I'd like to start trying to do some theatre so I can try to invite agents. So Ideally some London based theatres, fringe or profit share.
Have any of you had much luck finding small theatres willing to audition you without an agent? Or has anybody performed in a play and managed to get agents to come along to it?
Since fringe and profit share rarely provide any income to agents, these kind of productions don't tend to worry at all about agents - indeed, many agents attempt to pursuade their talent to NOT take these jobs - no doubt because they might miss out on proper paying jobs.
These kinds of productions are excellent training grounds, and it might be possible to get an agent to come along - but it's luck really.
What's your acting CV like? That's probably more important to an agent.
Remember that profit share is not universally popular, because there are plenty of historic cases of the word 'share' meaning no pay, and any profit vanishing. There are always profit share productions and venues that host them. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it. There's a fine line between amateur and profit share/fringe. So amateur shows are also handy arenas to do skills improvement.
I'll DM you my spotlight link, but I've mainly done a mix of feature films, short films and all screen related bits and bobs. I miss doing some theatre as I haven't done it since stage school and some in training.
Are you on Casting Call Pro? Fringe and profit share opportunities come up there quite a lot and you don't have to pay to apply for unpaid jobs as far as I'm aware.
For Fringe and profit share, it will almost always be the company, not the theatre that you would need to approach for auditions. Most Fringe theatres rent out their space to companies, they tend not to put the shows on themselves. It would be worth looking at the theatre websites to see which companies have performed there in the past though, and, of course, look at any advertised future productions, because if they are quite a long way in the future it is entirely possible they are not yet cast and you could contact the companies to find out. If it is one of smaller producing theatres that mount their own shows then the competition for jobs will be intense and to be honest is more likely to be cast via agents. Some theatres do have information on casting on their websites, and if the information is there, there's no harm in applying if you feel you are suitable for an upcoming production.
It is a well-used route, doing Fringe and profit share in order to try to interest agents (and casting directors). For this reason you will find that there is quite a lot of competition, even for unpaid/profit share roles ( I agree with Paulears that profit share often means no money, or at best enough for some fish and chips and a pint at the end of the run).
It would be good research to go to a few shows at various Fringe theatres and see what you think of the shows. Some Fringe theatres are much more highly regarded than others and agents may be more likely to attend some shows/theatres than others. Of course, it also depends on the agent's availability and whether your CV photo is of interest to them in the first place.
If your main aim is to interest agents, you ideally need to find central venues with good reputations, a company with some kind of track record, a length of run that means you will get some reviewers in and a play that isn't likely to bore the agent to death (i.e. don't go for the 17th production of My Mother Said I Never Should this year). An agent is also likely to appreciate something short...
Give the agents plenty of notice of the production and do a polite follow up call in the week before the production if you haven't heard from them. Be prepared for the interest to be minimal ( I know that sounds depressing). I do know actors who have been in good plays in decent venues for three week runs and they didn't manage to attract a single agent. However, I do know quite a few who have gained agency representation through good Fringe shows, so it doesn't mean it can't be done!
Often the best way to get an agent to take notice of you is to see whether anyone else in the play is already represented (providing you don't clash with one another) and then see whether that agent is coming to see his/her client in the play, then you can write to that agent with your details.
Do you have a showreel? Sometimes this can be enough to interest an agent who may then say "tell me when you are in something I can come and see". If you have this kind of invitation from an agent, you are half way there.
Yes I'm on CCP, Spotlight and also have a showreel, I feel a little like I've reached a dead while I wait for a couple of films to finish post production so I can use that publicity and footage to try and get an agent. I do think my showreel will benefit greatly from my new footage but waiting is of course the worst part of all acting.
I did contact a few agents a little while ago but I think that contacting them at the same time as all the graduates meant that I got a bit lost. I'll still keep my eye out for theatre auditions but it's hard to get into when my CV is so geared toward screen.
Thank you for all your advice, its very much appreciated!
