Casting Policy

The Octagon produces a minimum of eight productions over two seasons (mid September to early July). Mark Babych , the Octagon's Artistic Director, directs approximately five of these. The rest are directed by freelance directors.

CASTING

Each production is cast by its director. The Octagon does not have a casting department and in general does not employ casting directors. Casting enquiries should be made to Gemma Hack, Casting and Administrative Officer, who will then forward any relevant information to the directors - her contact details can be found at the bottom of the page.

Each production is cast according to its requirements and therefore the Octagon does not hold general auditions, nor operate a thorough casting policy. Occasionally, the director of a production has specific ideas about who they wish to cast and therefore this show will not have a casting breakdown assigned to it.

The casting of each Octagon season is an ongoing process. We try and see as much work as possible, so it is always worth letting us know if you are performing, especially if it is within travelling distance of the Octagon. Please be aware, however, that whilst the Octagon is a thriving and vibrant theatre, we have a relatively small number of staff and cannot always attend a performance. Due to the large number of requests we receive of this nature, it is not always possible to reply to every single letter, however those enclosing an SAE are always replied to where possible.

Once the Octagon seasons are announced (usually in October and June), casting generally take place eight weeks before rehearsals start. Castings usually take place in Bolton and in London.

SUBMISSIONS

On average, the Octagon receives over 4,000 casting submissions per season; in order to manage these efficiently, some casting breakdowns may appear on our casting pages and are sent to agents who then submit their suggestions to us. Please note that casting breakdowns are not always available for every show.

The Octagon operates an integrated casting policy and welcomes submissions from all sections of the community. Sometimes a production requires actors with a specific regional or ethnic identity or a particular level of performance skill - it is important to be truthful when submitting yourself for a role; please try not to put yourself up for something that you genuinely can't achieve.

Once submissions have been received, they are then divided up into roles; it is therefore important that you or your agent makes a submission for a specific part. Applications that ask to be considered for the season cannot be taken into account.

If you write an accompanying letter please keep it brief and to the point. You would be surprised at how many people write essays on the play and they usually end up in the rejection pile as simply do not have time to read them.

AUDITIONS

If you receive an audition, please make sure that you have taken the time to read the play so that the director can have a dialogue with you about it. If you have only been called for an audition at short notice this may not be possible and will of course be taken into account. If the production is a new play, we will endeavour to send you the relevant scenes and, on occasion, the full script.

Be in good time for your audition and if you have to cancel or are going to be late please let us know. 'Gate-crashing' auditions is not a good idea as it puts unfair pressure on the people who are casting.

If you have been auditioned we will always let you know if you have or have not been successful. We will try to be as clear as possible as to when we are able to make a decision, however don't always assume that if you have not heard for a week that you have not got the part - putting the right cast together is like a complicated jigsaw and can take a long time.

The Octagon is a thriving regional theatre, proud of its work and the variety of communities it serves. If you are within travelling distance of the theatre it is a good idea to get to know our work and our spaces, as a proven interest in what the Octagon does gives us a clear indication of your desire and interest in working for us. Occasionally we have received letters from people wishing to "further their training in the regions" - whilst we endeavour to be as professional and helpful as we can, we are not a "training ground" for the national companies!

Finally, we can only keep CVs on file for a short period of time after casting is complete. If you wish your photo and CV to be returned to you, please supply an SAE. If you have been auditioned, the Octagon will keep your details on its database for future reference.

For further casting enquiries, please contact Gemma Hack :