Auditions
Open Auditions
Progress auditions are open to everyone: members, ex-members, and non-members. Unless the audition notice states otherwise, auditionees must be over 18.
If you are cast for a show, you will need to become a member, this is for legal and safety reasons.
Inclusion
Progress Theatre is committed to the principles of inclusion, and roles are open to all, including any gender identity, disability or ethnicity. Although some characters may be historical figures, auditionees of different ethnicities, disabilities and gender identities are encouraged to audition. We are committed to improving our access to all and would love to welcome you to the Progress community. Please get in touch at [email protected], to let us know if you have any access/inclusion requirements or concerns, including (but not exclusive to): disability, gender, race, sexuality, gender identity, age, or financial aid.
TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES
by Thomas Hardy, adapted by David Calcutt
Key Dates
Readthrough - 7pm Tuesday 24 June @ Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading, RG1 5HL
Audition Slot 1 - 7pm Thursday 26 June @ Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading, RG1 5HL
Audition Slot 2 - 2pm Sunday 29 June @ Progresds Theatre, The Mount, Reading, RG1 5HL
Performances - 24-29 November 2025
Roles
Tess A young and beautiful country girl. She needs to sing a solo
Alec - an arrogant, superficially charming. He is a wealthy landowner with a cold and ruthless side
Angel - a good-looking, educated and caring young man who has given up the religious life for a farming one.
Ensemble - actors and narrators 1-9 who will play a range of characters both comical and serious. I need some really versatile and creative actors here. A number of the roles listed below will be played by the ensemble actors.
John Durbeyfield - a bit of a drunk. Tess’s father,
Joan Durbeyfield - Tess’s mother who is weighed down with a large family and a small income
Liza-Lu - Tess’s younger sister
Abraham - Tess’s younger brother
Car, Nancy and Lizzie Darch - bitchy dairymaids who work for Alec Dúrberville. Juicy gossips who make Tess’s life a misery. Will sing in a group
Reverend Clare - Angel’s father
Mrs Clare - Angel’s mother
Mr Crick - dairyman
Mrs Crick - his wife
Parson Tringham - the local vicar – a superior man
Marion, Izz and Retty - three dairymaids who work at Talbothays. Friends of Tess but also in love with Angel. Good character roles
Jack Dollop - a milker - comic
Rebecca Brook - a young girl deceived by Jack Dollop- not very bright - comic
Mrs Brook - Rebecca’s formidable mother - comic
Landlady - at a lodging house in Sandbourne
Contact [email protected] for more information.