Acting auditions

[LadyWithLapdog]

How do you find out details about suitable auditions for acting (juniors)? A couple of hours on Google brought up zilch. Either too vague, links not working or info not up-to-date. Is it all such a closed shop? I'm new at this.

What is it for?

DS2 has an agent who 'finds' him auditions. He has also found stuff in the local newspaper (for theatres in Bham ) and is in a Panto at Xmas via word of mouth.

How old is your DS with an agent already?! It's for DD who is 9. I googled for local theatres and all sorts of suitable criteria but I couldn't find anything. I guess it will be word of mouth once she gets more into it formally. I'm surprised though it's still so old-fashioned.

Wouldn't The Stage be the place to look? Also Google open auditions in your area to get an agent.

The Stage seems mainly for adults. I'll have another go at Google though it was thoroughly disappointing the other night. Thanks for replying.

It depends what sort of auditions you are interested in & where you live.

Most children's theatre auditions are Open Calls. The big West End shows such as Matilda, Charlie, Billy are advertised in the stage. Often though you have to live within the M25.

Locally there are a lot of panto auditions happening at the moment. They are often advertised in the local paper but sometimes a particular dance school is asked to supply the children.

Occasionally a tour will require children. Again sometimes a company will approach a local dance school, some will be cast via someone like Jo Hawes a children's casting director & some will be advertised.

Where I live a local theatre does a Christmas production & uses children but the initial auditions (which were advertised on the theatre Facebook group & in the local paper) were last spring.

The reason you probably haven't seen much really is that there isn't much about. The website www.notapushymum is often a good source of info.

The best thing would be to join a local youth theatre who put on shows.

DD is in the chorus for a panto this year as her Musical theatre group has been asked to provide children.

It's a professional panto, but the children are unpaid.

I'm London/Surrey so travelling shouldn't be a huge problem. I guess I need to pay more attention to stuff. Thanks for the website pointer. I love its name.