Hangmen
By Martin McDonagh
Directed by Andrew Cross
Auditions: TBC Performances: 29 September - 9 October 2021About the Play
“I’m just as good as bloody Pierrepoint.”
In his small pub in Oldham, Harry is something of a local celebrity. But what’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging? Amongst the cub reporters and sycophantic pub regulars, dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, a peculiar stranger lurks, with a very different motive for his visit.
“Don’t worry. I may have my quirks but I’m not an animal. Or am I? One for the courts to discuss.” This is a very black comedy by the author of In Bruges and The Skulls of Connemara.
Auditions Initial auditions will be held on 3 and 4 July (daytime) and call backs on 6 July (evening). Rehearsals begin start of August. Performance dates: 29 September to 10 October 2021.
Sign up by emailing auditions@stagecraft.co.nz
The Characters | | | | | | Harry | The central character of the play. A loyal gentleman. He and his wife run the pub where the action takes place. He’s also a local celebrity, being the chief hangman on the day hanging is abolished. He is a bluff, blunt and proud Northerner | Alice | The landlady who runs the pub with her husband, Harry | Shirley | The teenage daughter of Harry and Alice | Syd | Assistant hangman to Hennessy. Now questioning the consequences of capital punishment | Bill | Old bar crony. The pub’s innocent. Alcoholic | Charlie | Old bar crony. Balances out the antics of Bill and Arthur | Arthur | Old bar crony. Dry, deadpan and tactless, Arthur is a regular at the bar | Clegg | Local journalist who comes to interview Harry about his role as a hangman and his thoughts on the abolition of hanging | Inspector Fry | A physically intimidating plainclothes policeman | Mooney | A young man from London or thereabouts. He applies for a room in Alice’s pub | Perrepoint | The foremost hangman in England | Hennessy | A young man in jail waiting to be hanged. A young wheeler-dealer who finds himself in a lot more trouble than he bargained for | Doctor | At Hennessy’s hanging to prove the task was properly executed | Governor | At Hennessy’s hanging to see that the task was properly executed | Guards | At Hennessy’s hanging to help with the task of proper execution |
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