Macbeth 2026: Open Casting Call

OPEN CASTING CALL: Macbeth – TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRES, BRISTOL 

Please read this casting call carefully and only apply if you meet the role requirements and can fully commit to the production dates.  

About the production 

Tobacco Factory Theatres are casting for their upcoming in-house production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, adapted by Robin Belfield and directed by Tobacco Factory Theatres’ Artistic Director, Heidi Vaughan.  

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a ruthless exploration of ambition, power, and the cost of forsaking the greater good. 

Directed by Tobacco Factory Theatres’ Artistic Director Heidi Vaughan, this bold new production is charged with her signature ensemble approach – rooted in collaboration, humanity, and emotional depth.  

Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and supernatural dread, Macbeth speaks urgently to our own times: when individualism triumphs over community, the consequences are irreversible.  

We will be casting the production with local actors via a mixture of an open call, invited auditions, and direct offers. Please only apply to this open call if you are based within 25 miles of Bristol. If we do not successfully cast all our actors from the local area, we will extend our search. If you are not local but are interested in applying, please do not submit your interest at this stage, but do keep an eye on our social media for casting updates. 

This is a professional production with a weekly wage of £601 plus holiday pay. You will be working under an ITC contract. 

Performances take place at Tobacco Factory Theatres, Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1TF 

Key Production dates: 

Rehearsals: 

Commence Monday 19th January 2026  

Production Week:  

W/C Monday 16th February 2026 

Previews:  

Thursday 19th February 2026 – Tuesday 24th February 2026 

Opening Night:  

Wednesday 25th February 2026. Performances continue from Thursday 26th February – Saturday 28th March 2026 

(8 performances a week) 

 

Role descriptions: 

• Malcolm, Murderer 1 m/f (age range 20 – 40) 

• Donalbain, Murderer 2 m/f (age range 20- 40) 

• Lady Macduff, f (age 25-40) 

• Lennox, m/f (any age considered) 

• Macduff, m/f (age 30-50) 

Audition Process: 

If you are shortlisted for audition, you will be invited to a workshop-style audition, with movement and music, followed by some short exercises with the text. Script work will take place in small groups/individually. We will give the script in advance for familiarisation purposes but there is no expectation to learn or prepare anything in advance. We will provide space for you to warm up before the audition. We aim to hold the workshop auditions throughout November in a Bristol location(s). 

There may be the need to run call-back auditions after the initial workshops. These will take place on various dates, within Bristol. 

Equal Opportunities 

Our vision is to build an inclusive creative community rooted in our home in South Bristol. 

We want everyone who attends Tobacco Factory Theatres to feel equally welcome, respected and valued. 

Whilst we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, we encourage applications from people whose identities or backgrounds are under-represented in the arts and cultural sector, especially those who face barriers to opportunities, people from working class backgrounds, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, and particularly people from Black, Asian, traveller, mixed heritage or other global majority backgrounds. 

Please feel free to contact Pippa (via email below) for an informal conversation regarding any access requirements related to the role or application process. 

How to apply 

If you have read through the dates and role description carefully and are interested in applying, please send an email as follows; 

• Please add the following subject line to your email: MACBETH OPEN
• CALL: Name of the role you’re applying for. 

• Include your acting CV (via spotlight link or attachment) 

• Include a recent, clear photo of yourself 

• Confirmation you are based within 25 miles of Bristol. 

Please send your application to artists@tobaccofactorytheatres.com by Monday  3th November 2025  

It always helps if performers are specific about the role they are interested in, so do take the time to think about those which resonate with you the strongest, rather than listing all of them. It makes processing your application much harder for us and therefore slows the whole process for all applications.  

If you have already expressed an interest in being considered for casting please resend your application with the required subject line, so that we know which role you want to audition for.  

There will be at least two people reviewing each application. 

We will be seeing in the region of 60 local actors for these roles. It is highly likely that we will not be able to accommodate all applications. If we don’t invite you for an audition then please be assured that this is no reflection on you or your talent, and it will not stand in the way of us seeing you for future opportunities.