THE WELKIN
by Lucy Kirkwood
Gallery studio theatre, Ipswich
Friday 2nd - Saturday 3rd April
Rural Suffolk, 1759. As the country waits for Halley's Comet, Sally Poppy is sentenced to hang for a heinous murder. When she claims to be pregnant, a jury of twelve matrons are taken from their housework to decide whether she's telling the truth, or simply trying to escape the noose.
With only midwife Lizzy Luke prepared to defend the girl, and a mob baying for blood outside, the matrons wrestle with their new authority, and the devil in their midst.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Online Information Evening -
Sunday 8th November 7-8:30pm
This will be held on Google Meet and is an opportunity to chat with the director, Dan, about the show and the audition process. If you would like to attend please email us on hello@cre8theatreproductions.co.uk or click the button for us to send you the meeting link.
Auditions -
Monday 16th & Thursday 19th November
7:30-10pm @ Freedom Church, IP31 2RU
This will be a workshop style audition, where you will work both collaboratively and individually to perform sections of the show, along with exercises to explore characterisation and relationships. You will only be required for one of the evenings and this will be assigned on completion of your audition form.
There is a show fee of £85 which includes your professional headshots or £75 if you already have a professional colour headshot.
TO SIGN UP TO AUDITION PLEASE COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE
You will be emailed out further audition the week before to help you prepare
All performers must be over 16 years old at the time of performance and if in education, be in year 12 or equivalent
Show Week
Technical Rehearsal - Wednesday 31st March 6:30-10pm
Dress Rehearsal - Thursday 1st April 6:30-10pm
Show 1 - Friday 2nd April 6:00pm Arrival - 7:30pm Show
Show 2 - Saturday 3rd April 1:00pm Arrival -2:30pm Show
Show 2 - Saturday 3rd April 5:30pm Arrival - 7:00pm Show
All of the following dates will take place at Gallery Studio Theatre, Ipswich
You will be needed for all of these dates
CHARACTERS
The Accused
SALLY POPPY - Murderer, 21, married to Fred and lives in Mertfield. Went off with Thomas McKay from Scotland having worked for the Wax’s as their laundry maid (was dismissed for stealing). Before that she worked for the Bray family as nursery maid to the children. Her family have a reputation in the village for being poor and lower class. She has had 2 previous miscarriages.
The Jury Of Matrons
ELIZABETH (LIZZY) LUKE - the midwife, thirty-five years old, give or take. Widower and works in linens. Held in regard in the community and us the go to person for most ailments. Others accuse her of lack of cleanliness and is in a relationship with Coombes.
JUDITH BREWER - Older matron. Going through the change.
CHARLOTTE CARY - Older matron. Says she is a widow to a Colonel of the 40th Regiment and he lives in Colchester. She has 2 granddaughters, has hurt her ankle and she likes boiled bacon. She is the housekeeper to the Bray family and has likely borrowed clothes from the lady of the Bray house.
KITTY GIVENS - Young, Scottish, has had 6 children, but only 4 are living. Her hair is falling out. Friend to Hannah.
HELEN LUDLOW - Middle aged. Husband to Tom, a Draper. Enjoys rug work and macrame. Has had 12 miscarriages in 8 years, no live births. She loves her husband and is desperate for a child.
SARAH HOLLIS - Middle aged. Older than Elizabeth. She hasn’t spoken for 20 years or thereabouts (has a big monologue in the 2nd act). Off the ball acting when mute.
EMMA JENKINS - Middle aged. Married and has a son. Runs a shop selling dry goods and used to live in London. Tries to impress Charlotte Cary. Has been on a jury of matrons 6 times before and volunteered for this one. She knows the bible well.
ANN LAVENDER - Young, has 4 daughter - one of whom is teething. Married to a poet, William, not very happily and has a sister in Colchester.
MARY MIDDLETON - Young, pregnant. Has 5 children and is superstitious. Wants to get back to her field of leeks to be harvested before nightfall. A bit doolally.
HANNAH RUSTED - Young. Has 3 children. Hard up. Husband’s wages have gone down as the price of bread goes up. Came to watch the trial. Relatively smartly dressed.
SARAH SMITH - Older. 21 children and 3 husbands. Knows what’s going on in the community.
PEG CARTER - Young. Heavily pregnant. Married to David, who is a gardener for the Wax family. Happily married. She hates the poor - they have to sort themselves out - snob.
The MEN
MR COOMBES - Baliff. Former thatcher who fell off a roof and has injured his arms, so therefore has fallen on hard times. Wife has run off to Lowestoft, so has an “understanding” with Elizabeth Luke. On stage a lot of time. Off the ball acting important.
FREDERICK POPPY - Married, unhappily to Sally. Farmer. Church goer. Uses his belt.
MR WILLIS - Gentle man. Well dressed. Appears forward thinking and knowledgeable but own invention of a speculum appears to be ‘designed by a madman’.
The Others
KATY LUKE - Daughter of Elizabeth. Interested in comets. Has skin complaint.
ALICE WAX - Daughter of Lady Wax. Murdered.
LADY WAX - Mother of victim. Comes in towards end of play. Rich. Doesn’t say anything. Mourning in blacks.
All performers must be over 16 years old at the time of performance and if in education, be in year 12 or equivalent.
If you have any questions please email hello@cre8theatreproductions.co.uk