**NB THE LETTER AFTER THE CHARACTER’S NAME INDICATES THE GENDER THAT WILL PLAY THE PART – eg MRS BUMBRAKE (M) MEANS MRS BUMBRAKE WILL BE PLAYED BY A MALE ACTOR!**

The Stables Theatre Christmas 2025 show

Written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker

Directed by Jane Richardson

Musical Direction by Judy Gilham

Performances 12th-20th December, matinees on 14th and 20th; no evening performance 14th and 15th. See website for full dates and booking info:

(There will be some time on Sat 31st May for anyone who can’t make the main audition date; please indicate on the audition form, link below.)

Please email any questions to Jane, the director, on

Peter and The Starcatcher is a zippy, frantic and fantastically funny prequel to the beloved Peter Pan story.

In the year 1885, an orphaned boy is being shipped off to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. Molly, a young apprentice Starcatcher is also on board ‘The Wasp, as a trunk of treasure is loaded to be safely escorted to Her Majesty Queen Victoria (‘God Save Her!’) Molly quickly realises the treasure is in fact the magical and dangerous Starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful it must never be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. The Wasp is suddenly boarded by a crew of cut-throat pirates from another ship, ‘The Never Land,’ led by the villainous, remarkably hirsute and terribly well-read Black Stache, who wants the treasure all to himself. Molly and the boy, now renamed Peter, must rescue the starstuff from Stache’s wicked intentions, and a thrilling journey begins.

A cast of around twelve performers will play 100 unforgettable and whacky characters including some very Lost Boys, a nanny of uncertain heritage, some frenzied mutant molluscs, a troupe of singing mermaids, and many, many more!

This is not a musical but a play with music; there are some songs, a few solo lines, but no big individual numbers….it will help if you can sing a little! If you play an instrument, bring it with you to the auditions. (Okay, maybe not your piano!)

*****

Starting at 11am we’ll run some fun group games and improvisations, followed by some singing as a group, then individual character auditions. We’ll finish hopefully no later than 3pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided!

The keyword for this production is ENSEMBLE, and I would like to see performers who can share ideas and expand on them, pick up on performance cues from each other, and in short, work as a team. We’re talking ‘a well-oiled machine’ here! There will be LOTS of doubling!

The show itself isn’t improvised, but I’d like to see the ‘here and now’ energy that improvisation brings. To get an idea, please watch this video from the

Playbill website:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZj5yj8SDBA.

Yes, this is the original Broadway production, but I’d like to see us at least have a go at reaching that level of energy and commitment – it can be done!

After the improvisation section of the audition, we’ll spend some time on part of the song ‘Swim On’ from Act 1; you can hear it at the 3 minute mark on the Playbill website above, and there’s also a charming version of it sung by some young American theatre students here:

You’ll be sent lyrics and sheet music along with individual character audition pieces once you’ve completed and returned the audition form here:

NB: all the parts are played by adults, and we won’t be auditioning under-16s.

We are open to gender-blind casting for some characters, indicated by ‘M/F’ next to the character’s name; but some parts will remain as originally written, eg, Boy (Peter) will be played by a male actor.

The play is written to be performed by twelve actors, but depending on interest we may be able to open that up, and also to swap some of the doubling around.

All the cast also play narrators, as well as sailors, seamen, pirates, mermaids, mutant mollusks, and occasionally bits of scenery and props….

*****

THE CHARACTERS

Boy (Peter): (M ) age16-25 Nameless, homeless, and friendless at the beginning of the play and a hero by the end. A survivor, smart and brave. More than anything in the world, he wants a home and a family.

Prentiss: (M/F) age 16-25 Ambitious, articulate, logical; yearns to be a leader, though he knows in his heart he never will be. A bit of a blowhard with just the teeny-tiniest touch of cowardice…but he means well.

Ted: (M/F) 16-25 Obsessed with food. He’s a natural actor, an easy wit, perhaps a future poet. Kind-hearted. Called “Tubby” by Prentiss, though not necessarily due to girth; after all, he’s an underfed orphan.

Lord Leonard Aster: (M/F) 25-65 The very model of a Victorian English gentleman, loyal subject to the Queen, devoted father to Molly. Lord Aster is a Starcatcher – protecting the planet from any unseen incredible forces about to encroach upon us.

Molly Aster: (F) 16-25 A 13-year-old girl who is hungry for adventure and out to prove that girls can do anything boys can do – and do it better. She is as passionate as she is fearless, a true leader.

Mrs. Bumbrake: (M) age 20-65 Molly’s nanny. Lovable, brash and bold with a big heart; practical and no-nonsense, but still knows how to turn on the flirt when the time is right. ‘Stiff in the lip, loose in the hip, fun on a ship!’

Also doubles as Teacher, an ancient and wise mermaid.

Captain Robert Falcon Scott: (M/F) 20-65 The epitome of an adventurer, captain of Britain’s fastest frigate, the Wasp. Years later, he will lead an expeditionary team to the South Pole, freeze to death, and become the iconic British hero, Scott of the Antarctic.

Fighting Prawn: (M/F) 20-65 King of the Mollusk natives, he was kidnapped by British sailors and brought in chains to England where he served as a sous-chef. Since returning to his island kingdom, he has vengefully murdered any English person who dared set foot on his island. I’m open to you auditioning with your favourite European accent!

Also doubles as Grempkin, the mean and malodorous orphanage schoolmaster who likes to keep his boys in the dark, as sunlight feeds rebellious notions; as Mack, a very bad sailor who wants to be anywhere but on the crew of The Never Land; and as Sanchez, on the crew of The Wasp, a hard-working Spanish pirate with an identity crisis. (NB these roles could be divided up.)

The Black Stache: (M) 20-55 Well-spoken with the flair of a showman, the Black Stache is nevertheless a wicked, dangerous villain to his very core; piracy is his personal mission, as is his eternal quest for a worthy nemesis – a hero who would be worthy of a challenge. He may or may not bear some resemblance to a certain Captain Hook….

Smee: (M) 20-65 Devoted first-mate to Black Stache; single-mindedly dedicated to his captain’s every whim. His motto is ‘tis good to be busy,’ and he’s great at thinking up ideas, though they’re not always successful. It would help if the actor playing Smee can play a few chords on a ukulele (tuition can be given!)

Bill Slank: (M/F) 20-65 The Neverland’s vicious captain, without the skill or quality to lead anyone but himself, and always into disaster. A greedy b’stard who’d sell his own mother for a ship; and whose only ambition on this adventure is to send boys to their doom for the favour of those who would use Starstuff for personal gain, global domination, or worse. Doubles as Hawking Clam, son of Fighting Prawn.

Alf: (M) 20-60 A salty old sea-dog, far more proud of his rank as “Mister” than he should be. Though his physical appearance is oaf-ish and unkempt, he has an inner charm and a kind, romantic heart. Falls in love with Mrs Bumbrake at first sight.

*****

So what are you waiting for? This promises to be a great show; almost a full performance’s worth tickets have been sold already with no publicity and no cast as yet, and we’re only in April – incredible! So come and be a part of this fabulous theatrical event. In the immortal words of The Black Stache….

‘You’ll love it more than bread!’