Made in Dagenham Musical Overview: Made in Dagenham is set in 1968 in Essex, the community is a close and loyal network of working class solidarity. The women of Ford Dagenham go on strike following a proposal to downgrade their skill set and subsequently their pay. This then highlights the massive inequality between men and women in the workplace when doing the same job. Rita, an ordinary working class mum of two, and machinist for the plant, almost by accident finds herself leading the fight for justice. The girls go on strike, and in a stand of unity the Ford machinist from the Liverpool plant also join the cause. Despite the U.S executives of Ford trying to fight the girls by laying off the men and causing hardship for many families the girls win out and Harold Wilson s administration lead by Barbara Castle pass law to promise equal pay. The musical is based on a true story, is heart warming, uplifting and inspiring, It includes some classical British Banter, providing a lot of comedy, uplifting musical numbers and some moments of sobriety. Made in Dagenham has a bit of everything. Rehearsal Schedule Cast: From Monday 25 th April 2015 there are 25 weeks to put Made in Dagenham on stage. Music and chorus rehearsals will be on a Monday night 19:30pm 22:00pm, with principle rehearsals on Wednesday at 19:30pm. Rehearsals will start at 19:30 and finish 22:00 approx. All principle cast must be available on both a Monday and Wednesday for rehearsals from 25 th Apr 22 nd Oct 16. Chorus cast must be available on Mondays and most Wednesdays from 25 th Apr 22 nd Oct 16. Participation Fees Show participation fees are 40 per adult and 20 for cast under 16 s. Subs must be paid one month prior to show week (22 nd September 2016) You may pay in weekly amounts or a lump sum in cash or via direct debit to the society (details on request). Show Week Schedule Sat 15.10.16 All day GET IN FOR SHOW Sun 16.10.16 18:00 22:00 GET IN FOR SHOW Mon 17.10.16 19:00 22:00 TECHNICAL REHEARSAL Tues 18.10.16 19:00 22:00 DRESS REHEARSAL Wed 19.10.16 19:00 22:00 SHOW NIGHT Thurs 20.10.16 18:30 22:00 SHOW NIGHT Fri 21.10.16 18:30 22:00 SHOW NIGHT Sat 22.10.16 18:30 22:00 SHOW NIGHT Auditions Date: Sunday 8 th May 2015 Time: 1:00pm 5:00pm. Location: Fife Street Working Men s Club, Nuneaton. Those who audition and are successful will be contacted soon after auditions via a phone call with all principle parts released on the NAODS web page and email account on Monday 9 th May 2016. Show Information To be performed at the Abbey Theatre, Pool Bank Street, Nuneaton. Director: Kevin Benson Choreographer: Zoe Kemp Stage Manager: Liam Goodyear Musical Director: Jamie Payne Tickets Tickets for the show are priced at 10.00 / 8.00 and are currently available to purchase online or through the NAODS ticket secretary, (Jayne Cubitt). Tickets purchased on line via the Abbey theatre web site (www.abbeytheatre.co.uk) prior to 30 th September 2016 will be eligible for a 10% discount. Tickets purchased through the ticket secretary prior to 31 st March 2016 will be eligible for a 10%. Such tickets must be paid for in full prior to 31 st March 2016. If tickets booked this way are not paid in full prior to 31 st March 2016, they will be release back for general purchase where the 10% discount will be null and void.
Character Descriptions: Audition Parts Female characters: Audition packs available from info@naods.org Rita O Grady Slightly goofy, average working class mum, Machinist for Dagenham Ford factory, who finds herself (at first) the unwilling leader of a dispute for equal pay for women goes on a journey of self-discovery. Married to Eddie O Grady Stage Age: 30-40 Audition (Lib): Page 93-96 Audition (song): Busy Women We Nearly Had it All Stand Up (From the top including dialogue) Barbara Castle Minister for Transport, who is then appointed to liaise with the Unionist in the Harold Wilson administration. slightly torn between the commitment she has to the working classes, working women and the difficulties of balancing the political books. West yorks/lancs accent. Feisty.itical. Stage Age: 55-60 Audition (Lib): Audition (song): Page 109 into song Ideal world From top to bar 26 and from bar 110 to end. Connie Union steward and machinist at the Dagenham factory committed her life to trying to make a difference. Stage Age: 45+ Alto Audition (Lib): 56-57 Audition (song): Same old story (also known as Connie s Song) Beryl Machinist at the Dagenham factory loyal to the girls but likes to have a bit of banter with them as well swears like a trooper. Stage Age: 40+ Audition (Lib): 11-13 Audition (song): This is What We Want Clare Machinist at the Dagenham factory, one of the girls Saving up to get married quite sweet but rather ditzy, can t get her words out very well, a sort of forgetful stutter. Stage Age: 20+ Audition (Lib): 11-12 Audition (song): Wossaname
Sandra Machinist at the Dagenham factory one of the girls likes fashion, and looking good, would ideally like to bag a man who could keep her in nice things, and is happy to try a few out whilst trying. Stage Age: 20+ Audition (Lib): 12-13 Audition (song): This is What We Want Cass Machinist at the Dagenham factory one of the girls ambitious, and the most sensible of the girls wants to be a pilot Stage Age: 35 Audition (Lib): 11-12 Audition (song): This is What We Want Lisa Hopkins Cambridge graduate married to the Dagenham ford plant manager. Unhappy in her marriage wants to work and use her degree but is treated as a trophy wife. Kind hearted and goes against her husband to support Rita. Stage Age: 25-35 Alto Audition (Lib): 84-85 Audition (song): Storm Clouds. Male characters: Audition packs available from info@naods.org Eddie O Grady Rita s husband and Dagenham Ford factory worker working class happy go lucky, but becomes increasingly frustrated by Rita s commitment to the strike, struggling to cope at home. Stage Age: 30-40 Audition (Lib): 93-95 Audition (song): The Letter and I m Sorry I love You Monty Factory worker and Union steward who represents the girls at the Dagenham factory wants to support the girls as he knows they are right, but doesn t want to swim against the tide, gets a good deal out of his position. In love with Connie. Stage Age: 50-60 Audition (Lib): 62-63 Audition (song): Made in Dagenham
Harold Wilson Labour Prime minister of the time country seems to always be on strike and held to ransom by the TUC and he is struggling to find the answers. As chauvinistic as the time would suggest and slightly clueless Huddersfield accent. Stage Age: 50-55 Audition (Lib): 33-34 Audition (song): Always a problem Mr Tooley Ford Executive from Texas in the U.S Doesn t get the British sensitivity at all expects the British employees of Ford to conform to the American way of running Ford, and doesn t pussy foot around in letting them know that. Boisterous and to the point. Stage Age: 35-50 Audition (Lib): 82-83 Audition (song): This is America Mr Hopkins Ford Dagenham Manager university educated A conformer, wants an easy life and a submissive wife. Stage Age: 35-45 Audition (Lib): 22-23 Audition (song): Made in Dagenham Cortina Man Singer to promote the new ford Cortina launch. Stage Age: 20 Audition (Lib): Audition (song): No lib Cortina Sid and Bill Union Stewards / factory workers at the Dagenham plant who represent the men. Enjoy the Working class banter a bit of a double act, a bit crass. Monty s comrades. Stage Age: 30+ To be selected from other Male auditions. Macer and Hubble Production Manager and Personnel Director of Ford U.K Stage Age: 30+ To be selected from other Male auditions.
Child characters: Audition packs available from info@naods.org We will be selecting two sets of children, each to perform in two nights of the show. Sharon O Grady The two Children of the Rita and Eddie O Grady- Sharon is very determined to be a doctor and likes to study. Stage Age: 6+ Audition (Lib): 3-5 Audition (song): Busy Women Graham O Grady The two Children of the Rita and Eddie O Grady Graham has won a scholarship to a posh school, but from a working class family finds it difficult to fit it, Stage Age: 11+ Audition (Lib): 3-5 Audition (song): Busy Women New Chorus members: Audition packs available from info@naods.org If your new to NAODS and do not wish to audition for a principle part, you will be required to audition to be a part of the society, details below. If you have been on stage with NAODS before, there will be no need to re-audition. New Members (Adults) audition: Men: Song: Made in Dagenham Lib: Speech from Stand Up Dance: Piece of Chorography to be set and followed at Audition Women: Song: Made in Dagenham Lib: Speech from Stand Up Dance: Piece of Chorography to be set and followed at Audition
Made in Dagenham Audition times: Date: Sunday 8 th May 2015 Location: Fife Street Working Men s Club, Nuneaton. Times: 1pm 5:15pm (approx.) Female Auditions 1:00pm Rita O Grady 1:30pm Barbara Castle 1:45pm Connie 2:00pm Beryl 2:15pm Clare 2:30pm Sandra 2:45pm Cass 3:00pm Lisa Hopkins Male Auditions 3:15pm Eddie O Grady 3:30pm Monty 3:45pm Harold Wilson 4:00pm Mr Tooley 4:15pm Mr Hopkins 4:30pm Cortina Man Children Auditions 4:45pm Sharon O Grady 5:00pm Graham O Grady New Member Auditions 5:15pm Men 5:15pm Women Please note that the above times are subject to numbers of those auditioning and subsequently may change throughout the audition date. If you are planning to attend please email info@naods.org for the audition pack. The full casting list, where possible, will be announced on Monday 9 th May at 7:30pm.