Current Auditions

A Happy and Holy Occasion
by John O’Donoghue directed by Nicholas Opolski

Performance Dates: 26 Apr 2025 – 10 May 2025

Audition Dates: Sunday 2nd February 2025 (7-10pm), and Monday 3rd February 2025 (7-10pm) 2025 at our theatre, 29 Burke Road, Malvern East

CHARACTERS
Mary O’Mahon, 30-50
Australian. Romantic, dreamy. Ill-suited to the life she leads. Strong spirited, beginning to lose her grip on reality.

Denny O’Mahon, 30-50
Her husband. Irish. Under great pressure, trying to keep his family together.

Christy O’Mahon, early teens.
Young looking. Australian. Polite, reserved, sometimes confused by the adults around him.

Tockey Keating, 30-50
Irish. Devoutly religious, but bitter and misanthropic.

Father Thurlogh O’Gorman, 40
Irish. Charming, lively, fun-loving. A confident singing voice required.

Breda Mulcahy, 30-40
Irish. Free-spirited, warm, generous.

Precast Characters:
Houses O’Halloran
Miss Siss

SYNOPSIS
It is February 1942, and tonight is a very happy and holy occasion. Tomorrow, young Christy will travel to Sydney to begin his studies for the priesthood. The O’Mahon family, proud Irish-Australians, throw a small party of farewell, with lamingtons and sing-alongs. But faith and duty can be heavy burdens, and the news of the war is increasingly grim – the family is forced to confront difficult truths.

Malvern Theatre Company is pleased to revive this classic Australian play. A joyous celebration of Irish-Australian humour and resilience, a study of faith and friendships, a drama of a family at pressure-point, ‘A Happy and Holy Occasion’ is a bitter-sweet portrait of a vanished Australia.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Auditions are strictly by appointment as arranged by the Director (refer Victorian Drama League website for contact details). They will be ‘closed auditions’ in 15 minute segments. A copy of the script will be provided, together with a list of the sections to be read at the audition. It is expected that auditionees will have read the play and have a reasonable understanding of it.

Successful cast members MUST BE available for rehearsals on Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons/ evenings (to be determined) between mid February and 25 April 2025 as well as all production dates.

Please check you are available for all performance dates before booking your audition time. Please also inform the Director at your audition, if there is a possibility of you taking on professional acting work that may conflict with rehearsal and performance dates.

You will be required to submit an online audition form with a headshot, prior to the audition, which will be sent out via email.

If you are successful, you will be required to become a member of the Malvern Theatre Company, if you are not already and abide by our Association Rules & Policies.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All cast and crew will be required to hold a current Working With Children (V) card. Parent or guardian of under-age auditionee to contact Director prior to audition.