Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
December 2 – 12, 2026
Director: Mary Jane Kreisel
Assistant Director: Barbara Mah
Stage Manager: Samantha Tyson
Audition Dates:
August 30: 4:30pm – 8:15pm (Location: Walterdale Theatre 10322 83 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
August 31: 5:00pm – 8:45pm (Location: Walterdale Theatre 10322 83 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
Callbacks: Thursday, 7:00pm – 8:30pm (Location: HI Hostel, 10647 81 Ave NW, Edmonton)
Rehearsals: Begin Tuesday, September 8, 2026 and are normally Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Cue to Cue will likely start on Sunday, November 22, after which all are expected to clear their schedules until the end of the run.
Play Synopsis:
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley picks up the Pride and Prejudice story a few years later when Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy invite family to their estate to enjoy the holidays. Miss Mary Bennet arrives with Jane and Charles Bingley, later followed by Lydia Wickham (with her husband conspicuously absent). Mr. Darcy has also invited his relative Arthur De Bourgh, a bachelor and titled Lord who has recently inherited the Rosings estate following the death of his aunt – Lady Catherine De Bourgh. The play centres on the bookish and literal-minded Mary who encounters Arthur, a well-educated but socially awkward Oxford man. They soon discover they have a common interest in books and deep appreciation of the natural world. The pair enter a thorny courtship with humourous twists and turns as they navigate around Lydia’s advances toward Arthur and Anne De Bourgh’s claims on her cousin and his estate.
Characters:
Note: Ages given here are approximate. Actors need not feel that their ages must match exactly; within reason, we are looking for those who are confident in playing the character. Also, depending on those who are cast, the characters may be of an older age range.
MARY BENNET: Female presenting – early to mid 20’s. Coming into her own, she is intelligent, curious, and literal-minded. Does not suffer fools.
ARTHUR DE BOURGH: Male presenting, mid to late 20’s. A studious loner who prefers books to people. Socially awkward particularly around women.
ELIZABETH DARCY: Female presenting – mid to late 20’s. Confident, charming and witty. Makes a fun and surprising lady of the estate.
FITZWILLIAM DARCY: Male presenting – early to mid 30’s. A loving and generous husband if slightly stiff. Smart, quiet, and often deep minded.
JANE BINGLEY: Female presenting – mid to late 20’s. Married and seven months pregnant with her first child. Sweet, kind and optimistic.
CHARLES BINGLEY: Male presenting – mid to late 20’s. A happy, gracious man, and a good friend to Darcy. Is focused on his wife, Jane.
LYDIA WICKHAM: Female presenting – early 20’s. Flirtatious and self-centred. The life of the party: energetic, engaging, and unstoppable.
ANNE DE BOURGH: Female presenting – in her 20’s. Judgmental, snobblsh and impatient like her late mother Lady Catherine De Bourgh.
Walterdale Theatre Associates is committed to inclusive casting. Artists who are members of under-represented communities are very much encouraged to audition.
We are a volunteer/member organization and cannot engage Equity performers.
Audition Requirements:
Auditions will be held at Walterdale Theatre. The auditions will be done in groups with each 45-minute time slot including up to 6 actors. Sides for readings from the script will be sent by email ahead of time and will also be available at the audition.
Any questions? Email mjkreisel@gmail.com
Walterdale Theatre acknowledges that our theatre is located on Treaty 6, a traditional territory of the Cree and has been an important trading place of the Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Dene, and Métis peoples of western Canada for many thousands of years. We also recognize and honour that we are Treaty people and therefore seek to uphold the spirit and intent of this Treaty.