28/06/2026
DIGSWELL PLAYERS are delighted to announce details of the auditions for our next pantomime…
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
By Alan P Frayn
Probable playing dates:
1st (matinee), 2nd (matinee & evening) 3rd (matinee) 7th (evening) 8th (evening) 9th (matinee & evening) January 2027
Likely dress rehearsals on 29th & 30th December 2026
This traditional show will be full of laughs, music, dancing and all the usual Pantomime fun. The script is joke-laden with lots of physical and verbal humour
The show has a full cast of leading characters, all of whom have plenty of lines, and there is also, of course, a chorus who will sing, dance and take a full part in lots of scenes. Details on the parts are further down, and we aim to be as open and flexible with casting as possible.
We have two audition days set in Digswell Village Hall AL6 0AT
Sunday 12th July at 2.00pm
And
Tuesday 14th July at 7.30pm
At the audition there will be time to practice some singing, rehearse some lines on the day before getting on stage, and some audition scenes will be available before the day so you can have a look and see what interests you! The aim is for you to be able to show us what you can do – not read every part available and we might ask you to read parts you might not have thought of. We might also offer you a role you don’t even audition for! If you need any additional help at the audition or through the production just let one of the directors know!
We have chosen two songs for Audition:
Good Day - New Hope Club (from the film Early Man)
https://youtu.be/u5y78rHTIOk?si=Plllw-8Gppfghzgs
You Are The Reason - Calum Scott
https://youtu.be/BgmY2MkrY0I?si=fPiKyBjVP9ksOflq
Good Day will be for soloist(s) and chorus, do familiarise yourself with the whole song.
You Are The Reason will be used as a duet, although we are just looking for a solo first verse and chorus for the audition.
Please see below for a little note on singing ability.
To audition, you must be minimum school year 7 by birth from September 2026. For a main character, it’s minimum school year 10. We are aware that some may be up or down a year. There is no maximum limit!
We know how popular pantomime is, and we would love to see as many of you as possible of you at the auditions so we can work out which partnerships work best. We are also planning on having fewer people in the chorus than in previous years to make it more straightforward for costumes and, of course, backstage.
These two things mean that some of you who audition will be disappointed – that is perfectly understandable but please don’t take it to heart. Every actor/singer/dancer gets a ‘not this time’ sometimes – and it doesn’t mean that we don’t think you are talented, or lovely to work with – we simply can’t cast everyone!
Productions are also far more than just who is on stage – a Digswell pantomime needs a whole team behind the scenes to make it a success – from set painters to choreographers to stage crew and everything in between. If you would like to be involved in that way, please do come along and say hello at the auditions.
Rehearsals will be on Wednesday evenings between 7.30-9.30pm starting at the beginning of September and then also on Sunday afternoons from the beginning of November. If you do have other commitments on those days/times that might limit your ability to rehearse please talk to us in advance as, while we would not rule anybody out, availability may need to be a factor in casting.
As always, we plan to make this a fun mix of hard work and lots of laughter – please come along and show us what you can do and make casting as hard as possible!!
Nick Johnson & Simon Parr
[email protected]
[email protected]
CHARACTER LIST
JACK: Bright, plucky, confident young man. (Can either be played by male, or female as Principal Boy)
DAME DOTTY DIMPLE: Typical pantomime Dame - Jack's long-suffering mother, a poor dairy farmer. (Obviously, best played by a man)
SIMPLE SIMON: Jack's daft brother, as obvious – similar age range to Jack (Usually male, but could be played by female)
PICCALILLI THE WITCH: Typical Wicked Witch character, played slightly tongue-in-cheek. (Female – any age)
FAIRY SUGARDUST: Typical good Fairy character. (Female – any age)
RANCID THE RATMAN: The local rat-catcher who becomes the Giant's Henchman - a "comedy baddie". (Male or female – any age)
KING CRUMBLE: Typical King character - somewhat henpecked and a bit of a ditherer. (Male)
QUEEN APRICOT: A little brighter and more worldly than the King. (Female)
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE: Young Princess - kind and innocent. (Principal Girl)
SNATCHET & SCARPER: The Broker's men - typical panto-style comedy twosome. Snatchet is the more idiotic of the two. (all ages and either can be male or female – chemistry between the two is vital!)
HUMPHREY: The Royal Equerry - a bit of a twit. (Male - smaller part, any age)
BUSTER GUT-BUCKET: The Giant – likely to be mainly a voiceover with a later appearance
BUTTERMILK: A Pantomime Cow – 2 people – no lines but plenty of physical comedy!
CHORUS: Villagers, Fayre Goers and the Giant's Minions – ideally 8 people.
A NOTE ON SINGING
Ideally all can sing competently for ensemble numbers. Jack, Princess Charlotte dame Dotty will all need to perform solos or duets. Rancid and Piccalilli will need to lead a song and then ideally both Fairy Sugardust and Simple Simon will be able to perform solos if we decide upon it. Anyone auditioning for those parts will need to sing a solo, others can be part of ensemble singing.
