County Durham Theatre Company Seeks New Talent for Productions in Horden
29 January 2026
Ensemble ‘84, a pioneering theatre company based in Horden, County Durham, has announced an Open Call for Auditions, inviting local people to train as professional actors and form the company’s cast.
The second programme of its kind since the company’s launch, successful candidates will follow
the cast’s footsteps, undergoing an intensive paid training programme under the guidance of Artistic Director, Mark Dornford-May, with paid performance opportunities during training.
Since forming in October 2024, Ensemble ’84 has staged two productions garnering critical acclaim, ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’ and ‘Pits, People and Players’, with its all-County-Durham cast playing to full houses and receiving four-star reviews from The Guardian, The Times and The Stage. As a result, they received awards for Best Newcomer, Performance of the Year and The Arts Council England Award at last year’s North East Culture Awards. Based in Horden, they plan to continue transforming the village’s cultural landscape, where professional, world class theatre meets local stories, voices and audiences.
Auditions and training will take place at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in Horden, newly transformed into a thriving rehearsal space and home for the company, where Ensemble ‘84’s new works will emerge. The training is unique in its offering, providing a living wage for all successful applicants – unheard of in the theatre industry – and paid performance opportunities during and following the training’s completion, which may include Ensemble ‘84’s next production. The opportunity is made possible through the ‘Into The Light’ programme, a creative place-partnership fostering creative growth across County Durham and providing accessible routes into the arts.
Applications are now open, with auditions taking place at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in Horden from Wednesday 4th February until Friday 6th February.
Mark Dornford-May, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble ‘84, said, “Ensemble ’84 was founded on a simple but radical idea: that world-class theatre can be made with, by and for local communities. This Open Call is about opening the doors wide, inviting people from County Durham to train, earn a living wage, and become part of a professional company rooted in this place. We’ve seen what’s possible when local voices are trusted and properly supported, and the results have exceeded all expectations. This next cohort will help shape the future of the company, and the future cultural life of Horden itself.”
Julia Handelman-Smith, Director of Into the Light, said, “It is fantastic to see the award-winning Ensemble ‘84 go from strength to strength, and a brilliant example of what can happen with real investment and support in our communities. The Open Call is an exciting opportunity for people in County Durham to have a go and audition to be part of a world-class theatre company, grounded in its local roots. Into the Light is exceptionally proud to support the work happening in the heart of Horden, and the impact of Ensemble ‘84 has already been felt deeply within the community. As a programme, we’re committed to nurturing talent close to home and excited to see who steps forward.”
Applications are now open. Deadline Monday 2nd February, 12pm. To apply, visit ensemble84.com/vacancies
KEY INFORMATION
Our Lady, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church
South Terrace
Horden
Peterlee
SR8 4NQ
Applicants must be 18 or over. There is no upper age limit.
Website: ensemble84.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ensemble84theatre
Instagram: instagram.com/ensemble84
YouTube: youtube.com/ensemble84