Wait until Dark by Frederick Knott
Audition
Monday 8th 730pm and Sunday 14th September 2pm
Run Dates April 18th -25nd 2026
Directed by Jane Tonge
“A classic that still delivers a good scare…delivers a spellbinding final scene that fulfills the promise of the play’s, and the subsequent movie’s, reputation as a classic.”
Sinister conman Roat and two ex-convicts, Mike and Croker, are about to meet their match. In search of a mysterious but valuable doll, they have traced its location to the basement flat of photographer Sam Henderson and his wife, Susy, who is blind. A strange woman had persuaded Sam to carry the doll on a return flight to London, which unknown to him contains heroin. When the woman is murdered, the conman and his gang create a clever deception to convince Susy that Sam is implicated in the woman’s murder and to give up the doll as evidence to prove his innocence. However, while Susy may be blind, she is a force to be reckoned with. She soon becomes suspicious, and with the help of young neighbour Gloria, she figures out she is the victim of a bizarre charade. A game of cat and mouse then ensues between Susy and Roat. When night falls, Susy plays by her rules, turning out all the lights, and leaving both of them to manoeuvre in the dark until the game comes to a thrilling climax.
Parts available:
Susy Henderson - female aged 20s or 30s – an independent young woman, very smart and brave. An accident left her blind, but she is organised and well able to navigate her flat and the everyday world.
Sam Henderson – male aged 30s – a photographer, kind and well-meaning, formerly in the Army, proud of Susy but keen to make her as independent as possible
Gloria - young girl aged 14-16 but needs to look younger, around 12 – she is a mischievous teenager living upstairs who plays tricks on Susy, also smart and helps her when needed
Roat - male aged 40s or 50s – a dangerous crook and a killer, the brains of the outfit, a meticulous planner, good at accents and playing different characters, very threatening
Mike - male aged 30s or 40s – a clever conman, a smooth talker and charmer with the ladies, suspicious of Roat’s plans, carries a razor blade
Croker - male aged 30s - 50s – a recent ex-con, used to violence and handy with brass knuckles, down on his luck so he needs to make some quick cash
Policemen 1 and 2 – any age, they appear at the end of the play
The auditions will be in the form of an informal read through. You don't need to be a member of Saddleworth Players - but we'll happily sign you up! Membership is free.
Contact Jane Tonge at saddleworthplayers@millgateartscentre.co.uk for more information.
Feel free to share this information with anyone you think will be interested.
Playing dates 18th-25th April 2026. Rehearsals will start in February 2026 on Tuesdays and Thursdays usually from 7.30pm, and on Sundays from 7.00pm.