HAMLET 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.
Our 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 the Audition Form at
https://forms.gle/YKLoPfajsh41BUYSA
Audition Pieces to be supplied shortly
#auditions
Also check out other Arts events in Reading, Theatre events in Reading, Health & Wellness events in Reading.
