THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM
Tues 27 - Sat 31 May 2025
Audition Framework
Thank you for your interest in the Children’s Audition for Nottingham Operatic Productons' amateur premiere of Les Misérables in May 2025 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.
In here you will find everything you need to understand how we are conducting the auditions for the parts of young Cosette, young Eponine and Gavroche.
Please go through these pages carefully - they have been designed to make sure you understand how the production will work, what the demands are on performers, and information to make your audition as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Applications for the children’s roles in Les Misérables MUST go through local theatre schools or youth groups within a 25 mile radius of the Theatre Royal, Nottingham (please see the map below)
Each stage/theatre school or youth group can submit 3 children for each of the roles of Young Cosette and Gavroche via the form below:
The part of Young Eponine (a non-singing, non-speaking role) will be cast from the applicants who have not been successful in securing the role of Young Cosette.
Recalls will take place on Sunday, the 26th of January.
Of course, with a production as large-scale as Les Misérables, it’s quite possible we’ve missed something, so if you have other questons, please get in touch by email on lesmis@nottinghamoperatc.com.
If required please click the link below for a downloadable version the audition information and process
We expect this open casting to be extremely popular, so please send in your application as soon as possible, and no later than 10 January, 2025.
A Production for the East Midlands
We are so excited, in the year we mark 100 years of performances at the Theatre Royal, to have been invited by Cameron Mackintosh to be one of 11 lead societies in the UK to create a brand new, original production of the world’s best loved musical, Les Misérables in May 2025.
This once in a lifetime opportunity is part of the nationwide 40th birthday celebrations for the show. We are staging this in collaboration with Carlton Operatic Society, TheCast and the Theatre Royal; our production must not be a replica of the previous or current West End versions, and our original staging will have 9 performances startng on Tuesday 27 May, finishing on Saturday 31 May 2025.
Nottingham Operatic first started talking about this exciting opportunity with the rights holders over 12 months ago. The production team has been developing the concept, which has been approved by the Cameron Mackintosh team, and our Director is working closely with our designer on the set, costumes and lighting. Our Musical Director spent a day in London, working with Stephen Brooker and members of the London Les Misérables cast on a music workshop.
The adult cast has now been finalised and we are now focussing on completing this with the casting of the children’s roles.
Rehearsal and Show Commitments
Performance Dates
Tuesday 27 May - 7:30
Wednesday 28 May - 2:30 and 7:30
Thursday 29 May - 2:30 and 7:30
Friday 30 May - 2:30 and 7:30
Saturday 31 May - 2:30 and 7:30
The production will rehearse on Mondays and Fridays from January through to end May, with Sunday calls startng in mid-March. Rehearsal attendance will be critical and there should be no other show commitments after the end March or holidays after 20 April.
Each team of children will be on stage in 3 performances.
From around 16 May through to Friday 24 May, we expect to be rehearsing on the actual set, in a large rehearsal space.
The band call for the full cast (sitzprobe) is Sunday 18 May.
During these final five weeks of rehearsals, we expect no absences and expect that Les Misérables will be prioritised.
Safeguarding our young performers is our priority and we are extremely lucky to have B Anthony on board as our child protection lead.
The Audition Process
Our casting process will be open, fair and clearly communicated. This is an overview of the process that auditonees will follow:
1. All applications will have to go through local theatre schools, stage schools and youth groups. Children of members of the collaborating groups (Carlton Operatic Society, TheCast, Nottingham Operatc Society) may also apply.
2. Each group can submit 3 children for each of the roles of Young Cosette and Gavroche, Young Eponine (a non-singing and non-speaking part) will be cast from the children who have been unsuccessful in securing the role of Young Cosette.
3. Videos have to be submitted to the theatre school/stage school/youth group as an unlisted YouTube video
4. The group can then select the 3 children for each part that they wish to put forward and submit the form:
Deadline is midnight on Friday, the 10th of January 2025.
5. The Casting Panel will then decide which children they would like to see in the Recall on Sunday, the 26th of January
6. Audition Material can be found via the link below
The Casting Panel is:
Director - Dave Covey
Musical Director - Morven Harrison
NOP - Caroline Harper (Chair)
COS - Chris Rees
TheCast - Rob Corner
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. Applicants must live within a 25 mile radius of the Theatre Royal (NG1 5DD)
We are only licenced to cast amateur performers in this production of Les Misérables, and we will ask all applicants to declare if they are professional performers.
Audition Guidance from the Production Team
The first stage of the audition process will involve a video submission. If your child is successful, they will be invited to attend an in-person Recall.
General guidance for video submissions:
Please use the backing tracks provided.
Please perform the piece off book.
Please ensure that the lighting for your recording enables the panel to view your performance clearly.
Please do not use any sound modification or tuning programmes. The recording should capture a truthful reflection of your vocal ability.
Please ensure that your child’s face can be seen clearly.
There is no need to attempt to recreate costume for the performance. Wear something comfortable.
Performance Fee
This will be the most expensive production that Nottingham Operatc have ever staged: the final budget is expected to be well above £250,000. As we are required to stage a new and original production, not a carbon copy of the London production, this requires considerable investment into set, costumes, props, lighting, insurance etc.
As is usual in amateur productions, there will be a performance fee which contributes towards these increased production costs. This will be £125.00 for the child performers. This fee includes all costumes.
This balance can be paid in monthly installments, and we will email you with a QuickBooks invoice for each part of the performance fee.
We don’t want the performance fee to be an obstacle for anyone offered a role in the show. If your child is successful in the audition, there will be an opportunity to speak to a member of the Casting Panel in confidence if paying this fee is a concern.
Young Cosette
Girls
Age range: 7-11
Height. no taller than 4’4”
You should aim to demonstrate the following; Sing with gusto and a sense of hope
Please perform the extract from the piece “Castle On A Cloud” - sheet music and backing track can be accessed here:
Gavroche
Boys with an unbroken voice Age range: 7-11
Height: no taller than 4’7’’
You should aim to demonstrate the following: Sing with gusto and confidence/self assured
Please perform the extract of the piece “Ow Do You Do” - sheet music and backing track can be accessed here: