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], 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. 

 

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Upcoming auditions

HAMLET by William Shakespeare

Note: the role of Hamlet has already been auditioned and cast

Open Auditions: 

• 7.00pm Wednesday 4 March (if reading for Gertrude or Ophelia, attend this one if you can)
• 2.00pm Saturday 7 March, 

at Progress Theatre

Performances: 15-25 July in Reading Abbey Ruins

Our Open Air production for 2026 is Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, which will run 15-25 July in the historic Reading Abbey Ruins.

This version focuses on the collision of two families — Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s — each destabilised by grief, betrayal, and a mental health crisis. We will foreground the play’s dark humour so that, when the tragedy comes, it lands with full force.

Our Hamlet is young (20).
Our world is outside time — think steampunk.

Roles available

(Suggested playing ages; flexibility welcome)

• Ophelia (f. 20) Hamlet’s girlfriend and daughter to Polonius. Not an innocent. Likeable. Funny - until she breaks, then fey and distraught
• Gertrude (f. 40) Hamlet’s indulgent mother. Glamourous, status conscious. May dress provocatively. Likes a drink.
• Claudius (m. 40) Hamlet's uncle and new king and husband to Gertrude. Scheming. Ambitious. Guilty. 
• Polonius (m. 40-60) Lord Chamberlain.  Political, long-winded. Loving father to Laertes and Ophelia.
• Laertes (m. 30) Loving brother to Ophelia. Libertine. Good with a sword. Quick to anger.
• Horatio (m/f 25) Loyal friend to Hamlet. Voice of reason.
• Rosencrantz (m/f 25) old friend (lover?) of Hamlet. Observes him for Claudius.
• Guildenstern (m/f 25) inseparable companion to Rosencrantz.
• Ensemble players - multiple roles m/f various ages
  • Player King/Ghost/Barnardo
  • Player Queen/Ghost/Francisco
  • Player Lucianus/Ghost/Marcellus
  • Player Prologue/Ghost/Osric/Priest
• Gravedigger (m/f 40) – may be one of the above

(There is one ghost, played by multiple actors)

Practical Note

Cast members will help with set-up and get-out at the Abbey Ruins (gazebos, props, etc.) and may be asked to support a small number of marketing events. Please let us know if you may have difficulty with any of this.

Please complete an Audition Form.

Audition Pieces to be supplied shortly.

See this draft of the script.

Questions? Contact the director: [email protected]