CARDIFF OPEN AIR THEATRE FESTIVAL 2017
Sophia Gardens
Cathedral Road
Cardiff CF11 9SQ
AUDITION NOTICE
A stage play by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter
adapted from the original TV series
by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer
Director
Richard Nichols
The arrival of a new vicar shakes up the parish council of a sleepy English village
- the vicar is female, gorgeously so, and with a decidedly irreverent attitude to
religion! Dibley and its odd-ball inhabitants aren't yet ready for 20th century
progress - or the wind of change that is Geraldine.
Performance Dates: Thursday 6th July to Saturday 15th July 2017
11 performances over 10 days at the Everyman Festival Theatre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Performances every evening at 8pm with matinees on Saturdays 8th & 15th July.
No performances on Sunday 9th July.
Technical & Dress Rehearsals: Sunday 2nd July to Wednesday 5th July.
The Festival Company Meeting will take place at 2.00pm on Sunday 7th May, at Chapter Arts Centre.
[all those who have been cast are required to attend]
Rehearsals will begin in May.
Rehearsal days are to be confirmed but two evenings per week and Sundays are highly likely.
Rehearsals will be carefully scheduled and not everyone will be called to every session.
Additional rehearsal days may be called nearer production period.
Please note that all performances take place in the open-air.
The Vicar of Dibley 2017
THE PLAY
When the ancient vicar of Dibley dies suddenly the parishioners are astonished to find that
the Bishop has appointed a woman in his place. The hit BBC sitcom bursts onto the stage to
follow Geraldine as she battles to win over the sceptical parish council, struggles to fend off
the attentions of a lustful local farmer and contrives to secure the wedding of Alice Tinker
and Hugo Horton.
THE CHARACTERS
*Note: This is a play based on the popular BBC television series with such well defined
characters that whilst we are not necessarily looking for perfect impersonations we must
respect and reflect the character traits of the original characterizations. The script is
moulded from episodes of the first two TV series and it is recommended that anyone
intending to audition should view some of the original performances - YouTube has
plenty of extracts.
Geraldine Grainger
Young or middle-aged. Geraldine is the bouncy, bubbly, curvy female Vicar of Dibley. She has a keen sense
of moral correctness and will stand up for injustice; she also has a deep love of the people of Dibley
despite their many flaws! She has an even greater love of chocolate and ice-cream... especially when upset
or angered.
Alice Tinker
Young or middle-aged. Alice is a few sandwiches short of a picnic. She has a heart of gold but doesn't
understand many of the common issues of life, nor Geraldine's jokes. She's very sensitive and easily upset,
but quick to recover. Alice's character develops when she falls in love with Hugo, has her first kiss and
eventually marries.
Letitia Cropley
Retired. Letitia is a caring lady who longs to provide nourishing refreshment and sustenance to her close
friends and neighbours.
Woman in Church
Middle-aged. The woman is a one scene wonder. She provides drama at the wedding and immediately
disappears.
David Horton
Retired. David enjoys being in charge and assumes he is. He's a Cambridge educated, upper-class, multimillionaire and although divorced, an upholder of stern traditional family values. He longs for tradition, law
and order and the status quo.
Hugo Horton
Young or middle-aged. Hugo is the veritable puppet of his controlling father. He was brought up only by
David for the majority of his childhood, and it becomes quickly apparent that this was emotionally abusive.
He aims to avoid conflict, and always aims to please, but blossoms upon his romantic relationship to Alice.
The Vicar of Dibley 2017
Jim Trott
Middle-aged or older. Jim has a very unfortunate stutter. He spends a lot of time dithering and rarely
manages to achieve much. He often speaks of his sexual desire for all breathing females.
Frank Pickle
Retired. Frank is very "English" and public school. Eccentric in manner and well-spoken. However, whilst he
speaks exceptionally well linguistically he's verbose and pedantic. Repressed, Frank has been hiding his
homosexuality all his life.
Owen Newitt
Middle-aged or older. Owen is a farmer and has a slightly too close relationship with his animals. He
suffers with gastric health complaints and describes these in graphic detail. A bachelor, he lusts after
women.
Children
Age 6-12. Young and innocent. Boys and girls. We require 2-4 children for a comic scene with Geraldine
and to be at the wedding.
THE DIRECTOR
RICHARD NICHOLS
Richard is from Porthcawl and trained as an actor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He has
been acting professionally for 27 years. Following a relatively recent path into directing Richard has
directed Much Ado About Nothing and The Canterbury Tales for Mappa Mundi. Who's Afraid? (an
environmental one-man show), A Christmas Carol, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella. Richard is a
founding member of Mappa Mundi Theatre Company and will direct The Trials of Oscar Wilde in 2017. He
also sits on the audition panel at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. This is Richard's first
production with the Everyman Festival and he is delighted to be involved and can't wait to get started!
* A quick note about rehearsals: BE THERE! I can work around scheduled unavailability and you will not be
called unless I intend working with you. The Vicar of Dibley is a hilarious show and I know we'll have a lot
of fun whilst working hard.
I look forward to seeing you at auditions.
The Vicar of Dibley 2017
THE AUDITIONS
Before auditioning, please take a moment to consider the necessary level of commitment.
Take careful note of the rehearsal period and be honest about your availability within it.
Although the rehearsal process takes place over a number of weeks, consistent and punctual attendance is essential,
as we will be operating within a very tight schedule.
A high level of unavailability, persistent lateness and/or no-show will regrettably result in your
being asked to leave the production.

Auditions will be held at Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE on:
Friday 17th February (5pm - 10pm)
Saturday 18th February (10am - 5pm)
Monday 20th February (5pm - 10pm)
Tuesday 21st February (5pm - 10pm)

If you would like to audition but cannot attend on any of these days, please let us know as soon as possible

Please arrive 15mins before your audition slot and bring with you your completed audition form. NB. Please attach a
photograph. Spare audition forms will be available on the day

When booking an audition slot, please refer to the character breakdown

At audition you will be asked to read a scene (or scenes) from The Vicar of Dibley stage script. The scripts will be
provided at audition.

If you are recalled, you may also be asked to read scenes from the piece in pairs or in groups

We wish to take account of your talents and abilities when making casting decisions, so it is important that any special
skills [eg musical instrument, dance, circus, combat etc.] are listed on the audition forms

Not being recalled does not necessarily mean you are not being considered for a role

Please note that attendance at the Festival Company Meeting on Sunday 7th May is expected for all those cast
To reserve your place at the audition,
please email [email protected]
We look forward to seeing you!
The Vicar of Dibley 2017
Everyman Theatre Cardiff Ltd.
Audition Form for
The Vicar of Dibley [2017]
Please attach a
[current] photo of
yourself here!
To book your audition time please email:
[email protected]
Please write clearly and don’t forget to bring this form
with photograph to your audition!
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Date of audition……………………………………………………................................ time…………………………………......
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Postcode………………………………… email address……………………………………………………………………………
Tel.no [home]………………………………………............ [work/mobile] …………………………………………………………
Date of birth if under 16 on 20th July 2017 ………………………….................………
ANY SPECIAL SKILLS – eg, dancing, singing, juggling, combat, etc………………………...............................……………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....................................
Please state any and all commitments [family/work/holidays/other shows etc] that may conflict with the rehearsal period!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE [continue overleaf if necessary] ……………………………………………………………………....
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
If not cast in a principal role, would you be prepared to join the cast in an ensemble / non-speaking role – yes / no
Are you already a member of Everyman Theatre? yes / no
PLEASE NOTE – everyone cast must become an Everyman member.
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE
NOTES:
Not cast/recalled/cast as…………………………………................…………………………………….. written acceptance rec’d yes/no
The Vicar of Dibley 2017