel- male, playing age = teenager

- Rosie Lindel- female, playing age = teenager

Three lead roles of Peter Lindel, Debbie Lindel and Elsa Krakowski are precast. 

Audition dates: Monday 1st September and Wednesday 3rd September at 8.00pm at The Little Theatre, RM3 0DU

Rehearsals for the show are on Mondays and Wednesdays and the performance dates are 11-14 March 2026 at 8.00pm with an additional 2.30pm matinee show on Saturday 14 March at 2.30pm.

Two or three dress and technical rehearsals will be held in the week/weekend commencing 2nd March 2026

The auditions are open to all members of the group and also to non-members.

The Story

English couple Peter and Debbie are befriended by an outspoken offensively entertaining American widow, Elsa, while on a cruise holiday.

In typical polite British holiday-mode they agree to keep in touch never expecting to see Elsa again.

Several months later Elsa invites herself to stay and unable to say no before her arrival, like any computer literate hosts, Peter and Debbie decide to carry out a little online research on their guest. To their horror she is revealed to have a dark, maybe even murderous, past and will be arriving at their family home imminently.

But how to uninvite her without seeming a tad rude? 

A dark comedy of middle-class British politeness then ensues with Peter and Debbie’s efforts to protect their family from a serial killer. 

The play was a hit in the West End 2023/2024. This will be its first local amateur production.

Any questions message us or email susiedrama@gmail.com

Coming up - auditions number 2 for The Noble Spaniard - and look out for more audition notices!

With lots of people recently/currently away on their holidays we are holding further auditions at the end of August:

Mon 25 & Wed 27 August (if needed 8 Sept ... but ideally that would be first rehearsal)

Some good auditions last time, from which two roles have been cast, but all other parts are yet undecided, so even for the few who were able to come in July it is worth trying again. 

The Noble Spaniard, by W Somerset Maugham

Production dates 12-15 November 

(Guildonians have performed this play before to very appreciative audiences - in 1997 - so several of the costumes are in stock!)

Parts available and playing ages:

F

Lady Proudfoot (late 40s/early 50s)

Marion Nairn (late 20s/early 30s)

Lucy (18/20s) 

Mary Jane (a young maid) - Genny played this before age 12!

Countess de Moret (late 20s/early 30s) 

M

Mr Justice Proudfoot (50s/60s)

Captain Chalford (late 20s/early 30s)

[Count de Moret - this part is already cast]

[The Duke of Hermanos - this part is already cast]

Any questions, message us or email us at susiedrama@gmail.com

Open auditions for 'The Noble Spaniard' next week!

We are holding open auditions for our November play next week on 

Monday 28 and Wednesday 30 July.

If you are interested, please come along! It's from 8pm at our home venue of: 

The Little Theatre, The Drive, Harold Wood, RM3 0DU.

Here is all the information you need:

any queries please pop an email to susiedrama@gmail.com

Announcing our November play!

We are delighted to announce our next production - W. Somerset Maugham's comedy called The Noble Spaniard.

It's early days and the play is not yet cast - we are about to hold auditions - but meanwhile, here is a little about the story to whet your appetite. 

A holiday mishap in Boulogne turns into an hilarious mishap for a group of Victorian aristocrats who are beset by an amorous grandee of Spain. The comedy, by W. Somerset Maugham, takes off when a young English widow captures the fancy of a persistent Spanish nobleman. When she deceives the noble Spaniard into thinking that her husband is still alive, her suitor is only too willing to challenge almost anyone to a duel.

More information soon!

2025 HAVERING DRAMA FESTIVAL RESULTS!

What a great night last night - we won the festival – and for the third year in a row! Susie Faulkner picked up the Best Director Award for Goodnight Mister Tom, and we also won the 

Con Chandler Best Costume Award and the Best Stage Presentation. Claire Bailey Day received Best Supporting Actress, Neil Gray Best Performance in a Minor Role and Genevieve Allen the Adjudicator’s Award as Sammy’s puppeteer. We were also nominated in several other categories including Alex Muckersie Award for Best Sound Design, our Richard Jackson for Best Actor; Connor Gray and Ellen Whitney for the Angie Marshall Youth Award, and Danni Sewell for the new Vi Charlton Award for Graphic Design. What a great team effort!

And the curtain has come down on Goodnight Mister Tom - and what a week that was!

Huge thanks to our wonderful audiences who flocked to support us. Every performance sold out and we were sorry to have to tell some patrons that there were no tickets left - but what a problem to have! 

We've had some great feedback and there were standing ovations - a fantastic experience, especially for our young actors at the start of their theatrical journey.

Some comments were:

Thank you all so much!  The play was wonderful and I enjoyed it so much, though close to tears at the end, even though.

Well, what a triumph. The play was amazing. I thought it would be hard on a small stage but you cracked it- again!. Well done everyone esp. the puppeteer. We had both read book but loved the play. Congratulations all.

If you missed out on a ticket we can add you to our mailing list for an early reminder next time. You can contact Sue at susiedrama@gmail.com or ring her on  01708 782118.

It's a sell out!

STOP PRESS: All performances have now sold out!  

If you had hoped to come along but didn't get around to booking, we are running a list for return tickets. Call  07762 133620 if you would like to add your name.

Mister Tom (Richard Jackson) with William (Connor Gray)

Goodnight Mister Tom runs at The Little Theatre, Harold Wood, RM3 0DU at 8pm nightly fromWed 11-Sat 14 June, plus 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.

Michelle Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom adapted for the stage by David Wood