Rats!
Project Overview
Thank you for your interest in Rats!
Rats! is an original children's audio drama following a community of rats who live beneath the roots of a huge oak tree in a hidden village known as Clover Tunnel. While the world above carries on as normal, the rats have built their own homes, paths, gathering places, and traditions underground, creating a lively little world hidden just out of sight.
The series centres around four young friends whose curiosity often leads them into adventures beyond their village. Whether they're exploring forgotten tunnels, getting caught in unexpected situations, solving mysteries, or meeting new faces, every episode focuses on friendship, teamwork and growing up.
As the world expands, so does the cast. The children eventually meet the much larger Sewer Rats, who initially seem frightening but quickly become trusted friends. Throughout the series, characters from both communities help one another, bringing new stories, new challenges and plenty of opportunities for comedy.
Although every episode tells its own story, the relationships between the characters continue to develop across the series, allowing the audience to grow alongside them.
ToneThe show is written for young children and families.
It's light-hearted, adventurous and funny, with moments of genuine suspense and emotion. The world should always feel safe, even when the characters find themselves in danger. Any scary moments come from mystery and misunderstanding rather than real threat.
Humour comes naturally from the characters and their personalities rather than exaggerated performances or constant jokes.
Performance StyleWe're looking for performances that feel believable above all else.
The characters are rats, but they shouldn't sound like cartoon stereotypes. Think of them as children and adults who simply happen to live in a tiny underground world.
The younger characters should sound energetic, curious and comfortable with one another. They're lifelong friends, so conversations should feel relaxed and natural rather than overly polished.
The adult characters are calm, grounded and reassuring. Grandma Hazel carries warmth and quiet authority without sounding strict, while Grizzle has a naturally deep voice that reflects his size but never feels threatening.
The Sewer Rats may look intimidating, but they're good-hearted people. Their kindness should be obvious through the performance, not announced in the dialogue.
You can audition for multiple characters, but please make the voices sound distinctly different, so viewers can't hear just the same voice for two characters.
CharactersPip is adventurous, impulsive and endlessly curious. He has a habit of diving into situations before thinking them through, but his heart is always in the right place.
Poppy is thoughtful, observant and practical. She often acts as the voice of reason, though she's just as capable of getting swept up in an adventure.
Nibble finds excitement in almost everything, especially food. He's naturally funny without trying to be and brings warmth to every scene.
Moss is cautious, gentle and easily frightened, but he's far more capable than he gives himself credit for. He notices details that others often miss.
Grandma Hazel is the heart of Clover Tunnel. She's wise, patient and quietly humorous, encouraging the younger rats to learn from their mistakes rather than shielding them from every challenge.
Grizzle leads the Sewer Rats with patience and humility. Despite his size and booming voice, he's calm, dependable and thoughtful.
The supporting Sewer Rats each bring something different to the group: Brick's quiet reliability, Patch's endless curiosity, and Rusty's cheerful storytelling.
Audition NotesPlease focus on delivering an honest performance rather than creating an unusual voice.
Children should sound like real children talking to their friends. Overlapping reactions, genuine laughter and natural pacing are encouraged.
Adults should avoid sounding overly theatrical or overly serious. The dialogue is conversational, even during emotional scenes.
Most importantly, remember that these characters know one another well. The friendships at the centre of the show should feel lived-in from the very beginning.
We're looking for actors who can help make Clover Tunnel feel like a real place, full of personality, warmth and adventure. If listeners finish an episode wishing they could spend a day exploring that world themselves, then we've done our job.
*All of the character images are just for refence, the actual product will be only sound, no imagery.
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Lead
Age: About 8 (in rat years, a child)
Pip is a small brown rat with oversized ears, bright amber eyes, and a tiny white patch on the end of his nose. He's fearless... at least until something genuinely scary happens. He loves racing through tunnels, climbing roots, and exploring places he's definitely been told not to explore. Pip speaks quickly and gets excited easily. Even when he's frightened, he can't help making jokes.
Voice: Energetic, curious, expressive, slightly mischievous.
- english
- child
- male child
- creature
Come on! If we wait until it's safe, we'll miss all the fun! Besides... how dangerous can one old tunnel be?
Run! Run first, ask questions later! Actually... maybe don't ask questions until we're somewhere with fewer giant footprints!
I know I get us into trouble sometimes... but I always come back for my friends.
Age: About 9
Poppy has soft grey fur, neat whiskers, and wears a tiny clover leaf tied around her neck like a scarf. She's the smartest of the group and usually thinks before acting, although Pip often drags her into adventures anyway. She enjoys solving puzzles and always notices details everyone else misses.
Voice: Calm, clever, confident, but still playful.
- english
- female child
- child
- creature
Everyone stop talking for just one second... do you hear that? Those footsteps aren't getting louder. They're getting closer.
Pip, every adventure you've ever started has begun with the words 'Trust me.' That sentence has an excellent record of ending badly.
Being brave doesn't mean rushing in. Sometimes it means stopping long enough to notice what everyone else missed.
Age: About 8
Nibble is a round little tan rat whose cheeks always seem full of snacks. He constantly talks about food and somehow always knows where the best crumbs are hidden. Although he complains whenever he has to run, he somehow becomes incredibly fast when there's danger... or cheese.
Voice: Cheerful, goofy, slightly dramatic.
- english
- child
- creature
- male child
Emergency snack! I repeat, emergency snack! Running away uses a shocking amount of energy.
Wait... is that cheese? We shouldn't investigate... unless it's really good cheese.
I would like everyone to know that if I disappear, it's because I heroically stayed behind... to finish this sandwich.
Age: About 7
Moss is the smallest member of the group. His dark grey fur is fluffy, making him look permanently nervous. He's shy, gentle, and often worries about things before they happen. Despite his fears, he always sticks with his friends, even when he's scared. He's especially good at squeezing through tiny tunnels.
Voice: Soft, hesitant, sweet.
- english
- child
- creature
- male child
I've got a funny feeling... and usually my funny feelings turn into very unfunny situations.
I don't want to alarm anyone... but I think we're being followed... by something much, much bigger than us.
I know I'm scared... but I'm even more scared of leaving my friends behind.
Age: Very old
Grandma Hazel has silver-grey fur, long white whiskers, kind eyes, and walks with a little acorn walking stick. She has seen generations of young rats grow up in Clover Tunnel and always has a story or piece of advice ready. She sounds serious when warning the children, but secretly enjoys their adventurous spirits.
Voice: Warm, wise, comforting, with gentle humour.
- english
- female senior
- creature
The oldest tunnels aren't always the safest... but they're often the ones with the best stories.
Fear keeps us alive. Panic gets us lost. Learn the difference, little ones.
Every rat, no matter how small, carries a gift. Sometimes it takes an adventure to discover what it is.
Age: Adult
King Grizzle is an enormous sewer rat, nearly twice the size of the Clover Tunnel rats. His charcoal fur is shaggy, one ear has a small notch, and he has huge paws that make heavy footsteps. At first glance he looks intimidating, but he's actually patient, polite, and slightly clumsy. He has a deep booming voice that accidentally scares everyone.
Voice: Deep, slow, friendly, unintentionally intimidating.
- english
- creature
- male adult
- male senior
Easy now... we're not here to frighten anyone. Although... judging by the screaming... we've done a rather poor job of introductions.
I've broken three tunnels, two pipes, and one perfectly good barrel today. Getting lost is hard work.
Strength isn't about being the biggest. It's about carrying what others can't.
Brick is the biggest of the Sewer Rats. He's muscular, dark brown, and incredibly strong, but not particularly graceful. He frequently bumps into tunnel walls and apologizes afterward. He enjoys helping others and carrying heavy things.
Voice: Low, gentle, slightly slow.
- english
- creature
- male child
- male teen
- male young adult
I tried to sneak... but apparently sneaking is difficult when your footsteps sound like falling trees.
I didn't mean to scare anybody. I just... naturally sound loud.
If there's something heavy to lift, I'm your rat.
Patch has black-and-grey fur with a lighter patch over one eye. He's curious about everything and asks lots of questions. He gets distracted easily and often wanders off to inspect interesting rocks, pipes, or mushrooms.
Voice: Friendly, enthusiastic, slightly awkward.
- english
- creature
- male teen
- male young adult
- male child
Wait! Before we go... has anyone else noticed that mushroom looks exactly like Uncle Harold?
Sorry! I wandered off again. In my defence... there were some very interesting rocks.
I ask lots of questions because the world's too interesting not to.
Rusty has reddish-brown fur and a loud laugh that echoes through the tunnels. He loves telling stories and making silly jokes, especially after everyone realizes the Sewer Rats aren't dangerous.
Voice: Big, booming, cheerful.
- english
- male young adult
- male child
- male teen
- creature
Have I ever told you about the time I accidentally scared myself with my own echo? It's a magnificent story.
Every tunnel has a tale, every scratch has a reason, and every adventure gets funnier after it's over!
There's nothing like a good laugh after you've spent ten minutes thinking you're about to become owl food.
The Narrator guides the audience through the story with warmth and excitement, making every chase feel thrilling and every quiet moment feel cosy. They treat the little rats' world as a grand adventure, giving personality to the tunnels, roots, puddles, and hidden corners beneath the forest.
Reference: Voice_Example
Voice: Warm, expressive, storybook-style, with plenty of wonder.
- english
- androgynous
- british
- american
Deep beneath the roots of the oldest oak tree, hidden from foxes, owls, and curious humans alike, lay a tiny village where every tunnel held a story.
The little rats had no idea that before the sun set, their ordinary game of tag would become the greatest adventure Clover Tunnel had ever known.
And somewhere in the darkness... beyond the old drainpipe... something large took another slow, echoing step.
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