AUDITION NOTICE: Turn of the Screw, July 19, 2025

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

Turn of the Screw
Adapted by Tim Luscombe from Henry James

Directed by: Ian Gillies

Production Dates:
October 29 – November 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on November 2-9  at 2:30 pm (Sundays)

Time Commitments:

• We will be rehearsing throughout August, September, and October.
• In the first month the rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday (afternoons or evenings TBD).
• Beginning in September 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.
• All actors must be available for all performances (see production dates above).

Open Call Audition:
Auditions  will be held on:

Saturday, July 19, 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:
Years earlier, a young governess was hired to look after two orphaned children in an idyllic country house where both she and the children began to see frightening and alluring spectres of the former footman and governess. Determined to prove her value, the governess was willing to risk everything to keep her charges safe, but now her horrifying past may be catching up with her.

*PLEASE NOTE: This production includes brief violence and disturbing, mature, and sexual themes. 

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 also note that accents are not required for any role. However, because of how all but one of the characters are presented in this production, the ability to manipulate your voice may be an asset.

THE GOVERNESS – female presenting (late 20s-50)

The newly appointed caretaker of the two children of Bly Manor. Unnamed, but at the centre of the horror. We see her at the ages of 20 and 50, before and after her experiences at Bly (and the “true horrors” she has experienced – both from the living and the dead), often shifting between the two ages within the same scene. A deeply conflicted character that is sincere in her motivation to protect and love her two wards, but is simultaneously deeply rooted in an extremely repressed lifestyle (sexually and religiously) that racks her with immense fear, doubt, and shame. Over the course of the show she becomes “hysterical” – a problematic and condescending word that speaks more of the treatment from men in her life than it does of the mental crisis the Governess faces.

Please note that this is a physically and emotionally demanding role. The Governess is on stage for all but a brief moment near the beginning of the show and must be prepared to go through a wide range of movements and emotions to match her different ages and the levels of oppression she is experiencing. Involves some minor sexually charged moments and requires three stage kisses. Dance, voice, and stage combat experiences are assets, but not required.

FLORA/MRS. CONRAY – female presenting (20-40s)

The youngest of the two children living at Bly. Like the Governess, we see Flora as her 8 and 38 year old self throughout the show – again rapidly changing between the two. As a young girl, Flora is initially the very embodiment of innocence. She is loving and passionate, but very young and new to the world – mirroring the young Governess in many ways. As she too experiences things at Bly, her older self has become far darker and suspicious.

Because the actors for both Flora and Miles need to portray young children, we’ll be stylizing their younger roles to further distinguish between the ages. Both children (when they are children) will take on a more porcelain doll-like appearance with costuming and makeup – adjusting their movements and voice to match. Dance/movement experience is an asset, but not required.

MRS. GROSE – female presenting (50s-60s)

The loving and nurturing main housekeeper who has been employed at Bly for many years. She, like the Governess, cares deeply for the two children and takes her role seriously in both the upkeep of the house and in their upbringing. She is careful never to cross the well defined lines of her position at the house, but may know more than she initially lets on about its previous inhabitants.

MILES/THE EMPLOYER/THE OTHERS – (20-30s)

The actor portraying Miles has the difficult task of portraying four distinct characters over the course of the show, with some rapid transitions throughout. Like Flora, the Miles we see will be doll-like and strange, while still maintaining an air of realism. This changes when we see him as the Employer and as the two “Others” – the ghosts. Like the Governess, this is a physically demanding role that requires the actor to manipulate their voice and movement in a variety of ways. One stage kiss required. Stage combat experience is an asset, but not required. 

Here’s a breakdown of distinct characters:

Miles – male presenting 
The 11 year old brother of Flora. He is dismissed from his school for an undisclosed reason and has a bit of an edge, but despite this apparent troubling side of him, he is seemingly without flaw to both the Governess and Mrs. Grose. 

The Employer – male presenting
The estranged uncle of Flora and Miles and the owner of Bly. He is a flirtatious and charismatic man who has suddenly become the guardian of the two children following their parents’ death. He has no interest in raising two children and would rather use his charms to woo the many women in his life.

Ms. Jessel – female presenting
The more tragic and mysterious of the two ghosts of Bly. She is the former Governess who looked after Flora and Miles before her untimely pregnancy and death. Well loved by Mrs. Grose and the children. Mirrors the new Governess in many ways, but is seen by her as the embodiment of shame and scandal – things to be avoided at all cost.

Peter Quint: – male presenting
The rougher and more intimidating of the two ghosts at Bly. Formally the Employer’s valet, Peter Quint was a charismatic young man who was extremely influential to young Miles, much to the objection of Mrs. Grose. It is heavily implied that he had a scandalous love affair with the previous Governess, Ms. Jessel, before his mysterious death. Simultaneously alluring and threatening, desirable and perverse.

Audition Sides
Click on the links below to see the play excerpts that will be used at the audition. Physical copies will be available at the audition. 

Side 1 – Governess & Flora
Side 2 – Flora, Governess, Mrs. Grose
Side 3 – Governess, Miles, Employer
Side 4 – Mrs. Grose & Governess
Side 5 – Governess, Miles, Flora