Audition and Crew Call:

The Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies

Theatre Wakefield is looking for actors and crew for our spring-summer production of The Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies.

This family-friendly plays tells the true story of two young girls in WWI-era England, who fooled the world with their apparent photos of themselves posing with fairies. Despite giving people hope in a dark time, it was later discovered to be a hoax. But was it entirely a hoax?

This story resonates with today’s struggle with misinformation, and the sometimes thin line between news and memes.
We’re looking for actors of all ages and experience levels:

Major Roles:

• Lilli Barnes – an aspiring photographer, 16, (could be played by 14+)
• Mabel Hallam – Lilli’s imaginative cousin, 7-10
• Helen Barnes – Lilli’s pragmatic and religious mother, 35-50
• Emma Hallam – Mabel’s idealistic and spiritual mother, 30-45

Medium Roles:

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — world-renowned author, 50-65
• Francesca (“Frankie”) Canfield — a skeptical American reporter, 20-40
• “Madam Lurcretzia Spinoza” aka Bessie Smith — a fraudulent medium, 18-100
• Christine Canfield – a reporter and Frankie’s granddaughter, 20-40
• Lillian Barnes — the famous fairy photographer as a grown-up, 50-65

Small Roles:

Vicar, a theosophical lecturer, Zara Mabel’s friend in South Africa, a naturalist, a photography expert from Kodak, Margaret McMillan, Henry Stackpole, Oliver Lodge, a radio presenter, townsfolk, reporters, clergy, readers, tourists, gossips, more theosophists…

If you are interested to read the play, it is available free of charge to read online at Stage Partners if you create a free account, here.

We are also looking for a singer to sing the war-time song “Keep the Home Fires Burning (Till the Boys Come Home)”.  If you are interested, please come prepared to sing a song a cappella in the audition.

This play will be directed by Erik Ewing-Meyer”

Rehearsals will run through the months of April, May, and June, an average of three times a week for large roles, twice a week for medium roles, and once a week (or possibly the last couple of weeks of rehearsal only) for small roles, with performances on July weekend afternoons outdoors.  If you’ve never tried acting, the many small roles make this the perfect opportunity to try!

Auditions will be held on:

• Sunday, March 1st:   1-4 p.m.
• Thursday, March 5th:  5-8 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7th: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Saturday, March 14th: 10 a.m. 1p.m.

Use the button below to select a 15-minute time slot.  Sides (a scene to read) will be available outside the audition room 15 minutes before your audition.  Location TBC.

Theatre Wakefield is also looking for crew for this production, including:

• sound operator (training can be provided)
• stage manager and assistant stage managers (training can be provided)
• set and props designer (training can be provided)
• costumers (you would need to know how to sew or modify clothes)
• hair and make-up 

If you are interested to assist in a crew role, please e-mail theatrewakefieldqc@gmail.com.
(We could use the stage manager or an assistant stage manager starting on the audition days.)