Poster for The Gift by Joanne Murray Smith, image of a sunset over water, and in the foreground a wrapped present on a table.

The Gift

By Joanne Murray-Smith

Directed by Natasha Boyd

How far would you go for friendship?

Sadie and Ed meet Martin and Chloe at a holiday resort and instantly hit it off, despite coming from completely different worlds.

Ed is rich and generous, and Martin and Chloe have a need so great it seems divine providence that the two couples should have found each other. So, given time to think, they make their wish known but — surely nobody could possibly grant it?

Premiering at Melbourne Theatre Company in 2011, and wrapped in Joanna Murray-Smith’s glinting dialogue, ‘The Gift’ is a witty examination of our modern moral confusions.

Character Breakdown
Cast Info: 2F , 2M

Ed – (50s - early 60s), A self-made millionaire.

Sadie - (50s) Bubbly, confident, married to Ed.

Martin - (late 20s-mid 30s) – Charismatic, struggling conceptual artist.

Chloe - (late 20s-mid 30s) – Likeable, attractive, aspiring writer, married to Martin.

Note: Australian accents required; suitability as a couple is more important than exact ages, though there needs to be a generational difference between the two couples.

  • Auditions will be held at the Shoestring Playhouse at The MAC, 77 Beach Road, Torquay and are by appointment only.

    Appointment times are available for:

    • Saturday 29 November @ 11am

    • Sunday 30 November @ 2pm

    Please indicate your preference when completing the audition request form, below.

  • Full attendance three times a week is required at rehearsals, which begin week of 8th December, with a break between 19th Dec-12th January for the Xmas / New Year period. Typically this is Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday late afternoon/evening, however details will be finalised once the production is cast.

    Final dress rehearsal / Preview is Tuesday 17th March.

    Rehearsals are held at the Shoestring Playhouse, at The MAC, 77 Beach Rd, Torquay.

  • Season Dates: Thursday 19th March – Sunday 29th March, 2026.

  • No. All actors and crew are unpaid, volunteering their time in the spirit of community theatre.

  • No! Beginners are most welcome. We do not pre-cast and our roles are open to anyone, regardless of background. Talent can be found anywhere and we encourage anyone who is curious, keen or rusty from years away from the stage to reach out and book an audition.

Book your audition!

Interested in auditioning for ‘The Gift’ with Torquay Theatre Troupe?

Please complete this expression of interest form and we’ll be in touch with an audition time.

  • "Joanna Murray-Smith demonstrates a Stoppardian gift for pithily combining intelligence, wit and pathos."

    - The Independent (UK)

  • "...verbally rich, smartly funny and morally complex"

    -Simon Phillips,
    Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC)

Interested in helping out backstage instead?

Stage Crew Click Here