Opportunities

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Here Be Dragons: Casting Call 

About the show

Here Be Dragons is a family show produced by Unfolding Theatre and written by Lindsay Rodden. The show was first performed in 2025. It has been loved by audiences in schools and community venues across the North East. We are excited to tour Here Be Dragons to Northern Stage in April 2026.

We are looking for a performer to take on the role of Em.

There’s a light in the tunnel. No – wait – two lights. A warm rush of breath, a mighty roar, and… 

It’s not a train. It’s a –   

M is for Metro. M is for Mum and Granddad Mack. M is for… monsters? But there’s no such thing as mythical creatures, not here, is there? 

Em lives near the River Wear. She is ten (and three quarters), and she isn’t scared of made-up stories, okay? There’s enough to worry about right here. But one night, the world feels different. And Em finds something magic to believe in – something magnificent that will change her mind forever.  

Full of melody and music, Here Be Dragons is for everyone up for mighty adventure.

Writer: Lindsay Rodden

Director: Annie Rigby

Designer: Imogen Cloët

Music Director: Hannabiell Sanders

Performers: Hannabiell Sanders, Tim Dalling and… you?

The Role 

We are looking for one black female, male or non-binary performer to join Hannabiell Sanders and Tim Dalling to tell this story.  

This is a music filled family show. We are looking for performers who love to perform for family and community audiences and who have music and/or singing skills. 

The role was first played by Bridget Marumo, who is working on another project in 2026. In addition to full cast rehearsals, we can offer additional support in learning the role, including video and audio recordings of past performances. 

Age:

To play the role of a 10 year old. We imagine the performer might be aged 18-30, but could be older.

Accent:

North East

Gender:

Any

Ethnicity:

The character of Em has a black mum (played by Hannabiell Sanders) and a white dad who we don’t meet. Tim Dalling plays Em’s white Scottish-born grandfather. We are looking for a black or dual heritage performer.

Skills:

Music and/or singing

The character we are casting for is a young person looking to find their way in the world. Their Metro-driving Mam is always on the move. Meanwhile, their ex-miner Grandad stays firmly in one place. He tells stories of dragons that live underground. As the show goes on, the young person seeks to go beyond the edge of their map, to find their own wings in the world.  

Dates 

All rehearsals and performances in Newcastle and will be during the day (no evenings). 

Rehearsals:

30 Mar - 2 April 2026 - full cast rehearsals  

7 - 10 April 2026 - additional script and music learning time for new performer 

Performances:

13 - 18 April 2026 - Northern Stage (14-15 Apr) and Thornley Village Centre (17 Apr)  

 In addition to these dates, we are planning future touring of Here Be Dragons in 2027.  

Fee 

£635 fee per week plus holiday pay (£70 per week) = £705 per week. £2,115 for the 3-week contract. 

How to get in touch 

Please send an email to annie@unfoldingtheatre.co.uk . You can ask any questions you might have, and send her: 

• Information about your experience as a performer, either as an actor, singer or musician 

• Any access needs – Unfolding Theatre has an access budget to support artists to apply for and work for the company. We welcome applications from disabled performers. 

• We plan to hold meetings/auditions during the week beginning 2 February. Let us know dates you would be available during this week (or earlier/later if not available that week). 

• Deadline - Monday 26th January 2026, 5pm

Working with Unfolding Theatre

We are proud to have worked with talented, inspiring and inventive artists and technicians on all of our projects.

Since the company was founded in 2008 we have worked with writers, David Almond, Daniel Bye, Chloe Daykin, Wambui Hardcastle, Carina Rodney, Luca Rutherford and Selina Thompson, actors Jane Arnfield, Michael Blair, Hannah Boyde, Maria Crocker, Alex Elliott, Ruth Johnson, Kat Pierce, Pady O'Connor, Mark Lloyd and Tom Walton, designers and visual artists Lily Arnold, Imogen Cloet, Simon Henderson, Bethan Maddocks and Andrew Stephenson, musicians Tom Bancroft, Ross Millard, Brendan Murphy, Beccy Owen, Fred Phethean, Mariam Rezaei, Paul Smith, Kathryn Tickell, Tin Men & The Telephone and Boff Whalley, sound and AV artists John Alder, Reed Ingram Weir, Nick John Williams and Andy Playford, lighting designer, Kev Tweedy, architect Tim Bailey, dancer Tim Rubidge and production managers, Jill Bennison and Simon Henderson.

We are also proud to have worked with producers, Leyla Asadi and Morag Iles, who helped the company grow from an idea into a palace-building, darts-throwing reality.