Directed by Ian Higham.

Performances: Tuesday 17 February 2026 – Saturday 21 February 2026.

Audition dates are: 

• Sunday 26 October at 3pm
• Monday 27 October at 7pm.

If successful, you will be asked to attend a recall on Wednesday 29 October at 7pm. 

AUDITION INFORMATION:

For the audition you will be asked to perform either a selected monologue or short scene from the play. You may be asked to perform it a second time with some direction or with another auditionee.

All the characters in the play are Irish. All the characters, except for Mr Lockhart, come from Baldoyle, north of Dublin. Mr Lockhart could be from anywhere in Ireland.

When auditioning you should be able to show an ability and familiarity with an Irish accent, although we don’t expect it to be perfect at this point. Unless of course you are from North Dublin!

Please contact the director on ian@nickhernbooks.co.uk  for audition pieces and any further information required.

AUDITION FORM

Please fill in the audition form here  https://forms.gle/r2rtcXg6sqMC64o48 and send it to the director or bring it with you to your audition.

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals will be four times a week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening from 7.30pm and Sundays starting at various times.

There will be a readthrough of the play in late November or early December. First rehearsals, mainly for the actors playing Sharky and Richard, will take place outside of the theatre in the first two weeks of December.

Rehearsals will then take place in the theatre over the six weeks from Sunday 4 January. This is an ensemble piece so actors will be required to be available for most (if not all) rehearsals during this period.

The Seafarer is an amateur production by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

A supernatural tale on a dark winter’s evening…

It’s nearly Christmas Eve and Sharky has returned to Dublin to look after his blind brother, Richard. As the two men rattle around their old house, they are joined by local layabouts Ivan and Nicky - and a stranger, new to town, the mysterious Mr Lockhart.

Over a night fuelled by alcohol and resentment, a game of cards is on the table. But the cost of losing may be higher than anyone imagines…

From Conor McPherson, award-winning author of The Weir and Girl from the North Country, comes a blackly funny, haunting tale of family and friendship, steeped in whiskey and stirred by regret and the need for redemption.

“Sparkling and suspenseful… McPherson is a born yarn-spinner” Guardian

“A realistic fantasy, a wide-awake nightmare. The writing is poetic, brutal, athletic, hilarious” Sunday Times

“Conor McPherson is the heir to the great Irish tradition of absorbing tale telling” Observer

“The finest dramatist of his generation” Telegraph

CAST BREAKDOWN:

Five Men aged 35-65 (ages in brackets are the possible age range for the parts).

• Sharky: On the wagon. A man who has lost in life and love but is struggling to be better. Trying to hold it together but lacking in the confidence he once had. (35 - 45)
• Richard: A big drinker. Recently blinded. A dishevelled, fetid old rogue. Irascible, childish and demanding but with a whiff of Irish charm. (50 - 65) 
• Ivan: A big man. An innocent, but full of anxiety.  A hard drinker who suffers from the aftereffects of his imbibing. (35 - 45)
• Nicky: The local wide boy. Confident cocky, always on the up and on the lookout. Thinks he’s much better than he is. (30 - 40)
• Mr Lockhart: Enigmatic. A different class to the other men and something of a mystery to them. Sophisticated in comparison, he is possessed of a dark and dangerous edge. (50 - 60)

Diversity, Inclusion & Casting Vision

PTC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We want a membership that is reflective of the diverse communities within London. We actively encourage all performers to audition for the roles which they feel best suit their skills.

Where ethnicities are not listed against the characters, we would openly encourage actors of all ethnicities to consider those roles.

COSTS

Please note that this is an amateur production. You do not need to be a member of Putney Theatre Company to audition, but actors and crew will need to become a member of Putney Theatre Company to take part in the show. That cost is currently £30 a year.

There is also a show fee of £30 which will need to be paid by all actors in the production, which goes towards the cost of putting on the show and insurance.

We encourage you to become a member of PTC anyway, even if not cast.

Our company is run by volunteers and we expect all actors cast in a production to volunteer for Front of House duties at least once a year. Our shows could not go up without our Front of House volunteers.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PTC knows that taking part in a show can be a significant financial burden. We are committed to being as inclusive as possible. So, if you would like to discuss how we can help you, a member of the committee will be able to confidentially assist. Please enquire for more information. Rest assured, if you have requested financial assistance, it will have no bearing on whether you are cast in the show.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

There are always other ways to be involved in the production other than auditioning. If you would like to be a part of the production team please email ian@nickhernbooks.co.uk

We are looking for people to get involved with the following roles:

• Props
• Costume
• Assistant stage managers
• Set builders