Auditions

(PLAY)
By Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer

The accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society attempts to stage a traditional British murder mystery, but everything that can go wrong does: collapsing sets, missed cues, broken props, forgotten lines, backstage feuds, and increasingly desperate actors trying to keep the show alive. As the performance spirals into chaos, the actors’ determination only makes the disaster funnier. 

Please direct questions to casting@virginiarep.org.

General Information

Casting Personnel:

Director – Paul Takács

Artistic Director – Rick Hammerly

Audition Location:   November Theatre Complex

114 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220

Callback Location:   November Theatre Complex

114 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220

Audition Schedule

Open Call Auditions: Monday, July 6, 2026 (6:00-10:00PM) and Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (6:00-10:00PM)

In Person Callback (in Richmond, Virginia): Sunday, July 12, 2026 (6:00-10:00PM)

Rehearsal & Performance Dates

Rehearsals begin: August 17, 2026

Performance run: September 16 – October 18, 2026

To schedule an audition appointment:

• Please fill out an audition form through THIS LINK.
• In Person Auditions & Callbacks will be held in Richmond, VA. You will be notified via email after your initial audition if you need to attend a callback audition.

What to prepare:

Please select two pieces from the range of offerings found at THIS LINK  and be prepared to present them. Memorization is not required, but familiarity is encouraged. Printed copies will be available at the audition.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

In casting The Play That Goes Wrong, Virginia Repertory Theatre endeavors to be as inclusive as possible. We invite all performers, including gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors, to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities.

Note: Actors play members of the Cornley Drama Society who are themselves playing characters in the murder mystery. Strong comic specificity and the ability to sustain dual-layer characterization are essential.

CHRIS BEAN / INSPECTOR CARTER

Male-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
Head of the drama society and director of the production. Chris desperately wants the show to feel prestigious and professional despite the mounting catastrophe. As Inspector Carter, he attempts to maintain the dignity of a classic detective story while internally unraveling. Earnest, high-strung, controlling, and increasingly frantic.

Notes: Excellent farce technique required. Strong physical comedy, improvisational flexibility, and precision timing essential. Actor must sustain escalating panic while remaining emotionally committed to “the play within the play.”

ROBERT GROVE / THOMAS COLLEYMOORE

Male-presenting, 20s–50s. Any ethnicity.
 A performer who takes himself extremely seriously despite limited talent. Robert believes he is delivering a sophisticated leading-man performance and is deeply invested in theatrical gravitas. As Thomas Colleymoore, he plays the deceased fiancé at the center of the mystery.

Notes: Requires deadpan confidence and commitment. Strong understanding of comic overacting and melodrama.

DENNIS TYDE / PERKINS

Male-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
 Nervous, eager, and catastrophically bad at remembering lines. Dennis desperately wants to help but continually makes things worse. His panic escalates as the production collapses around him. Lovable under pressure.

Notes: Strong verbal comedy and panic-energy control required. Actor should excel at intentional mistakes delivered with absolute sincerity.

MAX BENNETT / CECIL HAVERSHAM / ARTHUR THE GARDENER

Male-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
 Good-looking, cheerful, and blissfully unaware of how bad the production is going. Max enjoys performing more than anyone else onstage and remains delighted by audience response, even when things fail spectacularly. Infectiously enthusiastic.

Notes: Natural charm essential. Strong audience awareness and comedic innocence required.

TREVOR WATSON

Male-presenting, any age adult. Any ethnicity.
 The exhausted lighting and sound operator reluctantly pulled into the chaos. Dry, deadpan, and technically overwhelmed. Often functions as an unwilling participant rather than a performer.

Notes: Excellent reactive comedy and understated timing essential. Minimalism and restraint are key.

ANNIE TWILLOIL / SANDRA WILKINSON

Female-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
 The company’s overworked stage manager forced to step into performance duties. Annie is practical, competent, and increasingly furious as the production falls apart. As Sandra, she attempts glamorous leading-lady sophistication while visibly underprepared.

Notes: Strong physical comedy and improvisational responsiveness required. Must balance backstage realism with theatrical parody.

SANDRA WILKINSON / FLORENCE COLLEYMOORE

Female-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
 An ambitious performer who believes herself destined for greater things. Self-involved, melodramatic, and highly conscious of stage presence. As Florence, she leans fully into overwrought murder-mystery acting.

Notes: Actor must excel at heightened theatrical parody while remaining grounded enough for the comedy to land. Strong farce instincts required.

JONATHAN HARRIS / CHARLES HAVERSHAM

Male-presenting, 20s–40s. Any ethnicity.
 The actor playing the corpse. Earnest, anxious, and increasingly frustrated by the impossible demands of remaining “dead” while chaos erupts around him. Much of the role’s comedy is physical and reactive.

Notes: Exceptional physical control and stamina required. Strong clowning and nonverbal comedy skills beneficial.

Tone & Style

The comedy is rooted in total commitment. The actors must never “wink” at the audience; the humor comes from desperate attempts to preserve professionalism amid catastrophe. Precision, rhythm, and technical discipline are essential. The style combines British farce, clown work, slapstick, and ensemble-based physical comedy.

Please direct questions to casting@virginiarep.org.