King Lear

The Stables Theatre is holding auditions for a new production of King Lear on Sunday 22 November, and it's one that might be worth your time if you've got the itch to get back on stage. The auditions start at 2:00 pm at the theatre, and there's no booking in advance, so you just turn up when you're ready.

It's Tim Kendrick directing, and he's not going for the full text. He's staging a unique edited version of the play, so it'll be a tighter, more focused take on the story rather than the whole thing from start to finish. The production is billed as a dynamic, fast-paced, exciting and bold telling of what many consider Shakespeare's finest work. The Lear here is played as a vain narcissist whose only love is the Fool, descending into madness as the play progresses.

If you make the cut, the first read-through is on Sunday 29 November at 2:00 pm, with rehearsals running from Tuesday 5 January 2027. The run itself is 12-20 March 2027, eight performances in total. It's a fair bit of commitment, but it's a proper run of shows rather than a one-off.

For a bit of context, The Stables Theatre and Arts Centre is a volunteer-led venue in the heart of Hastings Old Town that's been entertaining audiences since 1959, staging around ten amateur productions a year. Its mission is to create an inclusive, welcoming community that encourages creative excellence and celebrates the shared experience of live entertainment. The resident company, Hastings Meisner, is run by award-winning director and acting coach Dominique Gerrard. You'll find the theatre at The Bourne, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3BD.