Audition notice: The Swell

The Swell by Isley Lynn is a fabulous story about what we are willing to do for the ones we love.

The story

Annie and Bel are building a life together. Wedding plans are underway, the future feels certain, if not entirely uncomplicated. Then Flo walks back into their lives.

Annie’s oldest friend, restless, magnetic, and impossible to pin down, Flo brings with her a history that neither woman can ignore. As she settles in, old dynamics resurface and new desires begin to take shape, drawing the three women into a charged and increasingly fragile triangle.

But this is only part of the story.

Moving between past and present, The Swell unravels the tangled histories that bind Annie, Bel and Flo together, revealing how first loves, formative choices, and long-buried tensions continue to echo across time. As their younger and older selves collide, the truth emerges piece by piece… and nothing is quite as it first appears.

Isley Lynn’s thrilling romantic drama The Swell is a gripping story spanning decades of love, sacrifice and betrayal, which was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020.and received its world premiere at the Orange Tree Theatre in 2023.

The production

This is an all-female cast for six players sharing the lives of Bel, Annie, and Flo in their twenties and nearly three decades later as B, F, and A. The play alternates between past and present, and none of our actors will get much of a break in this tender yet shocking tale.

For Bel, Annie, and Flo, actors will need a playing age in their twenties. B, F, and A’s scenes are specified in the script as 28 years later, so playing ages should be roughly late 50s.

As our actors are portraying the same people, casting decisions will in part require a reasonable likeness. If our best fits are slightly younger playing age for B, F, and A, we’ll adjust the timeline of the story accordingly.

Some characters will take part in scenes that require a fight call, others will do yoga, and some/all of the characters will sing. Yes, this play really does have it all!

The auditions

Please join us for a read-through on Saturday, August 1 at 2pm in the foyer at WT if you can, to get acquainted with the easy-flowing, natural dialogue and the juicy twist we’ll keep close to our chests until January.

Physical copies of audition sides will be available at the read-through. For those unable to attend the read-through, digital copies will be available upon request, please email our Production Manager.

Auditions will take place Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 August at 7:45pm, also in the foyer at WT. You only need to attend one evening of auditions, but you may come to both if you’d like.

• Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in for the audition. We’ll do a little yoga as a warm up, as well as get a little silly during the acting portion. You will not be judged on your yoga prowess, just come ready to play!
• For your audition, please bring a short (max 30 seconds) song to sing either a capella or with a backing track you can play on your phone. The song will not be a make or break for your audition, so please don’t stress. Frankly, you can sing Happy Birthday if it feels right in the moment. It’s simply to get an idea of strengths and vocal types.
• The acting audition will take the majority of the evening. You will read from sides which will be provided in physical copy on the day (see info on the read-through above for advance availability of the sides if you like).
• If you are unable to attend both of the audition dates but would like to audition, please contact our Production Manager email (details below) by 12 noon on Thursday August 6 and we will work together to find suitable alternative arrangements.

Characters

Bel, twenties. Engaged to Annie, loves to sing.
Annie, twenty-seven. Engaged to Bel, long-time friend of Flo’s
Flo, twenty-nine. Annie’s friend, loves to surf.

Then same three people, twenty-eight years later

B playing age roughly late 50s
F playing age roughly late 50s
A playing age roughly late 50s

To get in touch with queries, please contact:
Bailey McMenamin, director: baileytmcmenamin@gmail.com
Claire Lawrence, production manager, claire@lawrencefamily.org

Readthrough: Saturday 1 August: 2pm, WT foyer
Auditions: Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 August: 7:45pm, WT foyer
Performances: 20-30 January 2027
Director: Bailey McMenamin
Production Manager: Claire Lawrence

WT is committed to being a diverse and open organisation. Auditions are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, and we particularly welcome those who have been traditionally under-represented in theatre.

Please note, any non-members wishing to audition will need to become a member if they are cast, before they are able to take part in the show. You can find out more about membership here.