Auditions

Auditions for ITR's Fall 2025 Production

The Real Sherlock Holmes by Peter Colley

Directed by Wendy Wagner [contact: wendyapwagner@gmail.com]

Assisted by Denise Paquette

Produced by Jorie Basque [contact: basquejorie@gmail.com]

Please contact us (at the emails above) with the date you would like to audition so that we can prepare a roster ahead of time! Any questions are also welcome. Monologues and Sides will not be released prior to the auditions but we may be able to share the script for those who wish to read it in advance.

Audition Dates/Times:

Sunday June 1, 2025 from 1:30 to 4:30
Monday June 2, 2025 from 7 to 9:30
Wednesday June 4, 2025 7 to 9:30 (call back if necessary)

Audition Location:

Manotick Place Retirement Residence in the basement multi-purpose room. 1145 Bridge St. Manotick, Ontario K4M 0G8
There is NO parking at the Residence but ample parking at the corner of Rideau Valley Drive and Bridge St. in the strip-mall with the RBC and Creekside Bar & Grill.
You may also use the street parking near Watson’s Mill.

Rehearsals will be held at Manotick Place Retirement Residence beginning on Tues. Sept. 2nd. Rehearsals will run Tues-Thurs-Sun evenings from 6:30-9:30 pm.

The show will move into the performance space upstairs at the Stuart Holmes Arena/Community Centre on Osgoode Main St. approximately two weeks prior to opening. Performance dates are November 21-23 (matinee on the 23rd) and November 28-30 (matinee on the 30th).

Play Summary:

The year is 1876. Arthur Conan Doyle is a medical student at the University of Edinburgh; his professor, Dr. Joseph Bell, is the man Doyle always claimed as the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. The two men could not be more different - Dr. Bell instilled in the young Doyle the need for keen observation in medical mysteries, while Doyle was a lifelong believer in using mysticism and the occult to uncover hidden secrets - something his most famous creation would have despised. The Real Sherlock Holmes examines the origins of the Sherlock character using the actual historical personalities of the two men, framed by a Sherlockian-style adventure as they compete to solve a mysterious death. It's logic versus magic, who will win? Laughs and thrills abound!

Audition Format:

Everyone should be prepared to stay for the full time.
Please arrive about 15 minutes early so that you have time to fill out the audition form.
All readings will be done “cold” though there will be some opportunity to work with the monologues (individually) and with the sides (in groups) before being asked to read for the production panel.
Each person will be asked to read their chosen monologue twice: once as they prefer and once with a direction from the production panel.
All people auditioning will be given the opportunity to read several scenes.
Wear comfortable clothing as you will be asked to move!
Be prepared to try a Scottish accent, if able.

Character Descriptions:

Actor One - male, stage age 40+. This actor plays Dr. Bell and the Footpad. He does not suffer fools and is a man of logic and science. He has no time or patience for mysticism.

Actor Two - male, stage age 20-30. This actor plays Arthur Conan Doyle. He is young, smitten, sometimes naive, and often foolish but his heart is in the right place. He wants to learn.

Actor Three - male, stage age 30+. This actor plays a variety of roles (7) including Inspector Brodie, a Bagpiper, a Fisherman, and a crazy croftswoman. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Actor Four - male, stage age 40+. This actor plays a variety of roles (9) including Magnus McBain, Toby, One-Eyed Jack, and a crazy croftswoman. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Actor Five - male, stage age 20-30. This actor plays a variety of roles (8) including a corpse, a dog, a barkeep, and Hamish - the perpetually drunk and dissolute son. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Actress One - female, stage age 20-30. This actress plays Jenny who is the ingenue of the play. She may be dangerous! She also plays various extra roles (5) including several tarts and an offstage shooter. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Actress Two - female, stage age 40+. This actress plays Lady Louisa whose family retainer is murdered at the beginning of the play, and Toby’s Wife, a tart, a Street Vendor and various extras. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Actress Three - female, stage age 30-50-ish. This actress plays the Hag O’the Highlands - a real mystic or just a charlatan? She also plays various extras. An ability to portray multiple different characters is required.

Please note that all roles, except the role of Jenny, require a Scottish accent. Dr. Bell, A.C. Doyle, and Lady Louisa can have ‘educated’ Scottish accents but the rest of the characters are ‘salt of the earth’ people. Magnus McBain MUST have a thick/broad Scottish accent.