Audition for Lancaster Footlights

Please find below details of all current audition opportunities for Lancaster Footlights productions in 2026.

Till the Stars Come Down

Spring Production - Audition Information

We’re delighted to announce our Spring Production: Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel, the acclaimed family drama that premiered at London’s National Theatre in 2024.

Set over one scorching summer day at the wedding of Sylvia and Marek, a Polish immigrant, the play follows Sylvia’s working-class family in a former East Midlands mining town. As passions ignite and long-held secrets come to light, family loyalties are tested and relationships pushed to their limits.

Blending humour with heartbreak, Till the Stars Come Down explores love, loss, family and the lasting scars of political and economic change. With moments of warmth, intimacy, conflict, dancing and drunkenness, this is an exciting and ambitious challenge for our company.

About the Characters
The play centres on a close-knit working-class family, with Marek joining them as Sylvia's fiancé. Family gatherings are lively affairs, often involving plenty of laughter, strong opinions and more than a little drinking, particularly where Aunty Carol is concerned!

The three adult sisters, Hazel, Maggie and Sylvia, share a close bond and a history of growing up together, including some rather wild teenage years. Although life has taken them in different directions, family remains at the heart of their relationships.

- Hazel is the eldest sister. Married to John and with a family of her own, she is outspoken, strong-minded and sometimes rather bawdy. She has reservations about Sylvia's forthcoming marriage, particularly when it comes to Marek's Polish background.
- Maggie is the middle sister. Having been married several times, she has yet to find a settled path in life. She has recently moved away from the area and the family home.
- Sylvia is the youngest sister. She has remained at home to look after her father, Tony, and is now preparing to marry Marek.
-Tony and Pete are brothers who fell out many years ago. Both are now retired, and their complicated family history forms part of the wider story.
-Aunty Carol, Pete's wife, is a larger-than-life personality. Outspoken, lively and fond of a drink, she is never far from the centre of the action!

Audition Information
We are looking to cast the following roles:
The three sisters:
- Hazel – playing age 40–50
- Maggie – playing age 35–45
- Sylvia – playing age 30–40

Their family:
- John – Hazel's husband, playing age 45–55
- Tony – their father, playing age 60–70
- Pete – Tony's brother, playing age 55–65
- Aunty Carol – Pete's wife, playing age 55–65

Hazel and John's children:
- Leanne – playing age 14–15 (performer must be aged 18 or over)
- Sarah – playing age 10–13 (performer must be aged 16 or over, Year 12, as we will not be using chaperones)

Marek
- Playing age 30–40. Sylvia's Polish fiancé, Marek is confident without being cocky, ambitious and determined to work hard to build a better future. The role involves singing, although you do not need to be an accomplished singer – just the confidence to sing on stage.
All playing ages are a guide, so please don't let these put you off auditioning.

Audition Preparation
There is no need to prepare an East Midlands accent for auditions. Please simply use the audition text provided; the regional accent will come through in the way the dialogue is written.
For Marek, we would like to hear a Polish accent. We hope to arrange a dialect coach to support the actor during rehearsals.
Audition extracts can be downloaded from this page or collected from the Box Office.

Content and Performance Considerations
Till the Stars Come Down moves between energetic, sometimes chaotic scenes of family celebration and drinking, and moments of intense emotional drama and intimacy.
The production includes several scenes involving physical and emotional intimacy between different characters. Please consider this when deciding whether to audition. If you would like to discuss the content, particular roles or the nature of these scenes before auditioning, please contact Sarah (Director)

Intimacy Information: 
Please find below the intimacy information for each character to help you make an informed decision when choosing which role to audition for.
John - embraces and kisses
Maggie - embraces and kisses
Sylvia - embraces, kisses and simulated sex fully clothed
Marek - embraces, kisses and simulated sex fully clothed
Leanne - affection embraces and a single kiss
Tony - picks up another character, they fall and roll drunkenly on the floor together
Carol -is picked up and falls around drunkenly on the floor with a male character

Audition Dates

Auditions will take place on:
- Sunday 29 November
- Tuesday 1 December
Please arrive between 6.30pm and 6.45pm to register, ready for a prompt 7pm start.

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsals are expected to take place on Monday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
We hope to hold an initial read-through on Sunday 6 or Monday 7 December, depending on cast availability. We will then rehearse throughout December as much as possible.
From January onwards, cast members will need to be available for all scheduled rehearsals, as well as the get-in, technical and dress rehearsal period.

Performance schedule:

- Get-in, technical and dress rehearsals: Sunday 7 – Thursday 11 March
- First run: 12–14 March
- Second run: 18–20 March

Audition Texts

Audition extracts have been selected for each character. Please note that some extracts are shared between characters. Audition texts collected from the Box Office.

Please read the information carefully. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our Production Committee using the button below.