NORTHANGER ABBEY

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.  Adapted by Sabrina Poole

Director:  Sabrina Poole

Show dates:  18th – 22nd March 2026

Audition dates:  Saturday 22nd November 10am – 12noon / 1:30pm – 3:30pm / 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Recalls: 

Thursday 27th November 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 29th November 10am – 8pm (slots allocated)

THE PLAY

Northanger Abbey is Austen’s Gothic satire. A sharp pastiche of its time but withheld from publication until roughly twenty years after it was first written. The story centres on the young and impressionable Catherine Morland. Sheltered from the world and obsessed with Gothic novels, she is whisked off to Bath with little idea of what the world truly holds. Fuelled by tales of nefarious villains, brooding heroes, and damsels at the mercy of evil plots, Catherine reads menace into manners and mystery into the mundane. Can she learn to separate fiction from reality before heartbreak becomes her final chapter?

THE APPROACH

We’re taking a bold, stylised approach with fast-paced, dynamic storytelling. Cast members will multi-role, shifting seamlessly between characters, creating busy streets, bustling ballrooms, and rattling carriages. Expect fluid transitions—from Bath ballroom to country walk to gothic abbey—using historical dance to create movement, and even a touch of stage combat. This adaptation fuses Austen’s sharp wit with gothic flair and Regency elegance. The script will evolve during the rehearsal process, so collaboration is essential.

AUDITIONS

Auditions will take the form of group workshops –  working with Regency dance (no previous dance experience is required) and devising from text. Please email Sabrina with a completed audition form (see below) to book into a session on Saturday 22nd – stating which of the sessions you are available for. If you cannot make the 22nd please still complete a form and contact Sabrina.

CASTING

Apart from the central role of Catherine Morland all other parts will be multi-roled. There is the opportunity for a larger ensemble with actors who wish for fewer lines / more movement, or a smaller group with actors taking on more of the parts. Below is a list of named characters that feature within the play. Character ages are given as guidelines only.

NAMED ROLES

Catherine Morland (18) – Naïve and inexperienced, but infallibly honest, without conceit and a strong sense of what is right.

Henry Tilney – 26 –  Witty, kind and intelligent, sincere and loyal.

Mr Allen – 50s+ – A dry and sarcastic but kind man. He is like an uncle to Catherine.

Mrs Allen – 40s+ – A silly woman with a good heart but not sense enough to use it.

Isabella Thorpe – 20s – A beautiful and charming but conniving social climber.

John Thorpe – 20s – Unscrupulous, brash and rude. Isabella’s brother.

James Morland – 20s – Catherine’s older brother. True and kind, but blinded by love.

Mr Morland – 40s+ – Catherine’s father. Even-tempered and considered man.

Mrs Morland – 40s+ – Catherine’s mother. A no-nonsense, protective woman.

Mrs Thrope – 40s + – A frivolous and scheming widow.

Eleanor Tilney – 20s – Henry’s sister – a gentle-mannered young woman.

Captain Tilney – 30s – The eldest Tilney brother. Arrogant and dismissive.

General Tilney – 50s+ – a forbidding and changeable man.

Other roles – Thorpe Sisters, Morland Sisters, maid, servant, crowd, gentlemen, gothic hero 1, gothic villain 1 … and more….

AUDITION FORM