arcadia AUDITIONS

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Directed by Michael Jones

Produced by Katherine Turner

Moving back and forth between 1809/1812 and post-Thatcher Britain (1990s), Arcadia takes place at the Coverley family estate. In 1809, the grounds are being landscaped into picturesque gardens that include a hermitage. We follow the

brilliant Thomasina (who ages from 13 to 16) and her tutor Septimus as they discuss mathematics, science and the nature of sexuality and romance. In the modern-day timeline, Coverley family descendants and scholars try to unearth the truth about a possible scandal at the estate – that may have involved Lord Byron.

Often called “a play for thinkers,” our production will focus on the heart – telling the story simply and honestly and focusing on the relationships between the characters. Arcadia weaves a spectacular story that will not only touch the

mind but also the heart.

June 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, and 19, 2026 at 8:00 pm

June 7, 14, and 20, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Venue: Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd (NE corner of Kingston and Markham)

Auditions

Sunday, March 8, 2026, 7:30-9:30 pm

Monday, March 9, 2026, 7:30-10:00 pm

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:30-10:00 pm

Callback Date (if required)

Sunday, March 15, 2026, 7:00-10:00 pm

It is possible – indeed it is highly likely – that some roles will be cast from the first round of auditions without requiring callback auditions. Not receiving a callback audition does not mean that you will not be cast.

If you are auditioning, please keep this date open until advised otherwise. We ask that you be available for the full time period, although a more specific schedule will be developed after callback decisions are made, and it is unlikely that you will be required for that full period.

Venue

Auditions and Rehearsals will be held at 780 Birchmount, Unit 5 (West side of Birchmount, south of Eglinton, beside the Alison’s Fine Foods). There is parking in front and near the entrance to the unit. TTC accessible by #17 Bus from Warden Station or any Eglinton West bus from Kennedy Station. However, Eglinton is under construction with the Cross-Town route and traffic can be slow from Kennedy. Please check with TTC for updates.

Please prepare a short dramatic monologue – no more than 90 seconds. Something you know well. Be prepared to be re-directed (to “play” with the text you have prepared). You may also be asked to do short cold readings

from the play. 

Please contact audition4sp@gmail.com for more information about the play.

Auditions will be in person at the Scarborough Players Rehearsal Unit

Auditions must be booked in advance

To request an audition email audition4sp@gmail.com. Please indicate the role in which you are interested.

Auditions are booked in 10-minute slots. 

Once you have booked your audition, we will be sending you forms to complete at home. We also ask you to please email your resume and headshot/photo with your audition request. We will be managing contact, distancing, and numbers in the space.

Our first read-through will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 7:30 pm.

Most rehearsals will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (7:30-10:30 pm) and Sunday afternoons (1:30-5:30 pm) beginning Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Some rehearsals and all performances are at Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Road (at Markham Road).

Additional rehearsals may be added as we move closer to the production opening, especially the week of opening.

On the form that we send you before you audition, you will need to list ANY potential conflicts with rehearsals or performance times.

Characters and Actors

Age ranges are provided as an indication of appearance only, but they also illustrate the age relative to other roles.

Female-Presenting Roles

Thomasina Coverly (ages from 13 to 16 during the course of the play, 1800s): although technically a child through most of the play, this is a difficult acting role with adult material; she presents as a serious but precocious academic, as a

spoiled child when her academic prowess is ignored and as a maturing young woman with romantic and blossoming sexual feelings (she attempts to seduce Septimus, her tutor) – Given the difficult material in this role, we will likely cast

an actor over the age of 18 who can appear 13-16 on stage, but we would also consider people in this age range.

Lady Croom (30s, 1800s): the lady of the house in the early 1800s, she can be forthright, romantic, imperious, foolish, set in her ways… often all in rapid succession

Hannah Jarvis (late 30s through 40s, 1990s): an author and academic (although less rigorously academic than Bernard or Valentine), she is caught up in her own world of research and doesn’t always relate well to others; she may come off as “cold,” but she’s really just how circumstances have shaped her and she is certainly passionate about her research.

Chloë Coverly (20s, 1990s): the daughter of the house in the 1990s, she is “less serious” than the other characters around her, but she certainly pursues her interests rigorously.

Male-Presenting Roles

Septimus Hodge (mid 20s, 1800s): tutor to Thomasina Coverly, a romantic character who is idealized and who has relationships with (at least) two women of the household and feels deeply enough to become the hermit of Sidley Park

Jellaby (any age, although not likely too young, 1800s): butler at Sidley Park, responsible in his duties but enjoys indulging in gossip

Ezra Chater (30s/40s, 1800s): a failed poet with a performative sense of honour but a guilelessness that allows him to be easily distracted.

Richard Noakes (40s/50s, 1800s): landscape architect at Sidley Park, strongly committed to romantic ideals as opposed and overturning the classical, maybe a bit of a “blowhard”

Captain Brice (30s/40s, 1800s): a captain in the Royal Navy and brother to the lady of the house, he is more primarily with (distracting from) his amorous adventures

Bernard Nightingale (from 40 possibly up to an attractive early 50s, mostly he is slightly older than Hannah, 1990s): a don at Oxford, vain, self-important and academically ambitious – to the point of being a bit of a peacock – he allows his

belief in his own (incomplete) work to silence the doubts of others… to his own downfall

Valentine Coverly (mid/late 20s, 1990s): a contemporary academic, possibly somewhat shy and effacing or possibly just too self-involved to relate well with others

Gus / Augustus Coverly (aged 15, both 1800s and 1990s): plays the youngest son in both the early 1800s and the early 1990s who conveys a lot with few lines (the 1990s Gus does not speak at all)

Auditions are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, and we particularly welcome those from communities that have been traditionally under-represented in theatre.

We endeavour to maintain a safe working environment – we recommend all participants in this production from creative staff, crews, actors, and other volunteers be fully vaccinated.

Scarborough Players is an inclusive community theatre company and encourages all interested individuals from all backgrounds to audition. Those auditioning must be non-Equity performers and understand that this is a non-paying

production. We do not enter into any contracts or agreements with CAEA or ACTRA.