(Our auditions are open to all – you do not need to be a member of Partington Players to read for a part.)

We’ll Always Have Paris

By Jill Hyem.

Directed by Andrew Wilson.

Performance dates Monday 30th April – Saturday 3rd May 2012.

Audition/reading Friday 10th February 8.00pm.

This is a relatively new play (first performed in 2010) by Jill Hyem.

The author has written a number of successful TV dramas including Howard’s Way, The House of Elliott and Tenko. She detected a need to write strong parts for women – hence We’ll Always Have Paris.

The play centres on the relationships between three English ex-school friends (now ‘ladies of a certain age’), two of whom live in Paris while the third is visiting from England. The play is set in Nancy’s 6th floor Parisian apartment, owned by the formidable Mme Boussiron and maintained by the amiable handyman Charlot, an out-of-work actor. The play has many humorous moments and some touching scenes. It is interspersed throughout with music from Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour etc. which the audience will no doubt be humming as they leave the theatre.

Characters as follows (ages quoted are as given in the script and are flexible) I have listed the number of pages (out of 84) that the character is on stage to give an indication of the size of the part.

Characters

Nancy…..73 pages. A single retired ex-headmistress. 60s. Reasonable spoken French required.

Anna…..75 pages. Recently widowed. 60s. Initially very dowdy but improves. Very limited French required.

Raquel…..33 pages. Similar age to Nancy and Anna but doesn’t look it. Has got through 5 husbands and currently has a toyboy. A little French needed.

Charlot…..42 pages. (Male – pronounced ’sharlow’). 50s. French accent throughout. Good spoken French needed but most of dialogue in good accented English. Ability to sing and play the guitar an advantage, but we can get round that if need be!

Mme Boussiron…..10 pages. 50s. Very chic but abrasive. Good French needed but most of dialogue in accented English.

Any questions?  Please contact Andrew Wilson on 01457 868849.

Advance Notice

Chris Sturmey would like to direct The Calendar Girls which will not be available for amateur performance until September 2012, and then only for  a 12-month window. However, before putting the play forward he needs to know whether there would be enough interest from our female members in appearing in the play (behind piles of cakes and jam) in a state of considerable undress. Chris thinks our stage would be ideal for this play as it will be very easy to hide everyone’s modesty. If you are interested please give him a call on 01457 865859.