auditions - Northanger Abbey

Fulbourn Institute Sports and Social club.
Auditions on Monday 1st, Wednesday 3rd, Monday 8th and Wednesday 10th of September at 7.30pm

If you are interested in auditioning please just turn up on the day or email northangerabbey@stjohnsplayers.co.uk to inform the director if you are unable to make any of the audition dates.

Whether you can make it to one of the audition dates or not, you may also pre-register your interest for auditions using this form

Performance Week: 18th - 21st February 2026

Directed by Jody Deacon

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  Our February play is Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Adapted by Matthew Francis

  Audition Details:

  Playing ages are flexible, and dependant on actors available, so please feel free to audition for any part!

  Check out the audition pieces here

  Synopsis

  Northanger Abbey is about the dangers of fiction.

  Brought up in a sleepy provincial parsonage Catherine Morland lives a safe and comfortable life, which provides her with little excitement. So she lives for much of her time in a fantasy world of romance and mystery based on the Gothic novels of her time, the early 1800’s.

  Catherine is suddenly introduced to the complicated world of a “season” at Bath, and tries to make sense of it by constant reference to the gothic romances which have been her all-consuming passion at home. This trip to Bath, also introduces Catherine to real romance but a subsequent stay at Northanger Abbey – which looks like the perfect setting for a novel (Udolpho) by Mrs Anne Radcliffe - leads Catherine into a series of embarrassing misjudgements.

  Believing “society” to be very much as Mrs Anne Radcliffe describes it, Catherine makes a number of alarming miscalculations about personalities and relationships. Abashed, Catherine bids farewell to her beloved Gothic world, only to be dealt a cruel blow in the real one. But true love is at hand and all ends happily - Catherine survives – thanks principally to the indulgence of her author.

  Matthew Francis's adaptation of Jane Austen’s first novel wryly dramatizes Catherine’s fantasy world alongside the real one, and captures all Austen’s irony and acerbic comment in witty dialogue and narration.

  Cast Requirements

  Traditionally Female Main Roles

  Miss Catherine Morland (18-25)

  The protagonist, a young woman with a vivid imagination and a love for gothic novels.

  Miss Isabella Thorpe (18-25)

  Catherine's friend, whose flirtations and ambitions cause complications in the story.

  Miss Eleanor Tilney (25-35)

  Henry Tilney’s kind and sensible sister, who befriends Catherine.

  Mrs. Morland (40-55)

  Catherine's mother, practical, caring, and maternal.

  Mrs. Allen (45-60)

  A friend of the Morland family, and a companion to Catherine during her stay in Bath.

  Traditionally Male Main Roles

  Mr. Henry Tilney (25-35)

  The charming and intelligent love interest of Catherine Morland.

  Mr. John Thorpe (20-30)

  A boisterous and self-assured man who tries to court Catherine but is ultimately dismissed.

  General Tilney (50-65)

  The stern and imposing father of Henry Tilney.

  Mr. James Morland (?)

  Catherine’s brother, who is also involved in a romance with Isabella Thorpe.

  Traditionally Female Minor Roles

  Mrs Thorpe (Isabella's mother) (40-55)

  overbearing, materialistic, and obsessed with marrying off her daughters to wealthy suitors.

  Annette (the Gothic vision) (18-25)

  is a young woman from The Mysteries of Udolpho, described as a sympathetic and virtuous character who is caught in a perilous situation within the gothic novel.

  Annette (the housekeeper) (25-35)

  is a much older version of Annette the Gothic vision, but still an imaginary vision, who Catherine projects as being the housekeeper of Northanger Abbey.

  Dimity O’Flynn (18-25)

  is an Irish dressmaker in Bath, she provides comedic narration to mark the passing of time in Catherine’s debut in Bath.

  Traditionally Male Minor Roles

  Mr Morland (Catherine’s father) (45-60)

  Catherine’s father, is a realist, but kind and supportive.

  Captain Frederick Tilney (25-35)

  He is the eldest son of General Tilney and the brother of Henry and Eleanor Tilney.

  Montoni (40-60)

  He is the villainous Italian nobleman who is the master of the eerie and mysterious Udolpho castle in the novel The Mysteries of Udolpho.

  Narrator (N/A)

  Appears throughout the play, sporadically, to move the story line along and assist with some of Catherine’s inner thoughts and imaginary characters from her Gothic Novels.

  Count de Vereza (?)

  Another imaginary Gothic character from Catherine’s imagination, one she romanticises over at times.

  Full Audition Details

  To read the full audition details document please download it here