CAST INFO
the play is set in Sheffield in the late 1990s
all ages are approximate and are stage age, not true age
the play is set in Sheffield in the late 1990s
all ages are approximate and are stage age, not true age
MEN
GAZ
late 30s/early 40s
must haves : strong comic timing & natural stage presence; ability to balance "laddish humour" with emotional honesty and vulnerability.
traits : charismatic, cheeky, funny, rebellious & emotionally driven
A “regular, working-class” guy, out of work, divorced and in debt – and now desperate to find the money to enable him to pay maintenance and keep seeing his son Nathan.
A complex, emotional character with plenty of charm, he is a natural ringleader, masking his fears and insecurities with humour and bravado, but beneath the swagger is a fiercely loyal friend and a loving father, even if he doesn't always get it right.
DAVE
30s - 40s
must haves : strong comic timing & ability to handle emotionally vulnerable moments with sensitivity
traits : funny, caring, insecure, loyal
Gaz’s best friend - and often swept along in his plans!
Dave is the emotional heart of the show : warm, loveable, good-natured, funny and kind.
Devoted husband, he is struggling with unemployment and its effects on his confidence, self-esteem and marriage.
His insecurities about body image and masculinity are central to his journey through the show, but he has natural humour, loyalty and an honesty that make him instantly relatable and his friendship with the group helps him rediscover his self-esteem... and joy!
Needs to be a reasonably big guy.
GERALD
40s - 50s
must haves : strong comic timing & some dancing ability helpful
traits : charismatic, proud, witty, emotionally layered
Was the supervisor at the steelworks. Charismatic and confident, with strong leadership qualities, but emotionally layered. He is a proud man, determined to keep up appearances, even as his world is slowly falling apart.
But ultimately, beneath the polished exterior, his vulnerability and desperation make him deeply human. The unlikely choreographer and driving force behind the group's venture, he finds unexpected friendship with his ex-employees.
LOMPER
20s
traits : introverted, sensitive, awkward, kind-hearted, honesty & understated humour
Quiet, socially awkward and painfully lonely, he describes himself as "a loser who lives with his Mum".
Struggling with unemployment & isolation, he feels disconnected from the world around him, but beneath the shy exterior is a caring man with surprising warmth and humour.
His journey is one of the most touching in the show - as he becomes part of the group, he gains confidence, friendship and a sense of belonging.
HORSE
50s - 60s
must haves : good deadpan humour, natural charisma and warmth, dance ability highly desirable
traits : smooth, humorous, quietly confident and spirited
Older, wiser, effortlessly funny and full of personality, he brings warmth and gravitas to the group.
Beneath his laid-back Caribbean charm, he is a man determined to prove he still has life, pride and swagger left in him.
Known in the show for his unforgettable dance moves & spirit, he becomes the source of encouragement for the others.
GUY
20s – 40s
must haves : stage presence, flirtatious; dance ability and "athletic physique" highly desirable
traits : charismatic, playful, energetic, uninhibited
Charming, carefree and completely comfortable in his own skin, he brings energy, humour and a touch of unpredictability to the group.
Unlike the others, he seems unbothered by embarrassment or self-doubt, making him both amusing and liberating for those around him and, ultimately, his openness and positivity help the group let go of their insecurities.
NATHAN
stage age 11
must haves : confidence, ability to show genuine emotions
traits : intelligent, funny, observant, warm-hearted
A bright, sharp-witted boy, more mature than his years, who finds himself caught between childhood and the realities of his father's struggles. Confident, loyal and surprisingly street-wise, he brings warmth to the story and his relationship with Gaz provides some of the show's most heartfelt moments.
MEN : SMALL ROLES
BARRY (Mandy's husband - everything Gaz is not : clean-cut, reliable, sensible, wealthy, good to Nathan (bit boring?) / TERRY (unemployed steel worker)
BRIAN (job club manager) /POLICE SARGE
ALAN (working man's club manager) / ALF (unemployed steel worker) /REG (unemployed steel worker - sad auditions for strip group )
INTERVIEWER 1 & 2
POLICEMAN
WOMEN
general : I've indicated stage age but what matters most is that the pairings look realistic
MANDY
stage age mid - late 30s
traits : sharp, realistic, protective of Nathan, wounded, strong
Gaz's ex-wife, now married to Barry, and mother of Nathan
She is one of the strongest counterpoints to the men's chaos. Practical, guarded and exhausted by having to be the responsible one - and hurt by Gaz's unreliability. Her anger is from disappointment ie not an angry ex-wife - there's sadness in her sarcasm - and she still has feelings for him underneath it all.
She wants Gaz to become someone Nathan can rely on - she is frustrated by him but she still has hope that she (and he) will succeed.
JEAN
late 30s - early 40s
traits : caring, patient, emotionally intelligent, fun
Married to Dave.
She is warm, down-to-earth, loving and one of the few people who sees the humanity beneath Dave's insecurities and understands. She loves him and is desperate to keep him and them together, but she doesn't want to "fix" him - she wants him to rediscover his own worth. Sometimes her frustration needs to appear alongside her affection.
LINDA (could play some other roles)
50s - 60s
traits : dignified, slightly snobby, emotionally repressed
Married to Gerald. Middle-aged and slightly dissatisfied with life and marriage but it's easier to just "stick with it". She has no idea Gerald has lost his job and is shocked - and hurt - when she finally finds out..
LADIES : SMALL ROLES
SHARON (Jean's friend)/ SOCIAL WORKER/JOB CLUB EMPLOYEE
BEE (Jean's friend- one who pees against the wall)/ ANNIE (stripper)
MICHELLE (Guy's very pretty sister 20s)
GAZ
late 30s/early 40s
must haves : strong comic timing & natural stage presence; ability to balance "laddish humour" with emotional honesty and vulnerability.
traits : charismatic, cheeky, funny, rebellious & emotionally driven
A “regular, working-class” guy, out of work, divorced and in debt – and now desperate to find the money to enable him to pay maintenance and keep seeing his son Nathan.
A complex, emotional character with plenty of charm, he is a natural ringleader, masking his fears and insecurities with humour and bravado, but beneath the swagger is a fiercely loyal friend and a loving father, even if he doesn't always get it right.
DAVE
30s - 40s
must haves : strong comic timing & ability to handle emotionally vulnerable moments with sensitivity
traits : funny, caring, insecure, loyal
Gaz’s best friend - and often swept along in his plans!
Dave is the emotional heart of the show : warm, loveable, good-natured, funny and kind.
Devoted husband, he is struggling with unemployment and its effects on his confidence, self-esteem and marriage.
His insecurities about body image and masculinity are central to his journey through the show, but he has natural humour, loyalty and an honesty that make him instantly relatable and his friendship with the group helps him rediscover his self-esteem... and joy!
Needs to be a reasonably big guy.
GERALD
40s - 50s
must haves : strong comic timing & some dancing ability helpful
traits : charismatic, proud, witty, emotionally layered
Was the supervisor at the steelworks. Charismatic and confident, with strong leadership qualities, but emotionally layered. He is a proud man, determined to keep up appearances, even as his world is slowly falling apart.
But ultimately, beneath the polished exterior, his vulnerability and desperation make him deeply human. The unlikely choreographer and driving force behind the group's venture, he finds unexpected friendship with his ex-employees.
LOMPER
20s
traits : introverted, sensitive, awkward, kind-hearted, honesty & understated humour
Quiet, socially awkward and painfully lonely, he describes himself as "a loser who lives with his Mum".
Struggling with unemployment & isolation, he feels disconnected from the world around him, but beneath the shy exterior is a caring man with surprising warmth and humour.
His journey is one of the most touching in the show - as he becomes part of the group, he gains confidence, friendship and a sense of belonging.
HORSE
50s - 60s
must haves : good deadpan humour, natural charisma and warmth, dance ability highly desirable
traits : smooth, humorous, quietly confident and spirited
Older, wiser, effortlessly funny and full of personality, he brings warmth and gravitas to the group.
Beneath his laid-back Caribbean charm, he is a man determined to prove he still has life, pride and swagger left in him.
Known in the show for his unforgettable dance moves & spirit, he becomes the source of encouragement for the others.
GUY
20s – 40s
must haves : stage presence, flirtatious; dance ability and "athletic physique" highly desirable
traits : charismatic, playful, energetic, uninhibited
Charming, carefree and completely comfortable in his own skin, he brings energy, humour and a touch of unpredictability to the group.
Unlike the others, he seems unbothered by embarrassment or self-doubt, making him both amusing and liberating for those around him and, ultimately, his openness and positivity help the group let go of their insecurities.
NATHAN
stage age 11
must haves : confidence, ability to show genuine emotions
traits : intelligent, funny, observant, warm-hearted
A bright, sharp-witted boy, more mature than his years, who finds himself caught between childhood and the realities of his father's struggles. Confident, loyal and surprisingly street-wise, he brings warmth to the story and his relationship with Gaz provides some of the show's most heartfelt moments.
MEN : SMALL ROLES
BARRY (Mandy's husband - everything Gaz is not : clean-cut, reliable, sensible, wealthy, good to Nathan (bit boring?) / TERRY (unemployed steel worker)
BRIAN (job club manager) /POLICE SARGE
ALAN (working man's club manager) / ALF (unemployed steel worker) /REG (unemployed steel worker - sad auditions for strip group )
INTERVIEWER 1 & 2
POLICEMAN
WOMEN
general : I've indicated stage age but what matters most is that the pairings look realistic
MANDY
stage age mid - late 30s
traits : sharp, realistic, protective of Nathan, wounded, strong
Gaz's ex-wife, now married to Barry, and mother of Nathan
She is one of the strongest counterpoints to the men's chaos. Practical, guarded and exhausted by having to be the responsible one - and hurt by Gaz's unreliability. Her anger is from disappointment ie not an angry ex-wife - there's sadness in her sarcasm - and she still has feelings for him underneath it all.
She wants Gaz to become someone Nathan can rely on - she is frustrated by him but she still has hope that she (and he) will succeed.
JEAN
late 30s - early 40s
traits : caring, patient, emotionally intelligent, fun
Married to Dave.
She is warm, down-to-earth, loving and one of the few people who sees the humanity beneath Dave's insecurities and understands. She loves him and is desperate to keep him and them together, but she doesn't want to "fix" him - she wants him to rediscover his own worth. Sometimes her frustration needs to appear alongside her affection.
LINDA (could play some other roles)
50s - 60s
traits : dignified, slightly snobby, emotionally repressed
Married to Gerald. Middle-aged and slightly dissatisfied with life and marriage but it's easier to just "stick with it". She has no idea Gerald has lost his job and is shocked - and hurt - when she finally finds out..
LADIES : SMALL ROLES
SHARON (Jean's friend)/ SOCIAL WORKER/JOB CLUB EMPLOYEE
BEE (Jean's friend- one who pees against the wall)/ ANNIE (stripper)
MICHELLE (Guy's very pretty sister 20s)