We're looking for people to take part in the Community Cast for Pigeon, a brand new play coming to Tyldesley this August.
We are looking for people
Age 14+
With a connection to Leigh, Atherton or Tyldesley
Who want to be part of a brand-new play
The Community Cast will support a cast of professional actors in telling the story of PIGEON, the headline show at The Den festival in Tyldesley. Acting as an ensemble, (that is, performing together as a group), you will play the role of The Locals – a magical mix of people, memory, and folklore.
No experience necessary, we will build the role together over 10 workshops, giving you time to learn a few lines too!
Community Cast – Key Information
Dates: You’ll need to join 10 rehearsals (see dates below). You’ll perform 3 shows at the Den Festival in August (15/08/2025 & 16/08/2025)
Register your interest by Saturday 21 June 2025 via this short form.
Auditions Wednesday 25 and Saturday 28 of June.
Auditions will take the form of fun, informal workshops with Director Neil Bettles. Giving us a chance to meet you and you time to meet the team and explore performing together.
Community Cast Information:
- Open to anyone 14+, with a connection to Leigh, Atherton or Tyldesley.
- This is an unpaid opportunity.
- Travel Expenses will be reimbursed.
Pigeon – About The Play
Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?
Debs is convinced she saw a man turn into a pigeon outside The Bridge Pub in 1987. 20 years later she is still telling the tale to anyone who will listen. The pub now stands abandoned, set to be demolished to make way for a new housing estate, and Debs is on a mission to save it! But something strange is slowly happening. What starts as a twinge in her back, becomes something more bizarre than she could possibly imagine.
Is Debs about to sprout wings and take to the skies?
Pigeon is a play about community, family folklore and what it means to fly away and never return.
Rehearsal Dates:
6 Wednesday evenings, 2 Saturdays (August), and an extra Tuesday evening & Thursday day the week of the show
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 2 July 2025
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 9 July 2025
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 16 July 2025
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 30 July 2025
- Saturday 10-4PM, 2 August 2025
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 6 August 2025
- Saturday, 10-4PM, 9 August 2025
- Tuesday, 6-9PM, 12 August 2025
- Wednesday, 6-9PM, 13 August 2025
- Thursday, 10-4PM, 14 August 2025
Show Dates
3 performances at the Den Festival in Tyldesley
- Evening show, Friday 15 August 2025
- Matinee (afternoon) & Evening Show, Saturday 16 August 2025
About the Team
Written by Joseph Walsh and directed by Neil Bettles, PIGEON is a new production from the Royal Exchange Theatre and supported by ThickSkin. Created for the Royal Exchange Theatre’s mobile theatre, the Den, coming to Tyldesley this August.
Joseph Walsh: The RTYDS alumni, Joe’s credit’s include assistant director of Blood Harmony (ThickSkin Theatre), writer and director of Frozen Peas In An Old Tin Can (The Way Theatre). While his play Like Dad, Like Duck won the Oldham Coliseum Off Out Competition.
Neil Bettles: Artistic Director of ThickSkin, Neil has directed work that has toured the UK and to New York and Brazil, Winning numerous awards at the Edinburgh Fringe including a Fringe First for ‘How Not To Drown’ in 2019.
ThickSkin: Wigan’s very own award-winning theatre company.
The Royal Exchange Theatre: Manchester’s largest producing theatre.
The Den Festival: a community arts festival coming to Tyldesley this August. Made by and for local people as part of our Community Engagement programme, Local Exchange.