In beautiful Venice, two Gondoliers have just been told that one of them is secretly the king of the Island of Barataria. The problem is, no-one knows which brother it is! The Gondoliers is a tale of mistaken identity, forbidden love, and of course, all of the topsy-turvy rollicking humour characteristic of Gilbert & Sullivan.
This classic truly captures the magic of Italy and contains some of Sullivan's best loved music, such as List and Learn, Try We Life Long, In a Contemplative Fashion and Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes. It's not to be missed!
Without backstage support our shows simply can't go on! We have vacant backstage roles for the upcoming productions below. Please contact the people listed to get involved. Dates shown are show dates, so do be aware that your help will be needed in the run-up week beforehand and potentially earlier than that. Please remember though that you need to be a full member to carry out any volunteer role - find out more here. Our Autumn/Winter 2026 season has been announced and there will be further opportunities for backstage roles, so do keep an eye on this page for updates.
Current Backstage roles for upcoming shows
Chameleon written and directed by Kyle Marsh Performances 15 - 19 September 2026 Projections Creator kylemarsh93@gmail.com Email the director, Kyle Marsh
Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang Performances 13 - 17 October 2026 Assistant Director/Production Assistant Lighting Designer Sound Designer Projections Designer Production/Set Designer indiedwa@gmail.com Email the director, Indie
Things I Know to be True by Andrew Lovell Performances 23 - 28 November 2026 Assistant Director Stage Manager Set Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer stephen@southlondontheatre.co.uk Email the director, Stephen Hayward Stephen would welcome interest from those underrepresented in our theatre, including those of global majority heritage, disabled folk and those who identify as trans.
Year-round volunteering opportunities It's not just specific shows which need volunteer support - our amazing theatre is reliant on member volunteers to keep it running, and there are lots of rewarding ways to get involved. https://www.southlondontheatre.co.uk/volunteer/ Find out about the functions you can support here.
UK The Wheatsheaf Community Hall, Vauxhall, London
Diamond Ball
11th Sep from 6:30pm
We're bringing the piano bars of the West End to you as we glitter our way through an evening of celebrations to honour sixty years of Centre Stage. No solos, no cabarets, this is good community fun as our favourite MDs play sing-along-songs from the last decade of CS shows.
We'll also be presenting everyone's favourite with a twist - the Diamond Spotties! Plus the long-awaited Season Launch, themed cocktails and lots of sparkle! Come and reminisce with your old cast mates, or meet us if you're new to CS. Everyone is welcome! Box Office: buytickets.at/centrestage Tickets £10
The Old Fire Station, 2a Norwood High Street, SE27 9NS
Things I Know To Be True By Andrew Bovell
Audition one: 15 Aug 2026 16:00 - 18:00 Audition two: 16 Aug 2026 10:00 - 12:00
NOTE: AUDITIONS FOR BEN, PIP & ROSIE ARE FULLY SUBSCRIBED and no further audition slots are available for these specific roles. OTHER ROLES STILL OPEN. This play is about family. Bob and Fran have been married for more than 30 years, and have four grown-up children who all (currently) live close by. Their home has seen them through many of life's ups and downs, and as they start thinking about a new phase of their lives, they also try to cling on to their children who are desperate for new starts of their own. These characters all need to realistically look like a biological nuclear family, and I'm very open to creating that family from different ethnic groups with multiracial combinations that represent our society today. Therefore, I strongly encourage those from global majority backgrounds to audition. Director: Stephen Hayward
Performances: 24 - 28 Nov 2026 First Rehearsal: 13 Sep 2026 Characters: Bob: Male - early 60s - retrenched factory worker. Worked hard all his life and loves his family. Is struggling to adapt to the changes that are happening around him. Fran: Female - late 50s/early 60s - experienced nurse. Practical, responsible, jumps into action as soon as she sees a problem, even if it's not always the best course of action. Pip: AUDITIONS CLOSED FOR THIS ROLE - Female - early 30s - works for the Department of Education. Ambitious and headstrong, but is it time for her to follow her heart rather than her responsibilities? Singing ability would be a bonus. Mark/Mia: 30ish - works in IT. Mark is discovering that they are trans-female and ends the play as Mia. You will need to be comfortable and sensitive with this journey. Trans actors are very much encouraged to apply for this role. Ben: AUDITIONS CLOSED FOR THIS ROLE - Male - late 20s - One of the lads. Or at least he wants to be. Feels the pressure to succeed and maybe goes too far with it. Rosie: AUDITIONS CLOSED FOR THIS ROLE - Female - late teens - doesn't know who she is or what she wants to be yet. In the play she experiences a lot of things for the first time, but her love for her family remains true throughout. Must be 18+ to apply.
The panto follows the story of the women left behind when their men are called away to the Crusades; the hardships they go through, and how they manage to battle the Sheriff of Nottingham when he comes calling for additional taxes.
An intriguing plot, plenty of laughs and hilarity. Written with a mainly female cast and including all the well-loved panto characters and situations.
If you are looking for a pantomime written with female cast in mind this could be for you.
F 10, M 6 (3 of these are quite small parts)
All stage directions included.
Props list included.
Lighting plot details.
Suggested song list included.
Set roughly in the Victorian age.
Dame Hilda Owl has two sons Terry and Freddie. Terry is a schoolteacher and is engaged to Tabitha (Tabby) Kat. Freddie is a bad lot who ran away to escape gaol.
A Mr Fowl is the new Squire. It is none other than Freddie Owl who is now rich. He means to evict his mother from her cottage and marry Tabitha.
Terry and Tabby elope to Bong Island to get married where they meet the Pigg sisters. They discover that Periwinkle was recently married to Freddie Owl who stole her money and ran away. They confront Freddie, who is then arrested by the local village Constable. The Constable then asks Dame Hilda Owl to marry him. Cue celebration.
Marmaduke Muffet, a rich man and the owner of a pickle factory, has a daughter, Molly who is in love with Peter Piper (Chief Pickle Blender). Widow Black and her son Jethro Black arrive in the village. The widow has a magical pendant necklace, which makes old men fall in love with her. She sets her sights on Marmaduke.
Darren and Davey Rotter are two market traders who fall in with Jet who cons them into getting Peter sacked. Dazzer and Davey discover Widow Black’s secret. With the help of Peter, Polly, Molly and Willy they expose her evil plan.
Peter and Molly marry. Marmaduke retires. Peter takes over as MD of the Pickle Factory. Widow Black is made to be the Cleaner and Tea Lady while Jethro becomes the Odd Job Man.
New Funding available: Passion Play Directors Development Programme
The Passion Trust has new funding available for directors of Passion Plays, together with free mentorship opportunities. Applications are now open for a £2,000 grants supporting the development of outdoor community theatre and the new generation of creative directors. Open to directors working in the UK. Deadline: 30 November 2026. To apply, please contact admin@passiontrust.org for an application form or visit www.passiontrust.org/passion-play-directors-developmentprogramme/
Funding Details With their roots in the earliest dramatic traditions in the UK, Passion Plays have had a resurgence on the heels of the Mystery Play revival in York and Chester. The Trust aims to help the development of outdoor community theatre and encourage the new generation of creative directors. Grants of £2,000 and free mentoring from experienced directors are available to professional and early career directors.
The New Milton Hub contains our Memorial Hall, the largest indoor community facility between Southampton and Bournemouth with an audience capacity of over 350. This, combined with a well equipped stage area, makes it ideal for large theatrical and musical performances, dances, parties, wedding receptions, lectures and Conferences. The ground floor is step free from the car park, and we have a lift to access upstairs.
Enniskillen Drama Festival is proud to welcome the best in amateur theatre at its Three Act Festival in March every year and its One Act Festival every October. We promote and support local drama with workshops and advice.
Assortment ond adults & childrens' drama costumes. 500+ drama costumes, clothing and props.
'Job Lot' sale is preferable but open to selections. Any enquiries will receive video clip of costumes, costs, commentary and visitingtimes.
Posted 11/01/2026
Recently Posted Musicians Required, Music Services, Music Swap
GAF Percussion
I wanted to introduce myself and let you know that I run GAF Percussion, a percussion hire service based between London, Cardiff and Cheshire, supporting orchestral, theatre, and recording work. I'm happy to travel anywhere as required. Originally I'm from Cheshire but I did my undergraduate at The Royal Welsh College of music and drama, and I'm currently studying for my masters at the Royal Academy of Music. Hence the Cardiff and London links too.
I'm a freelance percussionist and timpanist so if you also need extra players as well as percussion instruments then I can help with that too. The service is set up with performers and MDs in mind - flexible, well-maintained kit, and quick turnarounds when things are needed at short
I have a growing stock of orchestral and theatre percussion, and I'm always happy to help with specific requests where possible. I have many contacts with percussion instruments too so no matter what you need, I'm sure I'll be able to accommodate
If you ever need percussion hire, players or would like a price list for future reference, I'd be very happy to send one over. Feel free to take a look at my Instagram, where you'll find pictures of percussion hire as well as me playing.
Many thanks for your time, and I hope our paths cross at some point.
Best wishes,
Giorgio Fabrizio
Coming to the 2025 BUXTON FRINGE FESTIVAL It's 2028 and octogenarian two-term President Donald Trump is finally about to be replaced for good. Will he go rogue like last time, or will a plan to keep him focused on golf, gorilla documentaries, porn, and developing his perfect presidential library avert disaster?
"Do not see this terrible witch-hunt of a play! It's created by nasty people who hate America so very very much!" ~anonymous, Mar-a-Lago, FL (unverified).
This new play begins with a declining Trump watching the results of the 2028 US election that will choose his successor roll in. Yes, it's set in the future! The Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of staff is concerned and engages White-House-intern-cum-Chief-of-Staff Morgan to keep Trump occupied developing his Presidential Library - one without books no less. But the library project reinvigorates Trump and fate hands him a chance to achieve the dictatorial status he craves. But will fate intervene again for the liberals?
Written and directed by Eoin Carney, an early incarnation titled "I, Trump" played at the INDYfringe and Pittsburgh Fringe festivals in the United States to enthusiastic audiences (and a few walkouts by unimpressed Trump supporters). Soon to be endorsed by Elon Musk(?), THE LAST DAYS OF TRUMP is coming to the Palace Hotel in lovely Buxton and IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE! Less a partisan hit-job than a satire about unintended consequences and the hand of fate, this political comedy explores how we all would love to be a dictator deep down.
THE LAST DAYS OF TRUMP (A Liberal Fantasy)
by Eoin Carney
Friday 18th July, 7-8pm, Palace Hotel, Buxton, UK
Thursday 24th July, 7-8pm, Palace Hotel, Buxton UK
TICKETS
Bring the Heart of Scotland to Your Stage with Our Scottish Plays
I'd like to introduce you to our collection of Scottish plays that beautifully capture Scotland's culture, spirit, and history. We have over 300 one-act and full-length plays covering various themes including Comedy, Drama and Social Commentary. These plays are perfect for theatre groups looking to bring authentic, captivating stories to the stage that resonate with audiences both familiar with and curious about Scotland's rich heritage. If you would like more information, or have a colleague who would like more information, I can send a PDF with our full catalogue or more details can be found at: www.scottishplays.co.uk
I look forward to the possibility of collaborating with you to bring Scotland's vibrant culture to life on your stage. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
My local theatre group, Blackmore Players were going to do this, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a while ago then COVID hit! Having a tidy up tonight and found these in the stage store. Unused x 20. Not written in at all, brand new. They cost £10 each but if we got £5 each, they would be happy. Bargain all round! If you are thinking of doing this, DM me and if you're not far from Blackmore, CM4, then sure we can sort something out. Thanks all.
I would be interested to speak to anyone who has produced "Til Beth Do Us Part" (Jones/Hope/Wooten") as some aspects of licensing are unclear. More generally, it's on the books of Dramatists Play Service in the USA. Their website doesn't list any alternate rights holders in the UK (there are for Asia, Scandanavia etc). There are some suggestions that weinbergers holds DPS rights in the UK but I get redirected to the MTI site and I'm just likely to around in circles. Anyway if anyone can offer advice here or message me I'd be grateful to hear experiences. Thanks in advance.
Please message me https://www.facebook.com/rob.burbidge
Peter's response:
Hi Rob,
I'm afraid I don't have any information that would help.
I will post your query in the #Advice section of www.dramagroups.com asking anyone who is able to help to contact you directly via Facebook.
I’m Amanda. I’m currently doing make up artistry at West College Scotland. I am in my first year level 6.
I am looking for any work experience I could do. Anything at all would be great. Any local groups who need makeup artists for their productions do please get in touch.
