Spotlight is a directory of actors and there is a fee to pay and criteria to meet in order to sign up. It connects performers with roles in theatre, television and film productions. Casting professionals choose Spotlight to cast their projects because performers on Spotlight are recognised as the industry’s best. A young performer wishing to join Spotlight must be a minimum of 4 years old and under 18. This means you can join as a young performer from the day of your 4th birthday and up until the date of your 18th birthday. To join Spotlight, you will need to be represented by a Spotlight registered agency who can send you a secure application invitation to complete or apply on your behalf.

The website has advice for you as a young performer, as well as your parents, to help you pursue your passion for the performing arts

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain is a world-leading youth arts organisation. Established in 1956 as the world’s first youth theatre, it has nurtured the talent of hundreds of thousands of young people over 60 years. They aim to inspire, nurture and showcase exceptional performers and theatre technicians from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commissioning brave and relevant new writing and reinterpreting classic stories for our time. NYT is as ambitious as the young people we serve, platforming young talent on West End stages, in stadiums world-wide and at iconic sites both home and abroad.

National Youth Music Theatre offers exceptional opportunities in pre-professional, musical theatre training for talented young people of all backgrounds aged 10 to 23 years through skills workshops, master classes and residential courses led by industry professionals. These opportunities exist for stage performers, musicians, technicians and stage crew and, though our Creative Team Mentorship programme, for aspiring directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers.

BFI flagship programme is for 16-19 year olds (details on website). Filmmaking activities for children include free screenings and creative workshops at Film Fundays, activity days and film clubs held after school. They run a filmmaking and screening programme for young people during the school holidays. BFI Film Clubs aim to introduce young people to new ways of thinking about film. They give young people who might feel film isn’t for them the chance to learn, talk about, make and share film through a combination of online and, where possible, face-to-face experiences.

Casting directors are professionals who have an immense knowledge of actors, they conduct searches for roles and organise auditions. They work with directors and production companies. The Guild is a professional organisation of Casting Directors in the film, television, theatre and commercials communities in the UK and Ireland who have joined together to further their common interests in establishing a recognised standard of professionalism in the industry, enhancing the stature of the profession, providing a free exchange of information and ideas, honouring the achievements of members and standardisation of working practices within the industry.

Equity is the union for actors. Child membership is for young people aged 10 to 17 (inclusive). To join Equity as a child member you need to demonstrate either that you have earned £250 or more from professional work in the entertainment and performing arts industry, or you are a member of an FIA-affiliated union: fia-actors.com, or that you have undertaken a job on an Equity contract.

To get professional work it is helpful to sign with an agent. Daisy and Dukes is a reputable agency that we recommend. Getting a agent can be difficult and competition is fierce. Daisy & Dukes is one of the UK’s top 10 talent agencies for young actors and models. You’ll find their children starring in the nation’s leading TV, film, radio and theatre productions and modelling for high profile brands.

Research agencies and always be wary of anyone asking for upfront fees or admin costs. The only costs should be headshot photographs and joining spotlight.

Check with Spotlight and Equity if you are unsure about an agent and never be pressured into joining or paying anything.

From feature film, TV and new theatre to children’s casting in the West End, VJN Casting work across a variety of exciting productions.

Looking for an agent? Unfortunately there are unscrupulous individuals posing as agents. The PMA is the leading professional body for talent agencies in the UK.

All agents listed via the button below are PMA members.

PMA membership comprises Agencies which represent Actors, Artists, Dramatists and Creatives. Our current, membership stands at 200 agencies; an estimated 1000 agents; who between them represent approximately 50,000 artists, writers, directors and creatives working in screen, theatre and radio.

Members are bound by a code of good agent practice, with outlines conscientious regard for the professional welfare of clients; and commitment to industry-wide values of equality, diversity and inclusion, and anti-harassment. The PMA network is run by its members, for its members – a structure that allows all voices to heard and collective decisions to be made.

There are hundreds of agencies representing children in the UK. Being part of the AYPA can give parents an assurance that the agency they are considering for their child is operating professionally and legally.

All agents who are members of the AYPA operate within our code of conduct. Members will be kept up to date with licence policies and legislation and collectively bring change where it is greatly needed.

Members are listed on the website below

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