The 39 Steps Walk-Up Audition Intake

A dapper English gentleman, Richard Hannay is bored—until Annabella Schmidt comes into his life and starts him on a heroic and hilarious journey. (Believeable and understandable posh British accent)

Richard Hannay

Male • Leading Role

The husband of the old couple that runs The McGarrigle Hotel, where Hannay and Pamela take shelter from the Heavies. (Scottish accent, needs to be understood because he is translator for his wife, good projection needed)

Mr. McGarrigle

Male • Supporting Role

The mysterious resident of Alt-na-Shellach. Annabella Schmidt tells Hannay he must visit Professor Jordan to prevent British secrets from leaving the country. (RP that gradually shifts to comically exaggerated German, (think an actually evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz) revealing his true identity)

Professor Jordan

Male • Supporting Role

Two thugs who arrest Hannay and Pamela while disguised as police officers. (When speaking it will more than likely be English accent, can go Cockney, think Burt from Mary Poppins)

The Heavies

Male • Supporting Role

A Scottish police officer and friend of Professor Jordan. (Scottish)

Sheriff

Male • Supporting Role

The master of ceremonies at a political rally. He mistakes Hannay for the guest speaker at the event and forces Hannay to give an impromptu speech. (Scottish Brogue)

Dunwoody

Male • Supporting Role

A performer who wows the audience at the London Palladium with his powers of recall.A theatrical memory-man act who holds the ultimate secret to the 39 steps(RP accent, able to speak quickly and clearly rattling off his “facts”, could be played by a female?)

Mr. Memory

Any Gender • Supporting Role

(or compère) in the music hall scene. The actor portrays the Emcee with an exaggerated, comedic Cockney dialect—notably characterized by stylized bows and a pronounced, theatrical pronunciation of "Thankoo" instead of "Thank you". (Cockney accent, exaggerated movements very theatrical)

Emcee

Male • Supporting Role

Margaret’s husband. A farmer who is suspicious of Hannay’s intentions with his wife, Margaret, turns Hannay into the police when he discovers that Hannay is wanted for murder. Deeply religious(Scottish, needs a big thunderous voice for his dramatic prayer at dinner)

Mr. Crofter

Male • Supporting Role

Traveling salesmen on the train will double as a cop, and newsboy. (These characters will speak in a clear British accent akin to Hannay, their doubled characters need a different accent, need to be strong physical actors with great timing)

Salesmen

Any Gender • Supporting Role

Numerous quick-change bit parts (These characters will speak in a clear British accent similar to Hannay)

Policemen, Radio Announcers, Milkmen, Porters, and Pilots

Any Gender • Supporting Role

An exotic secret agent, Annabella Schmidt is in dire need of Hannay’s help. (German accent, strong physical comedy role)

Annabella Schmidt

Female • Leading Role

She is a classic, proper, and slightly uptight Englishwoman who gets unexpectedly dragged into Richard Hannay's spy adventure. A beautiful woman, Pamela is lured into Hannay’s adventure but is skeptical of his claims of innocence. (Posh RP accent (Think Mary Poppins or Emily Blunt), needs to be ok with intimacy and have good timing)

Pamela

Female • Leading Role

Crofter the farmer’s wife, Margaret is a shy young woman who dreams of life and adventure in the city. (Scottish accent, some intimacy?)

Margaret

Female • Supporting Role

Wife of Professor Jordan. She is the proprietor of Alt-na-Shellach.(Very proper RP accent, think Julie Andrew’s Mary Poppins)

Mrs. Jordan

Female • Supporting Role

An elderly cleaner who works at Richard Hannay's London flat. She enters the apartment to clean and stumbles upon the murdered body of Annabella Schmidt. (Cockney, could be played by a male?)

Mrs. Higgins

Any Gender • Supporting Role

The wife of the old couple that runs The McGarrigle Hotel, where Hannay and Pamela take shelter from the Heavies. (Scottish accent that is very thick and quick, possibly played by a male?)

Mrs. McGarrigle

Any Gender • Supporting Role