Are you a director and interested in directing at Eltham Little Theatre? Our play selection committee would love to hear from you.​

​

​

 

 

 

 

​

​

 

Audition bookings are now open for Whodunnit, coming to Eltham Little Theatre in Season 5.

​

Audition Location
Eltham Performing Arts Centre
1603 Main Road
Research Vic 3095

​​

Fees and Requirements

All members of cast and crew are required to become members of Eltham Little Theatre – this ensures that you are covered under the ELT volunteers workers insurance for the duration of the rehearsal and production period.
 

Cost of ELT membership is $25.00 (please check to make sure you don’t already have a valid membership). There is also a $50 show fee to take part in this musical, which will contribute to your unique costume.

​

All members of cast and crew are required to have a current Working With Children (WWC) card. This will be verified prior to rehearsals commencing. Full information and application details can be found here.

​

Audition and season dates

Auditions 1

• Saturday 23rd August 1 pm - 5 pm

Auditions 2

• Sunday 24th August 1 pm - 5 pm

Auditions 3

• Saturday 30th August 3 pm - 5 pm

 

Tech Day

• Sunday 16th November

Opening night

• Friday 21st November

Closing night

• Saturday 6th December

​​​

​

Rehearsal and performance information
All rehearsals and performance will be at:

Eltham Performing Arts Centre
1603 Main Road, Research.

​

Booking auditions

To book your audition, click or tap here.

​

​

Contact information
If you have any further information or questions, please email auditions@elthamlittletheatre.org.au

​​

​​

About the play

Whodunnit? is a witty comedy-mystery that begins as a spoof of an Agatha Christie-style country-house murder. In Act I, a group of eccentric, larger-than-life guests gather during a storm, each hiding secrets, and one is a blackmailer who is dramatically murdered.

 

In Act II, the “mystery” is revealed to have been a staged game - the guests are actually actors hired by theatrical agent Gerry Marshall. The tone shifts to a realistic contemporary setting as the group drop their theatrical disguises and speak in their “real” identities - until a second, genuine murder occurs.

​​​

Audition format

Auditions will be solo.

Please prepare two short contrasting pieces (1–2 mins each):

1. Theatrical – a heightened, eccentric, period-style character (Agatha Christie style).

2. Realistic – a grounded, naturalistic, contemporary character.

These pieces need not be from the play but should clearly demonstrate contrast.

You may also be given short extracts from the script to read in both styles.

​

Performance style requirement
Each actor must create two distinct performances of the same role:

 

Act I: A heightened, theatrical persona in the style of an Agatha Christie mystery - big, colourful, mannered, and comedic.

​

Act II: The fictional “real” version of that character - not yourself, but a believable modern person, performed in a naturalistic, grounded style. The transition should be clear, showing range and transformation while keeping a thread of continuity between acts.

​​

Inclusive casting approach

Casting is open to performers of all types, backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, body types, and abilities.

Actors will not be cast solely on whether their real age matches the Act I character’s apparent age.

​

We welcome younger actors who can convincingly “age up” in Act I through makeup, wigs, costume, and physical performance, then reveal a younger, more vital person in Act II.

​

We also encourage women to audition for older male roles in Act I. This can add a playful, meta-theatrical humour, especially when the Act II reveal shows a completely different identity.

​

Characters and transformation potential

All characters are listed with their Act I character identity followed by their Act II real identity
 

Andreas Capodistriou/Gerry Marshall
Act I style and age played: Oily blackmailer, 50s–60s
Act II style and potential reveal: Younger, slicker hustler
Gender/casting notes: M (open to younger actor)

 

Rear-Admiral Knatchbull-Fiennes/Norman
Act I style and age played: Booming naval officer, 60s+
Act II style and potential reveal: Much younger, resentful actor
Gender/casting notes: M or F playing older man

​

Lady Tremurrain/Mildred

Act I style and age played: Eccentric grande dame, 50s–60s

Act II style and potential reveal: Younger, sharp-tongued

Gender/casting notes: F (open to younger actor)

​

Dame Edith Runcible/Constance

Act I style and age played: Elderly archaeologist, 60s–70s

Act II style and potential reveal: Younger, world-weary

Gender/casting notes: F (open to younger actor)

​

Silas Bazeby/Leonard

Act I style and age played: Smooth lawyer, 40s–50s

Act II style and potential reveal: Less confident, insecure

Gender/casting notes: M or F playing older man

​

Ralph Gorringe/Barry

Act I style and age played: Handsome cad, 30s–40s

Act II style and potential reveal: Streetwise, defensive

Gender/casting notes: M

​

Benson (butler)/Walter

Act I style and age played: Deadpan servant, 50s

Act II style and potential reveal: Younger, cynical

Gender/casting notes: M or F playing older man

​

Inspector Bowden

Act I style and age played: N/A

Act II style and potential reveal: Calm, observant

Gender/casting notes: M