Get Involved - Auditions
Whether you fancy yourself onstage, backstage or offstage, Progress Theatre offers a variety of ways for you to get involved.
We’re all volunteers here, learning on the job and from each other. There’s always room for more though, so if you want to pick up a new skill, perfect an old one, or share your expertise with us, we’d love to have you.
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]
Upcoming Auditions
Cold Comfort Farm
Set in rural Sussex, England in the late 1930s.
Directed by Jo Metcalf.
Important dates:
Read through: Friday 8 May, 7pm - 10pm, Progress Theatre auditorium
Auditions:
- Thursday 21 May, 7pm - 10.30pm, Progress Theatre
- Sunday 24 May, 2pm Palmer Park
Characters:
Flora Poste F early 20s (Robert Poste’s child) The heroine. A sophisticated recently orphaned determined to tidy up her relatives lives. Speaks with an RP accent. No nonsense, well organised, pragmatic aided by “2 of the most useful books in the world” viz The Higher Common Sense and Mansfield Park.
Judith Starkadder F 40- 60 Flora’s cousin. Moody, emotionally distraught woman absolutely obsessed with her youngest son Seth. Country accent.
Aunt Ada Doom F 60+ the tyrannical matriarch living upstairs who controls the whole family through threats of illness and her past trauma. She saw something nasty in the woodshed as a girl. Country accent.
Reuben Starkadder M late 20s – 30s Judith’s eldest son. Loves the farm and works it. Dour and curmudgeonly Initially frightened that Flora will take it over from him. Strong country accent.
Seth Starkadder M 20s- early 30s Judith’s youngest son. Handsome almost feral womanising young man who is obsessed with Hollywood movies. Lots of bare chest, earthy pheromone riddled presentation in first Act morphing into matinee star in second Act. Country accent. (double with Charles)
Elfine Starkadder F early 20s Judith’s daughter. Romantic, nature loving, poetry writing ethereal wood nymph transformed to a socially confident woman by Flora. Madly in love with Richard Hawk-MonitirSoft, shy accent.
Amos Starkadder M 40-60 Judith’s husband. A fire and brimstone preacher of the church of the quivering brethren. Encouraged by Flora to travel to spread his faith. Strong, loud, forceful accent.
Urk Starkadder M 30s a relative of the Starkadders who stalks Elfine and whom she thinks she must marry despite her affections being elsewhere. (double with Richard Hawk- Monitor)
Adam Lambsbreath M 60+ elderly superstitious farm hand devoted to Ada Doom and the 4 cows, particularly 3 legged Graceless. Considers Elfine to be “his” and was waiting for her to grow up to marry. Strong country accent. (double with Mr Neck)
Mad Rennet F 30s disappointed in love by “Mark Dolour” (who is gay) she throws herself down the well at the mention of his name and is “mollocked” on more than one occasion by Seth. Eventually joins with Urk. Country accent.
Mr Neck M 60+ friend of Flora Hollywood producer on the hunt for his new matinee star. Strong American accent. (double with Adam Lambsbreath)
Charles M 20-30s Flora’s love interest very upper class. (double with Seth)
Mrs Hawk-Monitor F 50s wife of owner of the adjoining large estate and mother of Richard. Very posh.
Richard Hawk-Monitor M 20s – 30s son of the large estate adjoining CCF. Madly in love with Elfine. Very sophisticated and posh. (Double with Urk Starkadder)
Sneller The butler – any age, any gender.
Chorus (1 or 2 actors depending on who auditions) any gender, any age dressed as either milkmaid or farm hand. Occasional narration to move the plot along.
Quivering brethren/ Starkadder relatives/guest at dance no lines just quivering, dancing, being present etc. Number dependent on who auditions.