TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES, By Thomas Hardy, Adapted by David Calcutt. Directed by Jane Harris & produced by Krysia Blake
Readthrough at 7pm on Tuesday 24 June at Progress Theatre
Audition 1 from 7pm on Thursday 26 June at Progress Theatre
Audition 2 from 2pm on Sunday 29 June at Progress Theatre
CHARACTERS:
Tess - a young and beautiful country girl. She needs to sing a solo.
Alec - an arrogant, superficially charming. He is a wealthy landowner with a cold and ruthless side.
Angel: a good-looking, educated and caring young man who has given up the religious life for a farming one.
Ensemble – actors and narrators 1-9 who will play a range of characters both comical and serious. I need some really versatile and creative actors here. A number of the roles listed below will be played by the ensemble actors.
John Durbeyfield – a bit of a drunk. Tess’s father,
Joan Durbeyfield – Tess’s mother who is weighed down with a large family and a small income
Liza-Lu – Tess’s younger sister
Abraham – Tess’s younger brother
Car, Nancy and Lizzie Darch – bitchy dairymaids who work for Alec Dúrberville. Juicy gossips who make Tess’s life a misery. Will sing in a group
Reverend Clare – Angel’s father
Mrs Clare – Angel’s mother
Mr Crick – dairyman
Mrs Crick – his wife
Parson Tringham – the local vicar – a superior man
Marion, Izz and Retty – three dairymaids who work at Talbothays. Friends of Tess but also in love with Angel. Good character roles
Jack Dollop – a milker - comic
Rebecca Brook – a young girl deceived by Jack Dollop- not very bright - comic
Mrs Brook – Rebecca’s formidable mother - comic
Landlady at a lodging house in Sandbourne.
Performances - 24-29 Nov. 2025
I have a digital script if anyone would like to read the play in advance.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Jane Harris on 07896 366891 or email me at
dGVzcyB8IHByb2dyZXNzdGhlYXRyZSAhIGNvICEgdWs=
You may also like the following events from Progress Theatre Reading:
Also check out other
Arts events in Reading,
Theatre events in Reading.
