BY JOHN GODBER
DIRECTOR: Lorna Middleton
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR: Dan Walsh
PERFORMANCE DATES: 11 – 21 JUNE, 2025
REHEARSALS WILL COMMENCE LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY
READING: TUESDAY, 7 JANUARY AT 7.30 P.M.
AUDITION: SUNDAY 12 JANUARY AT 2.30 P.M.
Do try to arrive on time so that you don’t miss lots of useful information about the play and being part of the production.
The reading and the audition will be held at the theatre. Please come to the Stage Door at the rear of the theatre in Spencer’s Yard. There is access through the gate to the left of The Fold on Spencer Street. The Fold is the large white building with pillars. Head in the direction of the red arrow across Spencer’s Yard to the Stage Door.
THE REVIEW
“Heartfelt, brilliantly knowing in its parodies and often squealingly funny……it celebrates a poignant if glorious past and leaves the future an open question”
Paul Allen, the Guardian
THE PLAY
A fast-paced comedy by English playwright John Godber, Up ‘n’ Under premiered at the 1984 Edinburgh Festival, where it won a Fringe First award and, later the same year after a successful run in London, it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Comedy.
Set “somewhere in the North of England”, Up ‘n’ Under tells the story of a completely inept pub rugby team representing the Wheatsheaf Arms in a rugby league sevens competition where, after accident and coincidence combine to give them a bye to the final, they have to play their arch nemesis rivals from The Cobblers.
Led by ex-pro, Arthur Hoyle, whose only passions in life are his wife and rugby league, the Wheatsheaf 4-strong team (a side of slightly less than the required seven and whose pride lies in their unbroken record of defeat) have to win to secure Arthur’s life savings which, somewhat less than insightfully given their skill, he has bet on them beating The Cobblers, the team managed by Arthur’s personal nemesis, Reg Welsh.
Serious help is needed, and they are forced to accept the assistance of a coach.
Who just happens to be a woman.
CHARACTERS/ROLES TO BE CAST
ARTHUR HOYLE (40s plus) – Ex-player on the professional circuit (in the distant past), owns a painting and decorating business, your typical great bloke whose pride drives him to make the bet which drives the story.
PHIL HOPLEY (25 – younger than Arthur) – English teacher, also an ex-player, fish out of water. Prickly.
FRANK ROWLEY (30s plus) – Local butcher, beefy, neanderthal, hang dog.
TONY BURTOFT – (18 – 25) Apprentice miner. (Striking.) Obsessive. About anything, everything, all the time.
STEVE EDWARDS – (25 – younger than Arthur) – Garage mechanic, team slob
REG WELSH (40s plus) – Gambler, Arthur’s rival, and manager of the Cobblers Arms. The baddie.
HAZEL SCOTT – (25 plus) – Fit, confident, could probably beat the Wheatsheaf team by herself. Fitness club/gym owner. No nonsense lady changes both the bodies AND minds of the flabby no-hopers.
Ages of characters is not as important as the relative ages of the players. Arthur and Reg need to be the Dons. Tony is the youngster of the group. The key for Hazel is her energy.
AUDITION GUIDELINES
At the audition you will be required to read short sections of the script. You will be given time to look over this text with other actors on the day. There is no other preparation required for the audition, but it can be helpful to you – and is certainly helpful to the director – if you are familiar with the play. If you can’t come to the reading, then look at reviews or other information online in advance of the audition to give you a feel for what it is about.
NEXT STEPS
To register interest, or if you are interested but can’t make the dates… or for any more information, please get in touch with the director, Lorna Middleton on lornamiddleton5@gmail.com or for any other general questions get in touch with the Artistic Director, Sue Moore on suemoore@lofttheatrecompany.com
CASTING POLICY
The Loft’s casting policy is centred on casting the very best actors for each role. Casting will always be open and neutral. Everyone is welcome and warmly encouraged to attend auditions. If specific race/ethnicity or other characteristics are central to the story, we will make this clear in audition notices. There is no pre-casting without the express permission of the Artistic Director.
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