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Current Audition Notices
BREAKING THE CODE
Breaking the Code is a biographical drama by Hugh Whitemore. It tells the story of Alan Turing (1912–1954), the mathematician who cracked the German Enigma code and pioneered the ideas that became modern computing.
The play is not only about his scientific brilliance but also about his personal life, particularly his relationships with men in a society that criminalised homosexuality. It is a play about truth: the truths we tell, the truths we hide, and the cost of honesty.
Its themes include the clash between private life and public duty, prejudice and injustice in mid-20th-century Britain, the search for honesty in a society that punishes difference, and the intersection of genius and vulnerability.
PERFORMANCE DATES: 21st – 26th JULY 2026
REHEARSAL PERIOD: 17th MAY – 20th JULY 2026
You will be called to rehearsal up to 3 times a week during the first 6 weeks, increasing to 4 or 5 times during weeks 7-9; you will also need to be available for publicity activities and costume fittings – times to be determined; the actor cast as Turing is likely be required to attend additional rehearsal outside of full cast rehearsals. Full rehearsal schedules will be issued with audition materials.
AUDITION DATES:
Monday 13th April – evening
Friday 17th April – evening
Sunday 19th April – afternoon & early evening
Friday 24th April – evening
Sunday 26th April – afternoon & early evening (including callbacks)
Please download the Auditions Submission Form from the Maddermarket Theatre website. Complete and return it as an attachment to jen.alexander@maddermarket.org
Excerpts from the text will be provided by email when your audition time is confirmed, you do not need to learn this.
Open auditions will initially be held individually, and shortlisted applicants will be asked to attend a call back audition in pairs or in a group.
All actors must be 18+ at time of audition.
Breaking the Code will be performed on the main stage; therefore, performers will need to be able to vocally project with clarity, diction, and nuance.
Characters
The play will be staged with a cast of around 14 actors of all genders; this includes non-speaking supporting roles.
The role of Alan Turing is a particularly demanding role; this actor will carry the story in almost every scene and delivers several lengthy monologues.
Alan Turing – The central role. He is brilliant, eccentric, socially awkward and deeply human. Carries much of the play. (acting age guide 40).
Sara Turing – Alan’s mother (acting age guide 50+). She is loving, loyal, but not fully able to grasp Alan’s world.
Pat Green – A colleague of Alan’s at Bletchley Park (acting age guide 25-35); intelligent, respectful, and warm. She is a fictional character, but the role is formed from real events and people.
Christopher Morcom – Alan’s “first love” from his schooldays (age of character approximately 17 years old). Appears in memory and flashbacks. Christopher died at the age of 18 from complications of bovine tuberculosis, this devastated Turing and deeply influenced his future work, particularly his scientific fascination with the mind and consciousness.
Ron Miller – A working-class young man (age of character 19 years old); Alan’s relationship with him ultimately exposes him to police investigation. ‘Ron’ is a fictionalised character based on the real-life Arnold Murray – who was prosecuted for ‘gross indecency’ alongside Turing.
Nikos – A young Greek lover (age of character approximately 20 years old); affectionate, genuine, a contrast to Alan’s isolation. A small but emotionally rich role; he appears naked apart from a towel wrapped around his waist; his lines are delivered in Greek. While the character is fictional, the scene occurs during a period when Alan had taken a trip to Greece.
Detective Sergeant Mick Ross – (acting age guide 35-55); embodies authority and social prejudice. Ross is a fictional representation of the detectives involved in Alan’s case.
J. Smith – A shadowy MI6 figure; may be played by any gender (acting age guide 40+); represents state secrecy and suspicion. Wears a dark city suit, authoritative voice, upper class.
Alfred Dillwyn ‘Dilly’ Knox – During World War II, Dilly Knox held the title of Chief Cryptographer for the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. He recruits Alan – their relationship is one of mutual respect. He built a team of female codebreakers (75% of Bletchley workers were women), sometimes referred to as “Dilly’s Fillies.” Eton and King’s; walks with a slight limp (acting age guide 60).
Ensemble roles: Police officers, Bletchley colleagues, clerks, members of the community and other supporting roles – mostly non-speaking, may be doubled with other roles above.
It is strongly suggested that you read the play before applying for audition – copies are available at the box office but may not be removed from the premises. Search for the script using ISBN: 9780573016561.
A word about further research: Breaking the Code was first staged in 1986 and based on Andrew Hodges’ 1983 biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma (which also inspired the film, The Imitation Game (2014) starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley). Breaking the Code was also adapted into a 1996 television film starring Derek Jacobi. By all means, use these resources, and others online and in print to research the role, but I am mostly interested in seeing what ideas about the character you bring yourself to audition.
In terms of style and staging, my vision is a minimalist, uncluttered production. The script itself moves fluidly in time, so the staging will support this with simple, flexible spaces to suggest different eras and locations, including Alan’s school, Bletchley Park (the principal centre of Allied codebreaking operations during the Second World War), a police station and Turing’s home.
Turing’s story is both history and urgently relevant as the rights of LGBTQ+ people continue to be debated and threatened today, staging this play gives us the chance to show our commitment to learning from the past, as we honour one of Britain’s great heroes – who only more recently received the recognition he deserved, and was posthumously pardoned nearly 60 years after his death. Breaking the Code will be performed during Norwich Pride week.
The Maddermarket Theatre is committed to making its audition process as accessible as possible. Auditionees may request that reasonable adjustments are made to the audition process in order for them to attend and participate, please contact the director about this in the first instance at jen.alexander@maddermarket.org