Join the magic: Auditions for Badjelly The Witch at Unity Theatre in December

Director Jill White will hold auditions soon for Badjelly The Witch to be staged by Unity Theatre in March 2025. Photo / Kim Parkinson

Unity Theatre is on the hunt for a witch, a giant, a tree goblin, a worm and two sweet children for its upcoming play Badjelly The Witch.

The casting call is on. Auditions are being held on Sunday, December 8, for the Jill White-directed adaptation of Spike Milligan’s beloved book.

“We’re looking for talented actors including some younger ones aged between 10 and 14, for the roles of Rose and Tim. Depending on the number who audition, I may even double up on those roles so we can give more budding actors the chance to perform,” White said.

It was great having Evolution’s Rising Stars programme for youth as it was developing a lot of talented youngsters who they could draw upon, she said.

“It’s also a great opportunity for those in the Rising Stars programme to show off their skills and do a play like this.”

In the story, children Tim and Rose, while looking for their lost cow, Lucy, meet magical enchanted forest characters.

They are captured by Badjelly the witch, then rescued by an eagle.

Unity Theatre put on Badjelly the Witch in 2008 and White’s daughter Olivia was cast as Rose.

“She absolutely loved the experience and I’m sure it will be the same for the cast in our next production.”

With rehearsals beginning in January next year, the cast will have time to get familiar with their parts and learn their lines over the summer break.

Unity aims to put on three plays a year and Badjelly, scheduled for March 14-22, will be the first of 2025.

White had great success directing the world premiere of Nick Ward’s Come Along Oliver Moody last year.

“Nick was very happy with what we did with his play and has decided to take some of my stage directions and add them to the notes that accompany the play, which was a real compliment.”

Ward wrote the award-winning screenplay for Stickmen in 2001 and has written TV dramas such as Outrageous Fortune and Under The Vines.

It was after seeing the Unity Theatre production of his play debut in Gisborne that Ward decided to turn it into a screenplay, which is now in pre-production.

Unity Theatre’s other plays lined up for 2025 are Misery, based on Stephen King’s book, and ‘Allo ‘Allo.

With a children’s play, a psychological thriller and a comedy scheduled for next year, Unity is covering its bases by catering for a wide variety of tastes.

Auditions for Badjelly The Witch are being held at Unity Theatre, 209 Ormond Rd, at 2pm on Sunday, December 8. Register through the Unity Theatre Facebook page.