OPEN CALL AUDITION: A Sherlock Carol - September 6, 2025 (N.B. CHANGE OF AUDITION DATE)

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

A Sherlock Carol
Written by: Mark Shanahan

Directed by: Josh Kemp

Production Dates:
December 3 – 20, 2025 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on December 7 & 14 at 2:30 pm (Sundays)

Open Call Audition:
Auditions  will be held on:

Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to fill out your audition card – onstage readings will commence at 1:00pm sharp.  

Audition Location:
Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
(Please use 235 Besserer Street entrance.)

Backstage Orientation:
Simultaneously with the audition, A BACKSTAGE ORIENTATION and tour of the theatre will be offered by a member of the Volunteer Committee for anyone interested in working behind the scenes on any future production. Descriptions of each of the various Volunteer Positions can be found in the Volunteer section of this website.

Synopsis:
Your favourite characters from Dickens and Conan Doyle are brought together in a story of intrigue and suspense, with a giant scoop of holiday cheer. Sherlock Holmes is a haunted man after the death of Moriarty until a grown-up Tiny Tim asks him to investigate the peculiar death of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Great Detective is forced out of his lethargy, and once again the holiday is haunted by the spirits of the past, present and future.

Character Descriptions 
This production is a 6-person show where four of the actors will play multiple roles as denoted below. The director is open to any and all persons who wish to audition for any role.

Being a character actor is an important asset for this type of production. Consider how you transform your breath, posture, gait, and voice when you become someone else. This ability to transform will be what the director is considering most. 
 
Lastly, families are encouraged for our Christmas Show. We are on stage until the week before  Christmas – it can be a special holiday memory for a parent and their child to undertake a project like this. 


SHERLOCK HOLMES
The World’s Foremost Consulting Detective, in decline.

EBENEZER SCROOGE.
Formerly a miser. One Christmas, Scrooge transformed into as good a man as the good old city ever knew.
(Also is noted as A GHOSTLY VOICE.)

ACTOR ONE
  • DR. TIMOTHY CRATCHIT. Tiny Tim, all grown up. Now, a doctor at St. Bernard’s Hospital for Children. He speaks with a more refined accent than his sister.
  • MR. TOPPER. The manager of the Cosmopolitan Hotel. A bit older, a bit pompous. Easily irritated. Supposedly a friend of Fred, Scrooge’s nephew.
  • RALPH FEZZIWIG. A nervous, wiry young man. The misfit member of a proud family. Engaged to Fannie.
  • CONSTABLE BRADSTREET. A seemingly upstanding member of Scotland Yard.
ACTOR TWO
  • EMMA WIGGINS. A good-spirited and brave 13-year-old, she is a former Baker Street Irregular.
  • FAN “FANNIE” GARDNER. Scrooge’s grandniece. A refined young woman, she works backstage at the theatre in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Engaged to Ralph Fezziwig.
  • INSPECTOR LESTRADE. Blustery, easily confounded member of Scotland Yard. He has grudging respect for Holmes.
  • MRS. WINDIGATE. A Scottish tavern-keeper and member of the Goose Club. Giggly, a whirlwind.
ACTOR THREE
  • DR. WATSON. Sherlock Holmes’ best and most loyal friend. The Boswell to Holmes’ Johnson.
  • MRS. DILBER. Mr. Scrooge’s housekeeper of over 30 years. An emotional creature with a connection to the spiritual realm.
  • HENRY BURKE. An Irish candlemaker, an old friend of Mr. Scrooge.
  • OLD JOE BRACKENRIDGE. The owner of Old Joe’s in Covent Garden. Gruff, a born salesman.
ACTOR FOUR
  • CAROLER. A cheerful person in the street.
  • ELDERLY WOMAN. A London lady.
  • THE COUNTESS OF MORCAR. American. An old love of Holmes who also goes by another name, Irene Adler.
  • MARTHA CRATCHIT. Tough and a bit lower-class than her brother. She is as smart and observant as any detective she might happen to meet.
  • MARY MORSTAN. Watson’s elegant and brave wife.
  • ABIGAIL “ABBY” FEZZIWIG. Runs a business fattening geese for market. She is no-nonsense and direct—a proud member of the hardworking Fezziwig family.

Audition Sides
Click the links below to see the scenes that will be used at the audition. Physical copies of each side will also be available at the audition.

Side 1 – Cratchit & Holmes
Side 2 – Scrooge & Holmes
Side 3 – Watson, Scrooge & Holmes
Side 4 – Wiggins & Holmes
Side 5 – Countess & Fannie
Side 6 – Lestrade & Homes
Side 7 – Cratchit, Martha & Holmes