CASTING: 3 male, 3 female
CASTING ATTRIBUTES: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)

TWELVE ROLES; SIX ACTORS; ONE GOLDFISH!

ERNESTINE ASHWORTH : Travels from age 7 to 107. In that time, she will be a daughter, a girlfriend, a wife, a mother, a friend, a mother-in-law, a widow, a second wife, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a great-great-grandmother.

ALICE: Selfless, strong, Ernestine’s mother.

KENNETH:
Ernestine’s awkward and annoying next door neighbour.

MATT: Chiselled jawline, A middle linebacker in the school football team. Ernestine’s boyfriend and then husband.

BILLY: Sensitive. An ear for music. Ernestine and Matt’s son.

MADELINE: Troubled. Bemused. Beautiful. Erudite. Ernestine and Matt’s daughter. Played by actor playing Alice

JOAN: Anxious. Very anxious. Billy’s wife.

ALEX: Takes no bullshit. Billy and Joan’s daughter. Played by actor playing Joan.

ERNIE: Ethereal. Vivacious. She doesn’t walk, she glides. Alex’s daughter. Played by actor playing Alice and Madeline.

WIILIAM: Thirteen. Grand. Played by actor playing Matt.

JOHN: A man woken up in the middle of the night. Played by actor playing Billy.

BETH: John’s domestic partner. She quit smoking ten years ago and hasn’t been in a good mood since. Plated by actor playing Joan and Alice.

Ages are indicative and approximate only. An actor’s true age may be different from the age of the character, if they look and sound right for the part. Please do not hesitate to audition because you are uncertain about the suitability of your age.

DATES:
Monday 18 August 2025 from 7.00 – 10pm and Tuesday 19th August from 7.00 -10pm

LOCATION:
Unit 8/417-419 Warrigal Road, Cheltenham

Auditions are by appointment only using the booking system on this page below.

You can download a copy of the play by clicking here Birthday+Candles+Script or contact the director, Helen Ellis by e-mail: ellisproductions@me.com

Please note: anyone who is offered a role will be asked to pay a $20 fee for membership and insurance.

Rehearsals will be at The Girl Guide Hall, Glebe Avenue, Cheltenham. Rehearsal schedule will be Sunday afternoons 1-4pm and  Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7.30-9.30pm.

Rehearsals commence in early September

Actors need to be able to commit unconditionally not only for the entire performance season but also for all scheduled rehearsals at which their attendance is required.

13 November – 22 November 2025 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkers Road, Parkdale
Evening performances 8:00pm    

Thu 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22 NOVEMBER
Matinee Performances 2:30pm    Sat 15, Sun 16 NOVEMBER, Sat 22 NOVEMBER

Please check you are available for all performances dates before booking your audition time. Please advise the director, at the audition, of any potential conflicts which may occur during the rehearsal period.

Please check that you are available for all performance dates before booking your audition time. Please also inform the director if there are any rehearsal dates on which you are not available. You must also advise if there is a possibility of you taking on professional acting work that may conflict with rehearsal and performance dates.

It is essential that you are familiar with the play. Please download a copy of the scriptBirthday+Candles+Script and ensure that you have read it before booking an audition time.

Auditions will be by individual appointment, at 15 minute intervals.

Auditions will involve reading from specified sections of the script. There is no need to memorise anything for the audition. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to review the audition pieces.