Headgate Theatre Productions

The Girl on the Train

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel.

Based on the Novel by Paula Hawkins.

Director – Forest Morgan

Forest is a Colchester born director. Recent directing credits include; Love & Information by Caryl Churchill (Mercury Theatre), the award winning production of Our Walk Through the World by Ross Howard (Headgate Theatre) (Best Director and Best Actress at the Keep Colchester Cool Awards and joint Best Production – Drama at the North Essex Theatre Guild Awards) and The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh (Lakeside Theatre).

Assistant Director – Bethany Shilling

Production Week: Sunday 1st August 2027. Performances from Wednesday – Saturday (two shows on Saturday).

Rehearsals:

Rehearsals will take place from 28^th April at The Headgate on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Sunday afternoons 2-5pm. If cast availability requires it, there is some flexibility on this. Given the complexities involved in staging this show, the cast will be required at most rehearsals regardless of role.

When initially working through scenes of an intimate nature, only those involved in the scene along with agreed creatives will be present in the rehearsal space.

Play read-through: A read-through of The Girl on the Train will take place on the 8^th November between 2- 5 pm. No prior knowledge of the play, film or book is required.

Audition arrangements:

Auditions will be held at The Headgate. They will take place in a group format on the 17^th March 2027 @ 7 pm and 21^st March 2027 @ 2 pm.

Auditionees are only required at one of the two dates.

To complete the audition registration form, please click the button.

Complete the Audition Form The Girl on the Train

On Golden Pond Synopsis

It’s 1979. The setting is Golden Pond – a typical lake in Maine and the summer retreat of Ethel and Norman Thayer for many decades. Their delightful summer routine – fishing, picking strawberries, enjoying old mementoes, listening to the loons call – is given a bitterly comedic edge by Norman’s unreliable memory and his cantankerously morbid statements.

With his 80th birthday looming, Noman – a retired University professor – is tetchy. His mental capacity is not what it was, and Ethel is becoming his caregiver. However, the imminent arrival of estranged daughter Chelsea – complete with her new fiancé and his young son – is destined to change Norman’s life. Ethel and Norman experience a revival when they spend time with their pseudo-grandson.

The story examines all kinds of different relationships, mother/daughter, father/daughter, husband and wife, and potential step-parent and child. The generation gap between young and old is carefully and delightfully explored.

Note. This is a classic American comedic drama, which was first produced in 1978, and some of the views and language expressed are reflective of that time, and of the deteriorating mental health of Norman.

Character Descriptions and Skills

Role	Playing Age	Description
Norman Thayer, Jr	Playing age 80	Forgetful, forceful, but still has a good posture and a cutting wit.
Ethel Thayer	Playing age 60+	Norman’s wife. Late 60s, youthful, considered nice-looking, long-suffering but takes no nonsense.
Chelsea Thayer Wayne	Playing age early 40s	Divorced daughter, never really valued by Norman. Now lives in California . Fiesty. In love with Bill.
Billy Ray	Early 40s	Smart, caring and initially overawed by Norman, but fights back!
Billy Ray Jnr	Playing age 13. Actual age can be older	Bright, cheeky, a crucial role. He and Norman both learn from each other.
Charlie Martin	Playing age early – mid 40s	A genuine Maine character. The lake's mailman, still delivering to homes around the shore in his boat. Has been in love with Chelsea since he was her teenage summer boyfriend. He is witty but sometimes mistaken as simple.