Auditions for our winter play – Sleighed to Death

Join us at 19:30 on 17th September for auditions!

SLEIGHED TO DEATH BY PETER GORDON
DIRECTOR: INGRID BOND
Audition Date: Wednesday 17th September at 19:30
Performance Dates: 29/30/31 January 2026
Synopsis:
The play introduces Pratt on his very first murder case, when he was still a humble Police Sergeant.
1930s England, it’s Christmas Eve in the manor house of the bumbling aristocrat, Sir Walton Gates and his wife Grace. His daughter Emma from a previous marriage arrives from town with her new companion in tow, the dashing James Washington and added to the mix is Sir Walton’s estranged brother Archie, recently returned from years spent in Australia, bringing with him an appetite for mischief and a dodgy accent.
Enter England’s most confused police officer, Sergeant Pratt, who unwittingly kicks a hornet’s nest of English gentility and the evening soon descends into chaos with hilarious consequences. Magic tricks will fail miserably, shots will inadvertently ring out and identities will be confused but can Pratt identify the individual with murderous intent before a body is found?
Characters:
SIR WALTON GATES: One of the landed gentry. Genial, dim-witted, middle-aged and upper class.
MORAG McKAY: Sir Walton’s faithful secretary, she is a dour, middle-aged Scottish woman. If you’re familiar with Dad’s Army, a female version of Private Frazer probably sums her up quite well!
GRACE GATES: The second wife of Sir Walton. Much younger than Sir Walton, she is attractive, money-grabbing and bitchy.
EMMA GATES: Sir Walton’s daughter from his first marriage. No brighter than him and an arch enemy of Grace. She believes that Grace is grasping and manipulative and only married her father for his money. She may have a point!
JAMES WASHINGTON: A handsome, athletic adventurer whose many expeditions have seen him turn his hand to climbing, writing, photography, anthropology and botany. That’s when he’s not playing rugger or cricket for the County.
ARCHIE GATES: Sir Walton’s brother, who was packed off to Australia in disgrace thirty years ago. Well, all of Pratt’s adventures have a dodgy character in them somewhere and he’s no exception to the rule.
CONSTABLE MARY POTTER: A young, feisty police woman. Although lacking in self confidence, she has the measure of Pratt. Unfortunately for her, she’s been ordered to act as Pratt’s assistant for his fund-raising magic show.
SERGEANT PRATT: A bumbling fool.