Advertisement
Information Night - Monday November 2, 2026 @ 7.30pmDirector: Bronwyn Calvett
Musical Director: John Wilson
In a nutshell:
Ruddygore is a satire of Victorian gothic melodrama, popular at the time on the stage and in novels, but Gilbert turns all the genre’s stereotypes upside down. The villain becomes good, the hero becomes the villain, the “virtuous” maiden casually swaps lovers, AND it has a happy ending!
The Baronet of Ruddygore, Sir Despard Murgatroyd, has inherited a family curse which forces him to commit a crime every day — or die in agony. He hates the curse, doing his heinous misdeeds as early as possible and good works for the rest of the day to compensate!
It’s a huge relief, therefore, when his long-lost elder brother and true heir to the curse, Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, turns up. He has been masquerading as ‘Robin Oakapple’ and is about to be married to the primly perfect Rose Maybud.
Sir Despard insists that ‘Robin’ resumes his real identity as the Bad Baronet, which ruins his romance with Rose. But Sir Ruthven’s troubles really start when his crimes, so pathetic, drag his exasperated ancestors back from the dead to haunt him…
There were a number of changes made to the original libretto after the opening night, and some verses cut from songs, and whole songs cut.
We are going to reinstate some of that material, including some dialogue, verses and one entire song, so if you have seen Ruddygore before, this may include some material you are unfamiliar with.
Information Night: Monday 2nd November 2026 at 7:30pm at St Elizabeth of Hungary Anglican Church, 12 Dwyer Rd, Oaklands Park
Auditions: Monday 9th November 2026 from 8pm by appointment, at St Elizabeth’s.
To book an individual audition for a principal role
please phone the Director, Bronwyn Calvett on 0413 002 410.
There will be a group chorus audition on Monday 9th November at 7:15pm.
Please contact the Director for details.
Audition songs and dialogue will be emailed once you have booked your audition time.
Audition Forms may be prefilled at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__oZ1M2JUOUFZOVpWWkRSQ0hTMkEyU0I4VVBUUEg3TS4u
Planned Performance Dates: 15-18 & 22-25 April 2027
Thursday – Saturday 15-17 April and 22-24 April @ 7.30pm
Saturday – Sunday 17-18 April and 24-25 April @ 2pm
Cast required include...
ROBIN OAKAPPLE (A Young Farmer, actually Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd in disguise): Baritone. Extremely shy and modest. When his true identity is revealed his character becomes the typical melodrama villain.
RICHARD DAUNTLESS (Robin’s Foster-Brother, a Man-o’-wars man): Tenor. Professes to virtuously follow his heart when making decisions but uses this as an excuse to double-cross Robin. Cornish (pirate) accent.
SIR DESPARD MURGATROYD (Of Ruddygore, A Wicked Baronet): Baritone. Typical melodrama villain, who in the second act becomes virtuous.
OLD ADAM GOODHEART (Robin’s Faithful Servant): Bass-Baritone. A rustic villager in Act 1 who speaks with a Cornish accent. In Act 2 he becomes Sir Ruthven’s valet and henchman when Robin’s secret identity is revealed.
SIR RODERICK MURGATROYD ( A Ghost, 21st Baronet of Ruddygore): Bass. When alive was in love with Dame Hannah. He is the ghost who makes sure the current Baronet commits a crime a day.
ROSE MAYBUD (A Village Maiden): Soprano. Primly perfect, she lives her life by the rules set down in a book of etiquette. She comes across as being naïve but definitely knows which side of her bread is buttered!
MAD MARGARET (A Village Maiden): Mezzo-Soprano. Eccentric character. Is in love with Sir Despard and has been driven mad by his neglect of her.
DAME HANNAH (Rose’s Aunt): Alto. In love with Sir Roderick, the last Baronet to have died from the curse)
ZORAH (A Professional Bridesmaid): Soprano
RUTH (A Professional Bridesmaid): Some dialogue, sings with chorus.
CHORUS of Villagers, Officers, Professional Bridesmaids and Ancestors
Contact us for more details, come to info night, message us your email for a copy of the info sheet.
Advertisement
Event venue
St Elizabeth of Hungary Anglican Church, 12 Dwyer Rd, Oaklands Park,Adelaide,SA,Australia
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.