Audition Notice
Dad’s Army
By Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Director: Melanie Brown
Thursday 8th – Saturday 10th and
Thursday 15th – Saturday 17th May 2014
Auditions Sunday 12th and Sunday 19th January 2014 10.00 am – 12.00 mid day.
Continuing with our spring TV comedy series we head off the Walmington on Sea. The play brings to
stage three popular episodes.
In The Deadly Attachment the platoon have to guard a captures U-Boat Captain and his crew. The
fearless Captain Mainwaring incurs German displeasure when he orders the defiant prisoners be
served soggy fish and chips. This episode includes the famous “Don’t tell him Pike” line.
Mum’s Army sees the Home Guard recruiting women. As Mrs Mainwaring “hasn’t left home since
Munich” she won’t be joining the platoon. So when newcomer Mrs Gray enlists, Captain Mainwaring
is set for a brief encounter.
In The Godiva Affair the platoon are rehearing their Morris Dancing routine as part of a fund-raising
carnival parade. The carnival includes a ride past by Lady Godiva.
CAST
Captain Mainwaring – Pompous - if essentially brave and unerringly patriotic - local bank manager.
The series focused particularly upon Mainwaring, who has invested all his efforts into the platoon as
a way of escaping from an unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, and a stalled career at the bank. Playing
age 40’s upwards
Sergeant Wilson – diffident, upper-class bank clerk, Wilson is nonetheless Mainwaring's inferior in
the bank and on parade; his suave, understated social superiority, public school education and
handsome looks leads to a certain amount of jealousy on Mainwaring's part, which Wilson is never
particularly bothered by. Playing age 40’s upwards
Lance Corporal Jones Jones is an old campaigner who had joined the British Army as a boy soldier.
By 1940 he worked as the town butcher, which enabled him to occasionally supplement his
superiors' meat ration. Jones is leader of the platoon's first section. He has a story for every
occasion, and will never hesitate in telling it, regardless of how long-winded or irrelevant it is.
Despite his age Jones demonstrates an almost boyish enthusiasm for combat, in particular the use of
the bayonet, accompanied by his catchphrase: "They don't like it up 'em!" He is often the first to
volunteer for anything, no matter how ill-advised that may be. Playing age 60’s
Private Joe Walker A black market “spiv”, Walker is the only fit, able-bodied man of military age in
Walmington-on-Sea's home guard. His absence from the regular armed forces is due to a corned
beef allergy, although it is implied that Walker has probably found a way to play the system.
Mainwaring often turns a blind eye to his profiteering as he could sometimes supply the platoon
(and Mainwaring) with useful items. Playing age 30’s upwards
Private Pike The youngest platoon member - Pike, a cosseted mother's boy and often the target of
Mainwaring's derision ("You stupid boy"), is a junior bank clerk. He calls Wilson "Uncle Arthur" and
he has the lowest position at Swallow bank, subordinate to both Wilson and Mainwaring. Playing age
20’s
Private Godfrey Godfrey is the most frail member of the platoon, and as such is the platoon's
medical orderly. Godfrey is an amiable, vague, lifelong bachelor who lives with his sisters in an idyllic
cottage, and is a martyr to his weak bladder, leading to many requests to be "excused". Playing age
60’s upwards
Private Frazer The character is a dour Scottish coffin maker and a retired Chief Petty Officer in the
Royal Navy who fought at the Battle of Jutland (although as a cook). Frazer is tight with money, has
wild staring eyes, and is known for issuing regular pronouncements of doom. Playing age 50’s
Chief Warden Hodges is Captain Mainwaring's main rival and the main antagonist in Walmington –
on –Sea. He can be as pompous and officious as Mainwaring, but is more uncouth and coarse. He
delights in antagonising the platoon, in particular Mainwaring, whom he calls "Napoleon”. Playing
age 40’s upwards
Verger Mr. Yeatman is the local Verger and captain of the local Sea Scouts unit. He is often hostile
to the platoon. Labelled a: "Troublemaker" by Jones, he is ridiculously loyal to the vicar, and his good
friend Mr. Hodges. Playing age 40’s upwards
Other roles - U- Boat Captain, Colonel, Private Sponge, Edith Parish , Mrs Fox, Mrs Pike, Ivy
Samways and Miss Ironside
Additional members cast are needed as Nazi Sailors and members of the platoon. There are also
various other small roles needed for all three plays both male and female.
If cast you will need to be a member of the theatre or complete an application form and pay the
necessary fee at the time of the first rehearsal. All members of the cast are required to pay the
£15.00 show levy. This levy will be collected during the first get together / rehearsal.
For further information please contact Melanie Brown on 07808072480