Many actors find themselves in the position of needing to be in something to be seen, and needing to be seen to be in something. In response to this often frustrating dilemma, Paines Plough has committed to meeting over 700 actors previously unknown to the company each year.

Our next London meeting will be held on Sunday 19th June where Co-Artistic Directors George Perrin and James Grieve will be joined by a panel of directors and producers from Paines Plough’s core team and its Associate Companies all interested in meeting actors. The panel will see 180 actors (90 pairs), and these slots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you would like to be seen, please do the following:

Find yourself a partner – we are auditioning people in pairs.
Apply by sending ONE email with BOTH of your names to auditions@painesplough.com.
Please put OPEN AUDITIONS @ ACTORS CENTRE in the Subject line.
Do not send CVs, biogs or headshots as you can bring these with you on the day.
If you are within the first 90 emails, we will email you back by Friday 10th June with an audition time.
If you weren’t in the first 90 people to apply we will keep you on a waiting list and may offer you an audition if a slot becomes available.
Once we have confirmed your time, please prepare a 3 minute piece of dialogue in your pair from a play written post 1995.

Please note:

If you have auditioned at our previous Open Auditions, we will not be able to see you this time round.

We do not accept applications from agents. If you have an agent, you must still apply yourself using your own email address.

Places are all allocated in advance. You will not be able to request a different time, and we will be unable to see people on a walk-up basis.

We will retain a waiting list and will notify you if you are on this waiting list.

If you are allotted a time but for any reason cannot make the appointment please let us know asap by emailing office@painesplough.com. If you fail to turn up to your allotted slot without letting us know in advance, you will not be able to audition at future Paines Plough Open Auditions.

We will not accept any emails sent to any email address other than auditions@painesplough.com.

Due to the large volume of people we are seeing, we will not be able to offer feedback.

We are not casting for a particular show at the moment – we just want to meet some new actors so that we can have you in mind for future productions.

Best wishes,
George, James and all at Paines Plough

OPEN AUDITION FAQS

What are you casting for?
How do I express interest?
How do I apply?
What happens once I’ve applied?
How do you decide who gets a slot?
Where are the auditions?
Do I have to audition with a partner?
What happens if I can’t find a partner?
How long should the duologue be?
What kind of audition piece should we choose?
How long is each audition?
Who will I be meeting at my audition?
I auditioned at your last open day, can I audition again?
Can my agent apply for me?
Should my partner and I both apply separately?
Should I send you my CV and headshot?
When will I hear back from you after the audition?

What are you casting for?

We’re not casting for anything specific. These open auditions are a way for us to meet actors previously unknown to the company, and to give you the chance to introduce yourself to us so we can have you in mind for future productions.

How do I express interest?

We want to meet actors who want to work with Paines Plough. We’re excited when actors write having seen the company’s work with a clear idea of why they are drawn to working with the company. If you feel you have a particular affinity with our work, send an email to auditions@painesplough.com with AUDITION MAILING LIST in the subject heading and a short paragraph about why you want to meet us. We’ll then add your email address to our open auditions database. Before the next open auditions session, we’ll email everyone on the list with details.

How do I apply?

We will email everyone on our auditions mailing list with details of how to apply once the Open Auditions booking has begun.

What happens once I’ve applied?

Once you have applied, we will email you at least a week in advance of the Open Auditions Session to let you know if you have an allocated slot.

How do you decide who gets a slot?

We operate on a first-come-first-served basis. The first 90 people to email us with their name and their partner’s name will be guaranteed a slot.

Where are the auditions?

The London auditions are held at The Actors Centre, 1a Tower Street, London WC2H 9NP.

Do I have to audition with a partner?

Yes. We’ll only be seeing people in pairs, so you’ll need to find a partner and prepare a duologue.

What happens if I can’t find a partner?

Unfortunately we’re not able to pair up individuals, so you’re responsible for finding your own partner. If you’re having trouble finding someone you might want to consider putting a notice up in the Actors’ Centre, contacting Spotlight, getting in touch with Old Vic New Voices, putting a post on IdeasTap, talking to Casting Call Pro or contacting a drama school. If you’re unable to find a partner then sadly we won’t be able to see you this time.

How long should the duologue be?

No longer than 3 minutes please.

What kind of audition piece should we choose?

Your duologue must be from a play written in the last 15 years (written no earlier than 1995). That’s because we’re a new play company so we want to hear you perform contemporary plays.

How long is each audition?

Each pair will have a ten minute slot in which to meet the panel and perform your three minute duologue.

Who will I be meeting at my audition?

We use three rooms at the Actors’ Centre for our Open Auditions. In each room will be a member of the Paines Plough core artistic team – either one of our Directors or Producers. In addition there may be representatives from our Associate Companies, or carefully chosen directors, producers or casting directors from across the industry. After your audition we will email you to remind you who you met.

I auditioned at your last open day, can I audition again?

No, sorry. As there has been an overwhelming amount of interest in the auditions, we would like to maintain a fair system and meet as many new people as we can each year, so unfortunately we won’t meet actors who we’ve seen at an open audition before. We hope you understand.

Can my agent apply for me?

No, sorry. We don’t accept applications from agents. If you have an agent, you must still apply yourself using your own email address. That’s because we want to maintain a fair system for everyone, including those actors who are unrepresented.

Should my partner and I apply separately?

No. One person should apply on behalf of a pair. You can both put your email addresses on the audition mailing list if you like, but only one of you should actually apply please.

Should I send you my CV and headshot?

No, please don’t send anything in advance. If you are on Spotlight, please bring a print out of your Spotlight page to the auditions. It you are not on Spotlight, please bring a headshot and CV to the auditions. It’s worth bearing in mind that we always use Spotlight CVs in our casting processes and therefore encourage people to join.

When will I hear back from you after the audition?

After the auditions, we will keep your names on file and if we think you will be suitable for any future roles, we will be in touch to invite you to a casting.

Other News

Recharge

The Actors Centre has brought four outstanding practitioners together in the perfect package for experienced actors who are looking for new inspiration. Recharge your skills and find out how the Actors Centre can help you develop your career further.
Read More

Wednesday 12th October
Halloween at the actors centre
On the 19th of October the Actors Centre Members Committee will be celebrating Halloween early by putting on a free screening of F. W Murnau's horror classic Nosferatu.
Read More

Acting and Auditioning on Camera: Taster Weekend
On the 16th October the Actors Centre will present a taste of its current range of TV and Casting workshops for professional actors, giving an overview of how TV castings work and the demands of the film set and current practices in British TV today.
Read More

Wednesday 24 August
Call out for Actors
A free script development workshop for three AC members, with Matthew Lloyd, Janie Dee and Claire Price, perfoming work by Booker Prize winning novelist Ben Okri created in Response to The Museum of Broken Relationships.
Read More

Thursday 9th June
RECHARGE
Recharge your skills and find out how the Actors Centre can help you develop your career further. We've brought four outstanding practitioners together in the perfect package for experienced actors who are looking for new inspiration. Read More

Thursday 9th June
INTRO TO ACTING TASTER WEEKEND
We've got two great workshops for non members taking their first step in acting, or looking to shake off the rust after a gap. Introduction to Improvision will lower your inhibitions and teach you to interact with other actors, and Shakespeare for Newcomers will give you a foundation in performing these plays in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. Read more.

tuesday 7th June
ACTORs CENTRE IRELAND
The Actors Centre is making it's maiden voyage to Ireland this July, taking a great selection of our workshops and short courses with us...read more

Monday 6th June
Paines Plough Open Auditions:
Many actors find themselves in the position of needing to be in something to be seen, and needing to be seen to be in something. In response to this often frustrating dilemma, Paines Plough has committed to meeting over 700 actors previously unknown to the company each year. read more...

Thursday 26th May
Advanced Summer School Confirmed: The Headstrong Approach
This advanced, five-day summer school brings to the Actors Centre an innovative approach to screen acting which draws on Stanislavski, Meisner, Adler and Strasberg, and incorporates the extensive experience of workshop leader Michael Ferguson. read more...

Wednesday 27th April 2011
TAMZIN OUTHWAITE BECOMES A NEW ACTORS CENTRE PATRON
Tamzin Outhwaite, star of Eastenders and Sweet Charity has become a new actors centre patron. read more...

Friday 25th March 2011
National Student Drama festival
You can find the Actors Centre at the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF11) taking place next month in Scarborough. read more...

Friday 28th February 2011
'A Screen Acting Workshop' Launches at the Actors Centre
Actors Centre tutor, Mel Churcher, launched her new book 'A Screen Acting Workshop' at the Actors Centre last week. read more...

14th February 2011
Taking Your Musical Career to the Stage
Re-Present in association with the Actors Centre present ‘Taking you to the Stage’, an intensive workshop for musical performers that analyses your audition skills and CV presentation and culminates in an opportunity to showcase your skills in a performance for an invited industry audience. read more...

Monday 7th February 2011
Actors Centre members nominated for off west end awards
This month the Actors Centre features two members who have both been nominated for Off West End Theatre Awards. Julia Effertz and Vinta Morgan are nominated for Best Female Performance and Best Male Performance respectively. You can vote for them until the 14th of February here.
read more...

Friday 4th February 2011
Actors Centre film to screen at belfast film festival
A short film from the Actors Centre’s Talent Boost 2010 project has been shortlisted to appear at the Belfast Film Festival. ‘The Deal’ written by Katie Douglas and directed by Delyth Thomas will be screened at the prestigious event in April. read more...

28th January 2011
Applications now open for the Alan Bates Bursary 2011
Applications are now open for the Actors Centre’s Alan Bates Bursary for 2011. The prize is awarded to a promising young actor at the outset of their career who is graduating this year from an NCDT accredited acting course. read more...

27th January 2011
Featured Tutor Nina Finburgh
Nina Finburgh teaches sightreading classes at the Actors Centre every Wednesday. Nina has coached many of our foremost musical theatre artists and has worked with Classical and Contemporary Companies, and coached Principals in Ballets and Musicals. read more...

10th December 2010
Recharge at the Actors Centre - open workshops in january
Recharge your skills and find out how the Actors Centre can help you develop your career further. The Actors Centre has brought four outstanding practitioners together in the perfect package for experienced actors who are looking for new inspiration and want to start 2011 with a big creative buzz. read more...

1st December 2010
The Actors Centre Open weekend
The Actors Centre is throwing its doors open on February 12th amd 13th 2011 so you can see what we look like and get a taste of the fantastic work we do. This is an ideal opportunity to find out what we offer actors and how we develop their skills, support their careers and hook them up with jobs, casting contacts and creative opportunities... read more

26th November 2010
Save your Kisses for Me
Actors Centre members will stage a performed reading of David Kerby-Kendall's cult play 'Save Your Kisses For Me' at the Tristan Bates Theatre next week... read more

24th November 2010
Our Present to You
'tis the season to be jolly and we'd like to spread some seasonal cheer with a present to you! We're reducing all December classes by 10% as well as some lovely little extras... read more

24th November 2010
Celebrate the end of the year with us!
Join us to celebrate the end of the year with a party, panto and a pop-quiz. The night will start with a 'one-night only' performance of the Actors Centre version of 'Dick Whittington'. This new version of the old classic is not to be missed... read more

10th November 2010
Broadway hit Makes its UK Premiere at the Tristan Bates Theatre
The critically acclaimed play Krapp, 39, is to make its UK premiere at the Tristan Bates Theatre this November. Written and performed by Michael Laurence and directed by George Demas, Krapp, 39 is inspired by Samuel Beckett’s iconic play Krapp’s Last Tape... read more

Monday, 4th October 2010
David Proud and Jason Maza Visit the Actors centre
Actors, David Proud and Jason Maza, visited the Actors Centre last week to share some tips on acting with the BBC Talent Boost participants. You can view videos from the Q and A... read more

10th September 2010
David Proud announces the participants for BBC Talent Boost 2010
The participants for BBC Talent Boost 2010 have been announced. David Proud, star of EastEnders and Talent Boost ambassador, announced the successful participants at a ceremony last week. The 22 participants were selected from over 400 applicants and are all from backgrounds currently underrepresented on UK film and TV screens... read more

25th August 2010
Participants for Talent Boost 2010 Selected

Talent Boost, the radical training initiative run by the Actors Centre to expand the pool of acting talent from culturally diverse backgrounds, is now in its third year and has embarked on an exciting and innovative programme that will train and profile two integrated groups made up of disabled actors working alongside Black and ethnically diverse actors... read more

Friday 24th June 2010
Spotlight on Ivanno Jeremiah - Winner of the 2010 Alan Bates Bursary
One might wonder why this year’s winner of the Alan Bates Bursary, Ivanno Jeremiah, decided to become an actor; his life up until now appears to have been dramatic enough. At the age of 21, his story is far from reaching its conclusion but he’s on track to becoming the inspiration for a Ron Howard biopic... read more

Friday 24th June 2010
Applications Now Open for Talent Boost 2010
The Actors Centre, in association with Graeae Theatre Company, is delighted to announce Talent Boost 2010. The initiative, supported by the BBC, aims to expand casting options, providing creative opportunities for participants from communities across the UK that are currently underrepresented in the broadcasting industry... read more

Friday 9th April 2010
Castathon - Its Back!
Our brilliant fundraising initiative returns. You get to meet some of the country's top Casting Directors from film, TV and theatre and we get to raise money for our Development Fund.... read more

Friday 19th March 2010
Pitch and Play April Dates Announced
Following our hugely successful inaugural event, the Actors Centre is delighted to announce our second Pitch and Play, this time for actors and screen industry contacts. The event will be held at the Actors Centre on the 12th April... read more

Friday 12th March 2010
BBC TALENT BOOST 2010
The Actors Centre's dynamic and innovative programme dedicated to discovering and training fresh acting talent from minority and underrepresented backgrounds is back!... read more