Sewell Barn Theatre, Constitution Hill, Norwich NR3 4BB               Ticket sales: 0333 666 3366                  Sewell Barn Trust: Registered Charity No 277724

The Sewell Barn Company

Auditioning for the Sewell Barn

Audition Notice: Edith – in the Beginning: The Mrs Pretty Story by Karen Forbes

Director: Robert Little

Contact details:  R.Little@uea.ac.uk

Performance dates: 21 -23 & 27 – 30 April (including a matinee on 30 April) 2022

THE PLAY

Originally written for an outdoor, site-specific venue (Sutton Hoo House, Suffolk) to commemorate Edith Pretty donating the treasure to the British Museum, the play recounts the story of the excavation of the barrows and the discovery of the Anglo-Saxon burial ship. At the heart of the play, set in class-rigid 1930s England, is a very human story about the unusual friendship between self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown and his employer Edith, a remarkable, educated woman in her own right, who served with the Red Cross in WW1 and became a first-time mother at 47.

It has now been adapted for an indoor performance and the potential for a larger cast if desired.

CASTING

EDITH PRETTY (nee DEMPSTER): 50s, well spoken, owner of Sutton Hoo House, wife of Colonel Frank Pretty (deceased). Has a son late in life (late 40s) who is 7/8 years old when play begins. Suffered poor health later in life. Employed BASIL BROWN to excavate Sutton Hoo barrows in 1937/8 – lasting friendship until her death in 1942. Singing ability preferred, could play ‘young to older’.

BASIL BROWN: 40s, soft Suffolk accent, self – taught archaeologist and astronomer. Married to Dorothy May. Childless. Bookish, learned, meticulous in his methodology, eccentric, set in his ways but passionate about the dig. Outlives EDITH.

FRANK PRETTY: Dies in his late 50s before play begins. Colonel of 4th Suffolk Battalion, lifelong companion Polly Hopkins (mare) who accompanies him to the frontline throughout WW1. [A painting of the horse remains displayed at Tranmer House (formerly Sutton Hoo House), owned by National Trust.] Proposed to EDITH for many years before their marriage in 1926. Father of Robert.- could play young to older.

CORONER: male, age 40 upwards. Could be double cast eg BASIL.

ROBINS: War correspondent, male, any age. Could be double cast eg BASIL.

QUEEN RAEDWALD : age 30s upwards. Able to sing unaccompanied.

AUDITIONS

The audition for the production will take place on Sunday 23 January 2022 at 2.00pm at the UEA Drama Studio.

Please contact the director if you need directions and/or if you need an E-script sent to you.

REHEARSALS

These will start week beginning 28 Feb and are likely to be Mon/Wed/Thurs with some Sundays nearer to production time. The writer, Karen Forbes, will attend rehearsals and run workshops.