Auditions
Open Auditions
Progress auditions are open to members, all 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.
GAGARIN WAY
by Gregory Burke
Auditions at Park United Reformed Church, Palmer Park Avenue, RG6 1DN
- 3pm-7pm Sunday 8 June - Small Hall and
- 7pm-10pm Tuesday 10 June - Lounge
Performance dates: 29 September - 4 October 2025
Gagarin Way is a dark comedy/drama. Set in Scotland, Fife in a factory after dark. Disenchanted, disenfranchised Eddie and Gary are disgruntled workers at the electronics factory. Attempting to make an anti-capitalist, socialist political statement they kidnap a visiting senior executive. Young Tom is a security guard who thinks he is assisting them with some petty thieving; he gets caught up in their botched kidnap plan. The night ends in the deaths by stabbing of both the kidnapped executive and Tom.
If you would like pdf copies of the audition pieces or have any questions, please contact the director: email Ali Howarth
Liz Paulo is the producer.
Cast:
Tom - a security guard, Male early 20s
Gary - a factory worker, 'thuggish' Male 30-40
Eddie - a factory worker, Male 25-35
Frank - Male over 45-65 ish
TITUS ANDRONICUS
by William Shakespeare
Key Dates
Audition 1 - 2:30pm Sunday 22 June @ Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading, RG1 5HL
Audition 2 - 7:30pm Wednesday 25 June @ Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading, RG1 5HL
Audition pieces will be made available from 15 June.
Performances on Monday 27 October - Saturday 1 November 2025, including Saturday Matinee.
Roles
Saturninus - 40s-60s. Devious new Emperor of Rome. Enemy to Titus, lover to Tamora.
Bassianus - 30s+. Slighted younger brother of the Emperor. Husband to Titus’ daughter
Lavinia.
Marcus Andronicus - 40s-60s. Leading figure in the Senate. Loyal brother to Titus.
Titus Andronicus - 45-65. Heroic General. Tragic father. Vengeful monster.
Lucius - 25-35. Soldier son of Titus, hellbent on revenge.
Mutius/Aemilius (doubling) - 18-30. Duplicitous son of Titus. Sinister lieutenant of
Saturninus.
Martius/Publius (doubling) -18-30. Lost son of Titus. Son to Marcus, loyal right hand to
Titus.
Tamora - 40-60. Queen of the Goths. Sworn enemy to Titus, taking over Rome from within.
Alarba/First Goth - 18-30. Tamora’s ill-fated eldest daughter. Leader of the Goth resistance.
Demetria - 18-30. Assassin daughter of Tamora. The executor of her unpleasant plans.
Chiera - 18-30. Youngest daughter of Tamora, with a taste for bloodshed.
Aaron - 25-35. A true villain. Conspiratorial lover of Tamora, and weaver of deceit.
*requires an actor who can play being of African, North African or Middle Eastern descent
Lavinia - 18-25. Noble daughter of Titus. She is the victim of some horrific and distressing
scenes. Will be required to act in silence for the latter half of the play due to removal of the
character’s tongue.
Only the actors playing Marcus and Lucius are expected to escape without a death scene in
this production (probably).
Contact [email protected] for more information.
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.