Calling all directors!

A TOMB WITH A VIEW - Season 2, 2026​

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A Tomb With a View  by Norman Robbins

Directed by Karim Shaker

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We are excited to announce auditions for A Tomb with a View.

 

Auditions will be conducted in two stages, beginning with solo auditions, followed by a group audition.

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We look forward to seeing you at the auditions and encourage all applicants to bring their energy, creativity, and sense of humour.

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

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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).  For details of membership, please visit our membership page. To become a member, follow our Trybooking link.

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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.

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Solo auditions

Solo auditions are for us to see individual performance skills - please book one time slot on either Saturday or Sunday.

Format:

• Applicants must prepare a comedic monologue of no longer than 90 seconds.

• The monologue should be light-hearted and humorous, highlighting your comedic timing and character work.

• You may be given direction during the audition to demonstrate adaptability and interpretation of the material.

Group auditions

Following the solo auditions, all auditionees will take part in a group audition to assess ensemble skills and how performers work together.

 

Please join us at 2pm on the same day as your solo audition.

Format:

• The session will begin with theatre games to explore character, improvisation, and ensemble dynamics.

• This will be followed by paired dialogue work using scenes from the play.

• Direction will be provided, allowing performers to demonstrate flexibility and collaboration.
   

Audition and season dates

Auditions 1

• Saturday 31st January, 10 AM, 2 PM

Auditions 2

• Sunday 1st February, 10 AM, 2 PM

 

Tech Day

• Sunday 24th April

Opening night

• Friday 1st May

Closing night

• Saturday 16th May

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

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Eltham Performing Arts Centre
1603 Main Road, Research.
 

There will be a meet and greet rehearsal on Wednesday 4th February and the first rehearsal will be Sunday 7th February.

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Booking auditions

To book your audition, click or tap here.

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

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About the play

Set in as sinister an old library as one is likely to come across presided over by a portrait of a grim faced, mad eyed old man.

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There, a dusty, lawyer reads a will (involving some millions of pounds) to an equally sinister family, one member of which has werewolf tendencies, another wanders around in a toga of Julius Caesar and a third member is a gentle old lady who plants more than seeds in her flower beds.

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Characters

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​Lucien – Male, 50-ish

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Character:

• The self-proclaimed head of the household, Lucien’s main skill is loudly announcing his position, even if nobody’s listening. He’s got a temper like a kettle about to boil over, especially when his grand visions of family order are ignored (which happens constantly).

• He spends most of the play shouting, stomping, and attempting to establish unrealistic dominance over the family, only to be met with eye-rolls and frustrated sighs.

• His outbursts are comedic gold—expect him to throw tantrums over minor inconveniences and fall into long monologues about how “in his day, things were done properly!”

• Comedic Skills Needed: The ability to go from gruff to absurd in a heartbeat, making his outrage both over-the-top and hilariously futile. Think explosive and constantly in need of a nap.
   

Dora – Female, 49 (Looks 60)

 

Character:

• Oh, poor Dora! Once the family’s queen of elegance, she now spends her days lamenting the “glory days” when they were relevant in society. Every time she tries to hold it together, her nerves snap like a stretched rubber band.

• She is fragile, jittery, and constantly worries about the police arriving, as if the mere mention of law enforcement will send her into a spiral.

• She dotes on her homemade wines (which might be more “experimental” than she lets on) and finds solace in offering guests a glass while frantically checking the door for any sign of an incoming raid.

• Comedic Skills Needed: A constant nervous energy, where even small mishaps send her into a tizzy, possibly culminating in her having to suddenly sit down and breathe deeply in between delivering lines. She’s a walking panic attack waiting to happen, but with impeccable comic timing!

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Emily – Female, Mid 40s

 

Character:

• The middle child—you know, the one who always knows better and thinks she’s the smartest (but may be a tad delusional about it).

• She’s a problem-solver at heart and will literally solve everything—whether it’s a family squabble or the mystery of the missing biscuit tin—with a blend of verbal snark and some good old-fashioned brawn.

• If her siblings don’t listen to her (which, spoiler: they won’t), Emily will use physical comedy to solve the problem: think throwing things, over-dramatic gestures, and maybe even chasing them around for the sake of order.

• Comedic Skills Needed: The ability to play the bossy, self-righteous sibling in a way that’s ridiculous and hilarious—delivering absurdly confident lines with fury and flair, perhaps taking things a little too far in the process.

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Marcus – Male, Mid 40s

 

Character:

• Shakespearean flair with a massive ego—Marcus believes he is Julius Caesar (or at least, he’s playing the role full throttle). Everything he says comes out like it’s from a tragedy, and he delivers bold, profound speeches in the most ridiculously serious way possible.

• He’s completely oblivious to reality, living in a world where he’s a Shakespearean hero, constantly flourishing around the house. His nurse, Anne, tries to keep him medicated so he doesn’t completely unravel—but, of course, he’s not having it.

• When things go wrong, he delivers dramatic monologues about betrayal or fate while dramatically falling to the floor (much to the confusion of the others).

• Comedic Skills Needed: Over-the-top delivery, grandiose gestures, and a flair for physical comedy—perhaps tripping over his own dramatic cloak or misunderstanding simple things while in full theatrical mode.
   

Monica – Female, Mid 30s

 

Character:

• The youngest and prettiest (at least, according to her), Monica is the charming, clever, and manipulative little sister who knows exactly what she wants—especially from the men around her.

• She’s got a sharp wit and can manipulate any situation with ease, whether it’s with her looks, charm, or subtle psychological warfare (all while baking cookies or giving sweet smiles).

• When she’s not trying to get attention from the men, she’s busy stirring up trouble in the family with her quick comebacks and sly observations.

• Comedic Skills Needed: A balance between flirtation, sarcasm, and manipulation—able to charm while also being utterly devious. She’s a perfect mix of sweet and sinister in the most comical ways possible.
   

The Non-Family

 

Hamilton Penworthy – Male, 50s-70s

 

Character:

• The calm before the storm, Hamilton is the stoic family lawyer who has been looking after the Tombs for years. But under that cool exterior, he’s a master manipulator, knowing way more than he lets on.

• Think of him as the quiet schemer—everything he does is calculated, and he is always a step ahead of everyone. He has a knack for planting seeds of doubt, pulling strings from behind the scenes while everyone thinks he’s just being a boring lawyer.

• Comedic Skills Needed: He’s got to be able to scheme subtly, delivering lines with a cool smirk and making the audience feel like he’s always up to something secretive (while remaining completely unflustered.​​
   

Anne Franklin – Female, Mid 20s

 

Character:

• The nurse to Marcus, Anne genuinely cares for him… or does she? Behind her sweet and professional demeanor, Anne has her own agenda. She’s the only one who leaves the house, but it’s unclear if she’s going to the village or secretly plotting something.

• She’s the smartest character in the house (other than maybe Emily), and she always has a plan—but good luck trying to figure out what it is.

• Comedic Skills Needed: She’s got to be able to play innocent while clearly hiding some sort of mysterious double life. A mix of dry humor and confident scheming will be key.
   

Agatha Hammond – Female, 40s-60s

 

Character:

• The housekeeper with all the gossip—Agatha knows everything about everyone, but she’s not the one to spill the beans (unless, of course, it’s to her own advantage). She’s the matriarchal figure who’s been there through it all, but she knows her place as the help.

• Agatha has her moments of control (especially when it comes to the kids) but still remains the “lowly servant” in the eyes of the family.

• Comedic Skills Needed: Think dry, sarcastic humor, paired with moments of self-importance and spiteful jabsat the family. Agatha is the type to pull off a scheme, only for it to backfire in her face.
   

​Freda Mountjoy – Female, 40s-50s

 

Character:

• A successful romance novelist, Freda seems perfectly charming until she reveals her true nature as a con artist. She’s been waiting for the family’s fortune to land in her lap, and she’s not afraid to use her “skills” to get what she wants.

• She’s the unexpected beneficiary of the family’s will, and she’s here to collect—with all the flair and charm of a woman who’s used to getting exactly what she wants, no matter who she has to swindle.

• Comedic Skills Needed: Switching between characters with ease—charming, flirty, and manipulative, Freda will constantly keep the audience guessing about her true intentions.

Peregrine Potter – Male, Mid 30s

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Character:

• Awkward and shy, but mysteriously the secretary to Freda. He’s the focus of Monica’s attention (whether he likes it or not) and very much out of his depth in the mad world of the Tombs.

• Clumsy and anxious, he often finds himself in embarrassing situations.