BE A
DIRECTOR
Calling all directors!
Eltham Little Theatre is always seeking directors for our future seasons. You may express your interest with or without a specific play in mind.
To express your interest, or ask questions, please contact the Eltham Little Theatre Play Selection Committee (PSC) at the following email address:
playselection@elthamlittletheatre.org.au
The current play selection committee membership is:
James Banger (Convenor)
Chelsea Cornell
Alison Jones
Bailey March
Georgina Topp
We would love to hear your ideas. One Act plays, rehearsed play readings, full length plays, choir, dance and any other production ideas you may have.
Email your ideas to the play selection committee including the dates you are available.
auditions
Dancing at Lughnasa - Season 4, 2026
Written by: Brian Friel
Directed by: Sean McKenna
By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company
See below for audition pieces per character
Synopsis
Set in the fictional Irish village of Ballybeg, Ireland, Dancing at Lughnasa is a memory play, told from the perspective of an adult Michael. He recalls one summer he spent at his aunts' home when he was seven years old. The five Mundy sisters, all unmarried, live in a big cottage just outside of the small village.
Brian Friel's multi-award-winning play is widely regarded as his masterpiece, portraying the strength and bravery of five sisters who dance wildly in a final celebration of their lives, before they change forever.
Audition Information
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the specified times, please email us.
Audition times:
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Thursday 4th June, 7pm - 10pm
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Saturday 6th June, 12pm - 3pm
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Sunday 7th June (if required)
Audition location:
Eltham Performing Arts Centre
1603 Main Road, Research Vic
Book an audition:
To book an audition date and time, visit our Trybooking page.
Audition format:
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Individual auditions.
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20 minutes per person (likely won’t take this long, but allow time).
Rehearsal Information:
All shows and rehearsals will be held at Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Road, Research.
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Read Through - Early June
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Rehearsals Begin - Mid June (weekdays only)
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Expectation for Books Down - Early July
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Add Sunday Rehearsals - Mid July
General Cast Information
All members of the production will be given access to well-being support, and are encouraged to report any concerns regarding the safety of the cast and/or crew.
There will be a no tolerance policy on bullying of any sort.
Membership and Fees
All members of cast and crew are required to be members of Eltham Little Theatre. This pays for our volunteer liability insurance during the rehearsal and production period.
For details of membership, please visit our membership page. To become a member, follow our Trybooking link.
All adult members of cast and crew are required to have a current Working With Children (WWC) card. This will be verified prior to rehearsals commencing. Full information and application details can be found here.
Character Descriptions
We will be open to casting actors who are able to portray these characters but who do not necessarily match a specific age or assumed appearance. Most importantly, we will attempt to find a cast capable of conveying this complicated set of relationships. All interested are encouraged to audition.
Michael
Male Presenting
Any Age
The play takes place in the 1930s. Michael narrates the play from the “present”.
Kate
Female Presenting
Oldest Sister
Schoolteacher — takes, or attempts to take, the position of head of the household.
Maggie
Female Presenting
Second Oldest Sister
Housekeeper — a foil to Kate’s buttoned down persona.
Agnes
Female Presenting
Middle Sister
Knitter — feels particularly protective of her sister Rose.
Rose
Female Presenting
Second Youngest Sister
Knitter — is described in the text as “simple”. Her sisters see her as vulnerable and take a somewhat paternalistic attitude towards her.
Chris
Female Presenting
Youngest Sister
Michael’s mother — perhaps a little disappointed to still be home with her sisters.
Gerry
Male Presenting
Michael’s father — an infrequent visitor to the house.
Jack
Older Brother
Missionary priest — struggles with his transition back home.
Audition Pieces
Please download the appropriate files below.
Michael: pp. 07,08
Kate: pp. 56,57.
Maggie: pp. 67,68,69.
Agnes: pp. 80,81.
Rose: p. 90.
Chris: pp. 57,58.
Gerry: pp. 80,81.
Jack: p. 74.
YouTH
THEATRE
YOUTH AT ELTHAM LITTLE THEATRE
Eltham Little Theatre has a long and happy tradition of working with youth in the theatre. Since ELT’s inception in 1958 there has been a production specifically for youth performers for nearly every one of those years.
It is only in recent times that we have been able to offer any sort of theatre craft education classes on a weekend. As you may imagine, due to the volunteer nature of our organisation, lessons we are able to provide depend heavily on individual member availability each year.
If you would like to be informed of upcoming youth activities at the theatre please email our youth coordinators.
Youth Classes – General information
Our courses are run for 10 to 18 year olds with separate classes for primary and secondary students. The program explores acting and role play, script reading, monologues and audition preparation. We also look at theatre craft and the importance of staging, lighting, sound, sets, costumes, props and how these things impact an actor’s performance.
When available, classes run within the school term for an average of 7 to 8 weeks in duration. Start times and days can vary but usually classes are held on a Saturday morning between 10 and 12 depending and run for 1 hour’s duration.
Lessons will be focussed on various aspects of theatre work each term including but not limited to the following subjects:
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audition techniques and preparation
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theatre craft
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script reading
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script interpretation
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improvisation
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acting techniques
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musical theatre
