AUDITION NOTICE: Pressure, February 28 and March 7, 2026

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

Pressure
Written by: David Haig
Directed by: Ian Gillies

Production Dates:
June 10 – 27, 2026 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on June 14 & 21 at 2:30 pm (Sundays)

All actors must be available for all performances.

Open Call Audition:
Auditions will be held on:

Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 1:00 pm for all the male roles
and Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 1:00 pm for the one female speaking role

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

Callbacks, if needed, will be held Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

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

Backstage Orientation:
Simultaneously with the Feb. 28 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:
June 1944: On the eve of D-Day, 300,000 troops are ready to invade Europe, and success or devastating failure hangs on an accurate weather prediction. Eisenhower must choose between conflicting forecasts from his American celebrity weatherman or the Chief Meteorological Officer for the Allied Forces. An intense real-life thriller exploring the responsibilities of leadership and the personal toll of taking a stand.

Time Commitment:

• We will be rehearsing throughout March, April, and May
• In the first month the rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday (afternoons or evenings TBD).
• Beginning in April we switch to Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Sunday (afternoons or evenings TBD).
• Those auditioning will have to declare their availability at auditions. Once the rehearsal schedule is set, accounting for any declared absences, each cast member must commit to being at all rehearsals, within reason. Actors cast as part of the ensemble will not be required for all rehearsals.
• All actors must be available for all performances (see production dates above).

On Casting:
We are seeking to cast approximately 15 roles for this production. While the main action of Pressure is centred around a handful of principal roles, a strong ensemble is necessary for creating the world of controlled chaos we are looking to build. While some of these ensemble characters do not have lines, they will be involved in the constant action of the production with some being on stage for the majority of the show. All those auditioning will be asked if they would like to be considered for the ensemble.

Character Descriptions

Please note the following ages and identifiers are just suggestions. We welcome anyone and everyone who is interested in auditioning to please audition for the role they are interested in. Please note that accents are encouraged for authenticity. Generic regional accents for the historical characters are listed below.

James Stagg: (Male-identifying. Scottish Accent. 40-50s). The Chief Meteorological Officer for the Allied Forces. A brilliant, if rather reserved, scientist who understands and respects the uncertainty of weather in the British Isles. He has been given the impossible task of providing the pivotal forecast for D-Day. The importance of this forecast is not lost on him and this, along with an impending family emergency, very nearly push him to the breaking point throughout the show. As tensions mount, he’ll have to rely on gut instincts and softening himself to the empathy of others in order to succeed.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike): (Male-identifying. American Accent. 50s-60s). Allied Supreme Commander with sole responsibility for the D-Day landings. Ike is extremely capable and intelligent; authoritative yet approachable. Easily commanding the respect of his comrades and subordinates, he is feeling the immense pressure of the operation and is determined to succeed. Prone to biting outbursts, he is an intimidating presence on the stage. His relationship with Kay brings out a softer, more casual side.

Andrew: (Male-identifying. Any accent. 20s-30s). A Junior Air Force officer who acts as Stagg’s assistant throughout the show. Looks up to Stagg and is one of the few that believes in him immediately. Empathetic, but also feeling the stress of the situation.

Colonel Irving P. Krick: (Male-identifying. American Accent 30s-40s). The American counterpart to Stagg, whose rivalry drives much of the tension of the show. Confident (perhaps to a fault) from his work in Hollywood, he employs a less scientific approach to weather forecasts, earning him a reputation as more of a salesman than a meteorologist. He is easy going, flirtatious, and a bit hot headed – essentially the antithesis of Stagg.

Lieutenant Kay Summersby*: (Female-identifying. Irish Accent. 30s-40s). The vivacious chauffeur, secretary, mechanic, and general jack-of-all trades for General Eisenhower (Ike). A former ambulance driver, Kay is sincere, empathetic, and extraordinarily resilient. Popular and affable, she consistently goes above and beyond in her duties – simultaneously lighting up the room and getting the job done. Over the last few years she has developed an intimate, although secretive and potentially one-sided, relationship with Ike. *(Auditioning March 7th)

Ensemble Characters:

Below is the list of the ensemble characters that appear throughout the show in various capacities. Where relevant in the text, some suggested identifiers are provided.

• Electrician: Male-identifying. British Accent. (50s+).
• Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory: Male-identifying. British Accent. (40s-60s). Air Chief Marshall, Commander-in-Chief Allied Expeditionary Air Force.
• Admiral Sir Bertram “Bertie” Ramsay: Male-identifying. British Accent. (40s-60s). Commander-in-Chief, Allied Naval Forces.
• General Tooey Spaatz: Male-identifying. American Accent. (40s-60s). Commander United States Air Force in Europe.
• Naval Meteorologist 
• Naval Rating
• Captain Johns
• Commander Colin Franklin
• Lieutenant David Battersby
• Secretaries
• Aides

Audition Sides:

Click the links below to download the scenes that will be used at the audition. Hard copies of these sides will be provided at the audition.

Side 1 – Stagg and Ensemble
Side 2 – Stagg, Ike, Bertie, Leigh-Mallory, Spaatz
Side 3 – Electrician and Stagg
Side 4 – Stagg and Ike
Side 5 – Stagg and Krick
Side 6 – Ike
Side 7 (March 7) – Kay
Side 8 (March 7) – Kay