‘Keeping Our End Up’ by Mark Carey
‘Keeping Our End Up’ by Mark Carey
– AUDITION NOTICE
Director: Gill Halford
Production Manager: Jane Yates
Production dates: Monday 17th to Saturday 22nd May 2027
AUDITION
Saturday 10th October 2026, 10.00am, Talisman Theatre
Rehearsals will run from Monday 22nd March to Sunday 16th May 2027. There will be no rehearsals from Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive. Sunday rehearsal timings will be agreed with the company.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Keeping Our End Up is a sharply observed, warm-hearted comedy-drama set in a tired village sports pavilion, where five women in a struggling bowls team confront rivalry, relationships, fading traditions and their own personal battles.
The play blends humour with moments of honesty and poignancy, offering rich character work and strong ensemble interaction.
ROLES
All roles are female-presenting. Ages are flexible depending on casting needs.
Veronica (Ronnie) – Team captain. Priggish, patronising and determined to maintain order despite her own insecurities. A woman clinging to tradition and control. A retired magistrate.
Ursula – A team member dealing with troubles in her marriage. Sensitive, anxious and often overwhelmed. She ran the village shop until it was forced to close.
Fiona (Fi) – Another member of the team, also navigating marital issues. Warm, emotional and searching for connection. A secretary in a law practice.
Joan – Outrageous, mischievous and often the comic spark of the group. Known for stirring trouble and slipping into drunkenness with flair. A dinner lady at the local primary school.
Jan – The quiet, obsessive tea-maker of the group. Gentle, nervous and often the peacemaker. A teacher at the local primary school.
Please note: male voices are also heard during the play – a local farmer and the Bowls Club Chairman. Casting for these roles will not take place during the main audition.
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS & THEMES
Female Friendship & Solidarity
The bowls team becomes a microcosm of women’s lives – shared frustrations, humour, resilience and the emotional weight they carry.
Personal Struggles Behind Everyday Life
Husband troubles, loneliness, insecurity and unspoken sadness simmer beneath the comedy, giving the play emotional depth.
Humour as a Coping Mechanism
Rich comic absurdity balances moments of honesty and revelation, showing how humour helps people navigate disappointment, loss and conflict.
For the audition, we are looking for honest, true-to-life performances that bring out the humour while ensuring the audience really cares about what happens to each character.