Get Involved

Noises Off

A theatrical farce, Noises Off is a behind-the-scenes look at a chaotic stage production populated with frenetic and unstable actors, a volatile director, and an overworked and overly emotional stage crew. Interspersed throughout the typical narrative structure of the piece are scenes from the play-within-a-play the group is performing: a tacky sex comedy called Nothing On.

THE CHARACTERS

The Peterborough Theatre Guild is dedicated to inclusive and thoughtful casting practices. We actively encourage performers of all backgrounds, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC), members of LGBTQ2S+ communities, and individuals of all gender identities and expressions, to audition. We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment for all artists.

English accents are preferred for all characters.

• Lloyd Dallas Male presenting, age 35-50. Any race/ethnicity.
  The director of Nothing On. Lloyd’s voice drips with sarcasm and the exhaustion of a director who has been pushed to the brink of sanity. He possesses a “certain fading charm” and handsomeness, as well as enough charisma to make him likable despite his sharp tongue. He is currently dating Brooke, but also Poppy on the side.
  
  This character has a minimal amount of physical comedy. 

• Dotty Otley Female presenting, age 45-60s. Any race/ethnicity.
  A renowned character actress returning to the stage after many years of playing a recurring TV character role. Dotty occasionally lives up to her name and can be easily confused or forgetful. She also has a taste for much younger men and, behind the scenes of the show, is dating Garry.
  
  Dotty’s fictional character in Nothing On: Mrs. Clacket
  Mrs. Clacket is even more absent-minded than Dotty is. She is the Brent family’s housekeeper who only wants to spend her day off watching TV with her feet up and a nice plate of sardines. Cockney accent preferred, if possible.
  
  The actress playing Dotty needs to have an excellent memory for lines and impeccable comedic timing. This role has a minimal amount of physical comedy. 

• Garry LeJeune Male presenting, age 25-35. Any race/ethnicity
  Garry has spent most of his acting career on TV. He’s handsome, somewhat charming, but not particularly good at articulating his thoughts. He is dating Dotty but is a bit insecure in his relationship with her and his jealousy fuels a lot of the backstage drama of the show.
  
  Garry’s fictional character in Nothing On: Roger Tramplemain
  Roger Tramplemain is a high-class real estate agent trying to sneak in a quickie with a co-worker while pretending the Brent family home is actually his.
  
  This is the role with the most amount of physical comedy: he falls downstairs, has to hop/climb up and down stairs with his shoes tied, and spends most of the show running back and forth and up and down several flights of stairs, often at a break-neck pace. 

• Brooke Ashton Female presenting, age early 20s-early 30s. Any race/ethnicity.
  Brooke is perhaps best known for playing roles named “Girl in...” and for not wearing much in the way of clothing. She’s beautiful, a little pouty, and although she can come off as air-headed, she’s also the most focused actress on stage and never messes up a line.
  
  Brooke’s fictional character in Nothing On: Vicki
  Vicki works with Roger and has snuck off with him to “his” country home for a little afternoon quickie. It should be stated that Brooke is actually a decent actress in this role and takes it quite seriously.
  
  This role requires a medium amount of physical comedy, including running up and down stairs in heels, and falling over a sofa. The actress playing Brooke should be comfortable wearing underwear on stage (although we will tailor how revealing it is to the actress’s comfort). 

• Frederick Fellows Male presenting, age 30s-45. Any race/ethnicity.
  If Brooke appears to be the airhead of the troupe, Freddy is perhaps the actual one. He’s not very bright and often needs things explained to him. He is, however, quite sweet and kind to his castmates, and in Act One has just been left by his wife.
  
  Freddy’s fictional character in Nothing On: Phillip Brent
  Phillip Brent is an upper-class married man who has snuck back into the country because he’s hiding from the (British version of the) IRS for tax evasion. He is not particularly bright and easily spooked.
  
  This role has a large amount of physical comedy, including: hopping up and down stairs with his pants around his ankles, while also having various objects “glued” to his hands. 

• Belinda Blair Female presenting, age 30s-45. Any race/ethnicity.
  Belinda has been acting since early childhood, and is the most professional of the troupe. As a happily married woman off-stage, she serves as the play’s mother-hen and takes care of everyone. She is also the most gossipy character in the show.
  
  Belinda’s fictional character in Nothing On: Flavia Brent
  Flavia Brent is an upper-class woman who is definitely the brains of her marriage. She is also easily jealous and suspicious.
  
  This role has a medium amount of physical comedy and spends much of the show running up and down stairs and getting physically involved in many of the off-stage shenanigans. 

• Selsdon Mowbray Male presenting, age 60s+. Any race/ethnicity.
  An aging actor who has been in the theatre most of his life. He likes to have a little nap now and then, his hearing isn’t particularly good anymore (nor is his eyesight), and he has a bit of a drinking problem. He often wanders off, much to the alarm of the rest of the cast.
  
  Selsdon’s fictional character in Nothing On: Burglar
  The burglar is elderly, far past his prime, with a tendency to talk to himself while he works.
  
  This role has a medium amount of physical comedy, with some stair climbing as well as climbing in and out of a (low) window. Occasionally his pants end up around his ankles. 

• Poppy Norton-Taylor Female presenting, age 20s-40s. Any race/ ethnicity.
  Poppy is the beleaguered assistant stage-manager for Nothing On who spends most of her time being bullied a bit by Lloyd and trying to keep track of everyone and everything. She is both attracted to and angry at Lloyd, who she recently was dating before he turned to Brooke.
  
  This role has a minimum amount of physical comedy. 

• Tim Allgood Male presenting, age 20s-50s. Any race/ethnicity.
  Tim is the exhausted stage manager and lead technician for Nothing On. He doesn’t sleep much and spends most of his time running errands and trying to fix the set. He also is the “understudy” for all the male roles in Nothing On and occasionally has to go on for them when they are incapacitated.
  
  This role requires a medium amount of physical comedy.