Emily - Elisa Scarito
Emily had plans to sell her coffee shop and follow her dream by making a living out of songwriting and singing. Only problem is that she doesn't believe in her talent. Tom, her partner gave her belief in herself bad sadly he lost his life while on a military tour in Afghanistan.
Personality: Emily is a kind and caring person. Though clever lacks the confidence to take a risk for fear of failure.
Role requirements: Strong singing and acting.
Playing age: 23 - 30.
Songs: What’s it to you (backing)
Stronger Now (backing)
Don’t say another word (Solo backing)
The Journey (backing)
In Your Eyes (backing)
I Turn to You (backing)
I Believe in You (Lead)
Until today (Lead)
Your life is in your hands (backing)
Robby - Emily Darling
Robby is Emily’s Employee. She's worked at Café L'Arté for a long while, a devoted and great employee and yet Emily feels that she doesn't know the real Robby.
Personality: Consciencious to a fault, Robby is a little scatty, clumbsy, often late but otherwise always dependable and kind.
Role requirements: Strong comedic acting and singing.
Playing age: 17 - 36.
Songs: What’s it to you (backing)
Stronger Now (Backing)
Robby’s song (Lead)
Don’t say another word (Solo backing)
The Journey (Joint lead)
In Your Eyes (backing)
I Turn to You (backing)
I Believe in You (backing)
Your life is in your hands (Lead)
Joseph Cross - Joe Creaser
The mysterious man who turns up at Emily's coffee shop declaring that he's a Psychic Songwriter & Healer.
Personality: Very clever in an unusual way. However, he is, at least in part, fabricating this personality to achieve a result.
Role requirements: Strong acting.
Playing age: 23 - 30.
Julia - Eden Gates
Julia is a victim of domestic abuse. She left her previous very safe but unexciting relationship for an unpreditcable but exciting one.
Personality: Previously confident and a bit of a thrill seeker but recent events have changed her from the former bubbly self to the subdued fearful person she has now become.
Role requirements: Strong singing and acting.
Playing age: 18
Songs: Backing on most of the songs
In Your Eyes (Lead)
I Turn to You (Lead)
The Writer - Lucas Greenwood
The Writer tends to get inspired by writing in coffee shops but for the last few weeks has been suffering severe writers block.
Personality: Perfectionist who truly suffers for his art. Very talented but his self critisim, though it pushes him to greater heights, really doesn't do his mental health any good.
Role requirements: Singing and acting.
Playing age: 20 - 60.
Songs: The Writer (Lead)
Karl - Charlie White
Julia’s boyfriend. Lot's of charm, edge but more weaknesses and excesses than we can mention.
Personality: A charmer but self obsessed. Fluctuates from bad boy to loving charmer on an ongoing basis.
Role requirements: Strong rapping and acting.
Playing age: 18 - 25.
Songs: In Your Eyes (Lead rapper)
Debbie - Jamila Clare
Debbie has had a very stressful day at work and is coming to meet her boyfriend ahead of their holiday which she can't wait for.
Personality: Emily is a no nonsense person. Caring and supporting but doesn't suffer fools glady. Her outer personality is one of confidence and strength but underneath she's very emotional.
Role requirements: Strong singing and acting.
Playing age: 18 - 30.
Songs: Backing on most of the songs
Stronger Now (Lead)
Jeanette - Jamila Clare
Jeanette is the founder of a bereavement charity. She's done a lot of wonderful work that's helped so many but has experienced a number of errors recently that has cost the charity.
Personality: Jeanette's purpose in life is to help others but suffers from imposter syndrome so her confidence is knocked very easily.
Role requirements: Singing and acting.
Playing age: 23 - 60.
Songs: Backing on most songs
The Journey (Joint Lead)
The Dad - Francesco Scarito
Takes his daughter into Café L'Arté for a coffee and a chat about planning her future. He's concerned that her idea of career is a bit fluffy
Personality: He's done well in business. Strong, reliable and a very rational thinker.
Role requirements: Acting.
Playing age: 35 - 60.
Please note - Already cast
Laura (The daughter) - Saffron Hunter
Laura is worried about what her dad has to say to her. She is very arty and so different to the rest of the family. In fact, in her experience, she's so different to most people.
Personality: Laura's always suffered from being quite different to her peers and yet she solidiers on being true to herself. She doesn't want to compromise her authentic self.
Role requirements: Singing and acting.
Playing age: 13 - 18.
Songs: What's it to you (Lead)
Davina - Eden Gates
Davina has had a traumatic day. She was shown up in front of work colleagues by an inconsiderate boss which has triggered her inferiority complex. She doesn't feel like talking, nor does she want to listen to advice. All she wants is a reassuring hug to make her feel loved.
Personality: She's a wonderful warm hearted person but too a fault. For the most part putting other's needs before hers she's easy prey for the controlling friend type, bully's or non empathic people in authority.
Role requirements: Acting & singing.
Playing age: 18 - 26.
Songs: Don't Say Another Word (Lead)
Tony - Lucas Greenwood
Charity Co Founder
Personality: He's Top guy who helps people both with the charity but in life in general too. Very little, if any, ego.
Role requirements: Acting.
Playing age: 23 - 60.
Please note - Already cast
Antonio - Charlie White
Antonio is Davina's friend. He & Davina are two opposing side of the same coin. Both driven by insecurities but while she is timid he is loud and a pure chatterbox. On this day Antonio has had a day that has massaged his ego unlike, as he's about to find out, Davina's.
Personality: As mentioned above Antonio is insecure and it comes out as a chatterbox. He doesn't cope well with silences when he's with people so is compelled to fill in the gaps.
Role requirements: Acting.
Playing age: 20 - 30.
Alfie - Erin Clarke
Alfie has arranged a meeting with his girlfriend. They are due to go on holiday however he increasingly realises that it's not working. He still can't get over his previous girlfriend who dumped him for another and he feels it's not fair to his current girlfriend.
Personality: Very conscientious and just wants to settle down to a simple existence with a woman and family that he can devote himself too.
Role requirements: Acting.
Playing age: 20 - 30.
Café L'Arté Song List
1 What’s it to you Daughter with cast backing
2 Stronger Now Debbie with cast backing
3 The Writer The Writer
4 Robby’s song Robby
5 Don’t say another word Davina with cast backing
6 The Journey Jeannette, Robby, Tony & with cast backing
7 In Your Eyes Karl and Julia with cast backing
8 I Turn to You Julia with cast backing
9 I Believe in You Emily with cast backing
10 Until today Emily
How to use this workshop site
👈🏻 • Click the buttons on either side to go directly to characters or sections. 👉🏻
• When you go to the characters you get info about them. You also get which songs they sing (if any) and if you click on the songs it takes you directly to the song in the script where you get the lyrics and audio of the song. If there is a second audio that will be a backing track of the song that you can rehearse to.
• At the bottom of each charachter you get a link that takes you directly to their audition piece.
• If you click the song button on the left hand side you go straight to the song list of all 11 songs. If you click on the song your are taken to the part of the script that the song lyrics/audio appear.
Video Reference
Below you will find a video recording of Café L'Arté performed in Waterstone MK in May of 2017. This was filmed for reference only as the video is of poor quality and doesn't do justice to the piece but remains very valuable to refer to for how scenes were approached back then.
There are some changes as the production has since expanded so you won't find a performance of 'your life is in your hands' and the scene with Julia and Karl performing 'in your eyes' and 'I turn to you' have been introduced since then.
How to use this Site