Open Works Festival presents Inside Casting - A Conversation with Casting Directors Ellie Collyer-Bristow and Sophie Parrott

Casting Directors play a vital role in bringing stories to life, helping to find the actors who will inhabit a production's world and connect with audiences.

Sheffield-based Casting Directors, Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG and Sophie Parrott CDG will lift the lid on their profession, sharing insights into how they discover talent, build an ensemble, and work with directors, writers and producers throughout the casting process.

From in-the-room auditions and self-tapes to industry relationships and career development, they will share what their role involves, what they look for in performers, and how casting decisions are made. Whether you are an actor, writer, theatre-maker or simply curious about how productions come together, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the people responsible for matching performers to the roles that define a production.

Expect practical advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

Part of Open Works Festival

Sophie Parrott CDG

Sophie works across both screen and stage. She has cast productions for - amongst others - the National Theatre, Royal Court, Young Vic, Lyric Hammersmith, Sheffield Theatres and Bush Theatre.Sophie has worked on TV productions for Sky, Channel 5, Sky, Stars, ITV and more. For the last 5 years she has cast the hit prime time BBC show ‘Call The Midwife’ (Neal St Productions) and has recently completed casting on the new CTM Prequel drama, 'Sisters in Arms’ - coming out later this year.

Sophie is a full member of BAFTA and a Trustee for SBC Theatre, The UK’s First Theatre Company of Sanctuary (www.sbctheatre.co.uk).

www.sophieparrottcasting.com

Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG

Ellie started working in casting 18 years ago. She casts predominantly stage, working across both commercial and subsidised sectors.

For Sheffield Theatres she has cast Buffoon, Death and the King’s Horseman and The Hypochondriac. She has also cast productions for many other regional venues to include York Theatre Royal, Liverpool Everyman, Derby Theatre, Bolton Octagon, Chichester Festival Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, CAST, Rose Theatre Kingston, Royal & Derngate, Birmingham Hippodrome, Lyric Belfast, Derby Theatre, Bolton Octagon, Mercury Colchester, Theatre by the Lake and other London venues such as Park Theatre, Riverside Studios and Southwark Playhouse.

West End productions include Witness for the Prosecution (15 casts between 2017-2026), The Mousetrap,Killer Joe and Adrian Mole. Recent UK tours include War of the Worlds, Frankenstein and Macbeth with imitating the dog; The Shark is Broken for Kenny Wax Productions; Birdsong, Murder at Midnight and The Mirror Crack’d for Original Theatre, (the) Woman for New Perspectives and And Then There Were None for Fiery Angel.