The Mirror Crack'd By Agatha Christie

Directed by Lesley Strachan

Performance:  

Saturday August 2nd 2025 @ 7.45pm

AUDITIONS

Sunday 13th July at 18:30 at Putney Arts Theatre

Please register to audition here*

You do not need to prepare anything for the audition although it is always useful to have read the play to get a feel for the language, themes and characters.

*Please note our Rehearsed Readings are only open to current members

About the Play

Set in the 1960s, Hollywood descends on the sleepy village of St Mary Mead when a glamorous American film star buys Gossington Hall. However, the real drama unfolds off-screen, when an unexpected and ruthless murder is committed during a party filled with suspects. It’s up to Miss Jane Marple to unravel a web of lies, tragedy and danger.

One murder - by Strawberry Daquiri - seven suspects, but only one Miss Marple.

CASTING

It’s a rehearsed reading, so all performers are welcome, and we strongly encourage actors of all backgrounds and identities to audition. Playing ages are guidelines only. Please be willing to have a good bash at the accents required!

ROLES

• Miss Jane Marple (60s): Her name says it all.
• Cherry Baker (20s): Miss Marple’s enthusiastic and well-meaning help.  London accent. 
• Heather Leigh (30s – 40s): A lively and enthusiastic fan of Marina Gregg. She is full of energy and somewhat oblivious to the impact of her words.
• Dolly Bantry (60s): A friend of Miss Marple and the former owner of Gossington Hall, where the murder occurs, a source of all the local gossip.
• Marina Gregg (40s - 50s): A famous movie star, glamorous yet troubled. She has returned to England after a long career in Hollywood and is at a pivotal point in her life, dealing with personal and emotional struggles. (Spanish accent during filming scene)
• Ella Zielinsky (30s – 40s): The efficient personal assistant, sharp and ambitious. Polish accent.
• Lola Brewster (20s): A young film actress, with her own dark past. American accent (English accent during filming scene)
• Chief Inspector Craddock (40s): A classic ‘Christie’ police officer, behind the times and workmanlike in his approach.
• Cyril Leigh (Late 30s – 40s): Heather’s gentle and rather hen-pecked husband, a small but significant comic role.
• Jason Rudd (50s): Marina Gregg’s devoted husband and film director. He is protective of Marina and is trying to help her through her difficulties while maintaining their public image. American accent.
• Giuseppe Renzo (30s-40s): Marina Gregg’s butler, very protective of her. Italian accent.

REHEARSALS

First read through will be on the evening of Friday 1 August with rehearsals on the afternoon of Saturday 2 August before the performance that evening.  It is essential that the full cast is available for the whole of each phase.

GENERAL

We are committed to improving diversity in our casting and, unless stated for artistic reasons, we aim to actively adopt an inclusive casting policy.

This is an amateur production. You do not need to be a member of PTC to audition, but actors and crew will need to become members for £30 a year by direct debit. A £15 show fee will also need to be paid by all actors in the production, which includes a copy of the script. We encourage you to become a member of PTC anyway, even if not cast.

Our company is run by volunteers and we expect all actors cast in a play to volunteer for Front of House duties at least once a year. Our shows could not go up without our Front of House volunteers.

If you have any additional questions please reach out to the director Lesley Strachan at ptcmirror@gmail.com

 

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial by Liv Hennessy. Directed by Owen Thomas James. 

Performance:  

Tuesday 14th October - Saturday 18th October 2025
7.45pm - 9.45pm (approximate running time, to be confirmed)
3pm Matinee on Saturday 18th October

AUDITIONS

Monday 14th July (19:30 - 21:30)
Wednesday 16th July (19:30 - 21:30)

Callbacks: Saturday 19th July (14:00 - 16:30)

Note:  If you are unable to make the audition dates on Monday or Wednesday, we will have capacity to see you audition on the Saturday callback date. Please indicate if this is your preference when filling out your audition form.

Please register by completing an audition form here.

The audition pieces are available here. 

Please take a moment to read the summarised audition notice below or read the full audition notice here:

The pdf contains all the information about the production, the audition and rehearsal process, and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Please email the director vardyvrooney@gmail.com

About the Play

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial is a gripping, hilarious, and sharply observed courtroom drama that brings one of the most talked-about celebrity scandals of the decade to the stage. In 2019, Coleen Rooney set social media alight when she revealed she had carried out a months-long sting operation to discover who had been leaking stories about her private life to the press. Her dramatic accusation ended with a now-famous line: “It’s… Rebekah Vardy’s account.” The internet exploded, and the spat became known as the“Wagatha Christie” case. Rebekah Vardy, wife of footballer Jamie Vardy, denied the accusation and sued Rooney for defamation in a sensational High Court libel trial in 2022.

What followed was a jaw-dropping legal showdown filled with missing phones, celebrity name-drops, and unexpected comic moments — all played out under intense media scrutiny. Using real court transcripts, Liv Hennessy’s verbatim play recreates this extraordinary legal spectacle with biting humour and theatrical flair. At once a compelling legal drama and a razor-sharp satire on fame, privacy, and the cult of social media, Vardy v Rooney explores the surreal collision of tabloid culture and the justice system. Fast-paced, funny, and often absurd, this play invites audiences to examine who we trust, what we share, and how far people will go to protect their image — or destroy someone else’s.

CAST

• Coleen Rooney, Female, 30s
• Rebekah Vardy, Female, 30s
• Hugh Tomlinson KC, (Rebekah Vardy’s barrister), Male, 30s-50s
• David Sherborne, (Coleen Rooney’s barrister), Male, 30s-50s
• Mrs Justice Steyn, Female, 40s-50s
• Pundit 1 [Jeff] (Also Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy), Male, 20s-30s
• Pundit 2 [Jem] (Also Harpreet Robinson) Female, 20s-30s, we are seeking an actor of South Asian heritage
• Caroline Watt, Female, 30s-40s

Diversity, Inclusion & Casting Vision

PTC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We want a membership that is reflective of the diverse communities within London. We actively encourage all performers to audition for the roles which they feel best suit their skills.

We want this production of Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial to be open to all. We encourage all auditionees to consider all parts. For the character of Pundit 2 – who doubles as Harpreet Robertson (a former family liaison officer for the FA), we are we are seeking to ensure that this role is played by a person of colour in order to offer an authentic portrayal of a real individual. Where ethnicities are not listed against the characters, we would openly encourage actors of all ethnicities to consider those roles.

The role of Coleen Rooney does have a Liverpool (Liverpudlian) accent requirement.

We are not able to modify any of the text, including to change the genders or regional dialects of the characters, so you will need to be comfortable with the accent or gender for each role you audition for. Please note, for the purposes of the audition, your accent does not need to be fully formed or perfected. We will do some dialect and accent work as part of the rehearsal process.

COSTS

Please note that this is an amateur production. You do not need to be a member of Putney Theatre Company to audition, but actors and crew will need to become a member of Putney Theatre Company to take part in the show. That cost is currently £30 a year.

There is also a show fee of £30 which will need to be paid by all actors in the production, which goes towards the cost of putting on the show and insurance.

We encourage you to become a member of PTC anyway, even if not cast.

Our company is run by volunteers and we expect all actors cast in a production to volunteer for Front of House duties at least once a year. Our shows could not go up without our Front of House volunteers.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PTC knows that taking part in a show can be a significant financial burden. We are committed to being as inclusive as possible. So, if you would like to discuss how we can help you, a member of the committee will be able to confidentially assist. Please enquire for more information. Rest assured, if you have requested financial assistance, it will have no bearing on whether you are cast in the show.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

There are always other ways to be involved in the production other than auditioning. If you would like to be a part of the production team please email vardyvrooney@gmail.com. 

We are looking for people to lead these roles:

• Props
• Costume
• Assistant stage managers
• Set builders

And welcome anyone interested in any production role to reach out and get involved.