Likeminded: The Casting Process

After dedicating two years of our lives writing Happiness: The Ken Dodd Story, we knew that finding the right cast would be essential to bring the play to life. We advertised our casting call across different social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and were overwhelmed with over a hundred enquiries.

We invited those interested to send over some background details about themselves before sending them the material for their self-tapes. As the self-tapes began to come in, it was incredibly inspiring to witness so many actors bring their unique interpretations of Dodd, and our supporting characters, to the table. So much talent came pouring in, and we just knew we would have some very difficult decisions on our hands! We invited a select number of individuals to attend our callbacks in order to see how they handled different material within the play.

The greatest challenge came when actors who previously had auditioned with comedic material had to try their hand at the more emotional parts of the play. This versatility was essential to master the complexity of the play that peels back the more difficult aspects of Dodd’s career.

It wasn't just about nailing the jokes; it was about capturing the heart and soul of the man behind the laughter. During callbacks, another crucial element for us was pairing up the actors in order to test out their chemistry. As the actors became increasingly comfortable with their scripts, and with one another, we were able to squeeze more comedic and sweet moments out of the material at hand.

This was the point where we felt the magic of theatre come to life before us - it was the first time that the words we’d written were witnessed by an audience. People were laughing at jokes we’d written, and smiling sweetly at the emotional beats. The final selection was challenging for us but it ultimately came down to the actors who could provide a fresh, unique take on their characters. In addition to this, each cast member's enthusiasm towards the project, along with their ability to resonate with the essence of the play played a pivotal role in our decisions.

We are overjoyed to have Adam Titchmarsh take on the role of Ken Dodd in our production. Adam's exceptional comedic timing and ability to capture the essence of Dodd's charisma have impressed us throughout the audition process. His dedication to embodying the legendary comedian's spirit promises to bring laughter and authenticity to the stage, with a vulnerable portrayal that goes beyond imitation.

Equally thrilling is our casting of Alice McKillop as Lady Anne Dodd. Alice's depth of emotion and nuanced approach to her craft stood out to us during auditions. Her portrayal of Lady Anne, Dodd's life companion, adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. We are confident that Alice's performance will beautifully complement the humour in the play, creating a dynamic and heartfelt portrayal of this integral relationship.

Together, we believe Adam and Alice will captivate audiences and do justice to the incredible legacy of Ken and Lady Anne Dodd. We could not be more excited to finally see our project come to life through the talented ensemble we've assembled. We're eager to witness the happiness and tears it will bring, to share Ken Dodd's story in a way that transcends mere biography and encapsulates his spirit for our audience. For our daily news and updates, please follow @kendoddplay on Instagram!