AUDITION NOTICE: RULES FOR LIVING BY SAM HOLCROFT
Audition: Monday 14th July at 19:30 in the Archway Foyer
Call Backs: Monday 21st July at 19:30 in the Archway Foyer
Playing dates: 29th October – 8th November 2025
Everyone creates coping strategies or rules for living. But what happens when an extended family gathers for Christmas and each member follows those rules, rigidly? In this theatrically playful, dark comedy, the instructions are there for everyone to see – so there’s really no place to hide.
Trigger warnings: Strong language and adult themes. References to mental and physical illness.
Matthew (mid 30s):
Son of Edith and Francis. Boyfriend of Carrie. Solicitor. Needs to be able to sing confidently without accompaniment (one instance of singing, but it is key to the plot and the character).
Carrie (early 30s):
Actor. Girlfriend of Matthew. Attention seeking, sexually confident and dresses provocatively. Anxious to please and be liked. Her body language and tendency to physically move about a lot are expressive of her inner emotions.
Sheena (early 40s):
Married to Adam. Mother of Emma. Clearly the emotionally stronger one in the marriage. More ‘grounded’ and confident than Carrie.
Adam (early 40s):
Son of Edith and Francis. Married to Sheena. Father of Emma. Solicitor. Needs to be able to convincingly affect a variety of comical accents and silly voices. Tendency to sarcasm.
Edith (60s): Married to Francis. Mother to Matthew and Adam. She has a bad back which must be evident in playing the role. Concerned about appearances. Idealises her sons.
Francis (70s): Married to Edith and father to Matthew and Adam. Confined to wheelchair. Requires convincing portrayal of neurological impairment affecting his posture and speech.
Emma (14): Daughter of Adam and Sheena. Appears in one scene, but the character is crucial to the plot. Suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and depression. It should be noted that this character uses one instance of strong language in the script.
Expressions of interest and requests for information, including access to scripts to read - please contact Robert Gregory at
cm9iZXJ0ZzIzMTEgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ== or 07789 743203.
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