General Casting Call: North-East based Puppeteers for 2027 touring productions with Life and Limb Puppets
Life and Limb Puppets CIC Closing date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026
Job Summary
Life and Limb Puppets are a puppet theatre company based in Newcastle upon Tyne, who make high quality puppetry theatre shows for family audiences. We running a general casting call for North-East based puppeteers for their forthcoming touring productions in 2027.
Job Description
We are holding a general call audition process to discover and get to know experienced and aspiring puppeteers based in the North-East of England. The immediate aim is to cast three additional professional performers for our forthcoming English touring dates of "At Sea" in 2027. We would also like to build our network of performers for further touring dates of both "At Sea" and "Dragon" in Autumn 2027 and beyond.
The immediate aim is to cast three additional performers for our forthcoming English touring dates of "At Sea" in 2027. We will have two teams of three performers on tour consecutively. The dates for these teams are:
Team Green:
Rehearsals: 3rd - 5th Feb 2027, Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle
Performances:
15th - 21st Feb (Tour Block - various locations)
1st May Nottingham Playhouse
23rd May - The Lowry
29th May - Skipton Town Hall
6th June - Big Docks Festival, Gloucester
Team Blue:
Rehearsals: 8th - 10th Feb 2027, Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle
Performances:
13th Feb - Washington Arts Centre
14th Feb - Queens Hall Hexham
6th March - The Crucible Theatre Studio
7th - 9th April - Red Ladder Tour Dates (West Yorkshire)
1st June - Aber Arts Centre Wales
2nd June - Tobacco Factory Bristol
Fees:
Weekly Fee: ITC weekly rate of £601, rising to £631 p/w after 6th April 2027
Daily Fee (3 days or less in a week, 4-6 days paid at the weekly salary): ITC daily rate of £133, rising to £139 p/d after 6th April 2027
Holiday pay at 12.07% paid in addition to weekly and daily fees.
Additional Payments:
Travel Days (where travel falls during working hours on a non-performance day): £50
Online debrief at end of contract: £20
All fees are inclusive of VAT. Travel support to venues from company base and accommodation on tour is provided by the company.
Job Requirements
We are particularly interested in seeing performers who can bring a strong sense of play, improvisation and collaboration to the work. Performers should be good at problem solving, have a strong attention to detail and be team players. All performers should be based in the North-East (ideally within Tyne and Wear, County Durham or Northumberland).
It is desirable, but not required, for performers to have prior experience in:
- Puppetry
- Improvisation
- Movement/Physical Theatre/Dance
- Ensemble Work
Puppetry training in the particular 'Life and Limb style' of puppetry will be provided as part of the rehearsal process. However, please do highlight any previous puppetry experience or training in your application.
Job Responsibilities
Traveling to various venues, unloading vehicles, get in and set build, performances of shows, set strikes and get outs.
Useful Links
Application form:
Trailer for Dragon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdV1iTGJWj4
Trailer for At Sea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeALPxRpmMI
How to Apply
Audition Stages
Application:
Applications are accepted via google forms (link below) from 14th Oct until midnight on 23rd Oct.
Self-Tape:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to send in a self-tape audition demonstrating improv and puppetry skills through the medium of object manipulation from 25th Oct - 1st Nov. Full instructions for the self-tape will be sent to candidates on 25th Oct.
In-Person Audition:
Candidates will be informed by the 7th of November if they are invited to the final audition stage. This consists of a full day in-person group audition in Newcastle on 15th Nov. There will be a 4hr puppetry workshop (10am -12pm and 1pm-3pm). Candidates will be informed within one week of success.
Applications are via the google form (link above). In your application, please highlight any previous puppetry, improvisation and movement experience or training. On the application, you can also let us know your availability for the 2027 dates.
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Contact name: William Steele
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Contact email: will@lifeandlimbpuppets.co.uk