Performer Wanted
for Spring 2026 South West tour of The Jane Austen Fan Club
Written by Victoria Briggs & Lucy Mellors, this new show features 2 performers - along with books, bonnets, and a lifesize cardboard cutout of Colin Firth. Find out more about The Jane Austen Fan Club.
We would love to meet performers who share our passion for creating funny, brilliant, feminist work which tours to both theatres and non-theatre spaces.
Auditions will take place at Salisbury Playhouse on Friday 10 October 2025.
'The Jane Austen Fan Club' will rehearse at Wiltshire Creative (Salisbury) and Forest Forge (Ringwood) 12-24 January. Production Week at Lighthouse Poole 26-30 January. A South West tour of theatres and libraries is programmed 31 January - mid-March 2026. Script development will take place in October and November 2025, and ideally the performer would be able to join for part of this process, depending on their availability.
The role is paid at a rate of £650 per week.
We are awaiting a funding decision (due end of Sep) which will enable the planned development and tour to go ahead. If the expected funding is not secured, then the project activity - including October auditions - will not go ahead.
The show will tour with 3 people - 2 Performers and a Stage Manager, and (in addition to performing) the role will include helping with the set get-in & get-out, and contributing to wraparound & access activity e.g. pre-show touch tours and post-show discussions.
Our ideal performer will have the following skills & attributes:
Essential
skilled & experienced female-identifying performer
a passion for creating high quality feminist work
a willingness to embrace small-scale touring, including to non-theatre spaces
desire to create inclusive and accessible theatre
Desirable
· love of Jane Austen’s work (you don’t need to have read all the books!)
· musical or other special skills (e.g. playing an instrument, hula hoop expert etc.)
· experience of facilitating post-show audience discussions/activity
· based in Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset
· available on Fri 10 Oct for auditions at Salisbury Playhouse
We welcome applications from performers of all ages and backgrounds. We're committed to making any reasonable adjustments you may require for any part of the recruitment process or to support you in your role. We are particularly keen to hear from global majority performers and those underrepresented in the theatre sector.
To Apply
Email victoria.briggs@hotmail.co.uk with ‘Jane Austen Fan Club Performer Application’ in the subject line, by Wed 1 October. Please write a brief email, including
a short introduction to yourself, with reference to the skills & attributes list above
confirmation of your postcode & address during rehearsals and performances
a link to your spotlight or similar (headshot & credits)
if you have them, links to previous relevant work
We will respond to all applicants by Mon 6 October. Auditions will take place at Salisbury Playhouse on Fri 10 October.
