Presented by UpStage at The Playhouse
Show Page: The Libertine at Civic Theatre Newcastle
Director’s: Charlotte De Wit and Marigold Pazar
Performance Dates: 2nd - 11th July 2026
Produced by HER Productions :Her Productions
This is a profit share opportunity with rehearsals and performances taking place in Newcastle NSW.
About the Play
John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, is a poet, a wit, and a notorious rake at the court of King Charles II. Armed with a lethal charm and a contempt for hypocrisy, they dedicate their life to pleasure and satire. When they meet the ambitious actress Elizabeth Barry, they find a spirit as formidable as their own, forcing them to confront the devastating cost of their own nihilism.
Following their successful Romeo and Juliet: A Reimagining in 2024, HER Productions returns to the UpStage at the Playhouse program with a provocative and darkly comic work that challenges audiences with a searing duet between destruction and creation, and the quest for truth in a world of glittering decay.
To unravel the timeless themes of The Libertine, we invite you to experience two distinct versions of this production. The first is a gripping, historically-set piece, where the male Rochester’s self-destruction plays out against the emerging power of women. The second is an exciting reimagining of our time, featuring a woman as Rochester, who subverts the very confines of this iconic role and asks: how does the story transform when a female body wields the same toxic, brilliant power?
To Apply:
Application Form:
To apply, please follow the link in our bio or below and complete the application form by the 20th January 2026.
Self Tape Auditions
As part of the application process, please submit a self-tape audition by January 20th 2026. Your tape should include a small introduction and either a monologue or a scene from the provided script for Stephen Jeffreys' The Libertine.
Please note: All dialogue must be performed in a convincing Standard British accent.
Callback Workshop:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a callback workshop held on the 6th or 7th of February 2026.
Details regarding the workshop will be communicated via email upon successful audition.
HER Productions is committed to inclusive casting and encourages submissions from performers of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and abilities. We are looking for the best performer for each role.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will begin in April 2026 and carry through till our performance at the beginning of July. Rehearsals will take place on weekends and a full schedule will be created on cast availability.
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday 02 July 2026 7:00 pm
Friday 03 July 2026 7:00 pm
Saturday 04 July 2026 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Thursday 09 July 2026 7:00 pm
Friday 10 July 2026 7:00 pm
Character Breakdown
The play moves continuously from scene to scene. We are seeking strong, versatile actors for the following roles. Some doubling of minor roles may be required.
JOHN WILMOT, EARL OF ROCHESTER:(Any Gender, late 20s-30s) This production features dual casting for the lead role. We are seeking one male and one female performer to alternate performances as the charismatic, provocative, and brilliantly self-destructive protagonist. A poet of genius and a committed debauchee, Rochester is magnetic, intellectually relentless, and deeply contradictory. This is an exceptionally demanding role. On nights when not performing as Rochester, the actor will perform a featured role within the ensemble. The character required comfortability with choreographed physical intimacy.
KING CHARLES II: (Male, 40s-50s) The Monarch. Witty, politically shrewd, and world-weary. He enjoys Rochester’s entertainment value but is ultimately frustrated by his refusal to be useful. Requires a commanding presence, dry humour, and the authority of a king who has seen it all.
GEORGE ETHEREGE: (Male, late 20s-40s) The playwright. A friend and fellow wit in Rochester’s circle. More observant and perhaps more pragmatic than the others, he serves as a sometimes-wry, sometimes-concerned confidant.
CHARLES SACKVILLE, EARL OF DORSET: (Male, late 20s-40s) Another member of the Restoration “merry gang.” A rakish aristocrat and poet, he is a companion in Rochester’s excesses. (Note: The author prefers this role not to be doubled with Harry Harris if possible.)
ELIZABETH MALET: (Female, 20s-30s) The Country Wife. Rochester’s long-suffering wife. Intelligent, dignified, and emotionally resilient. She represents the stable, sincere world Rochester both flees from and is drawn to. A role requiring grace, strength, and deep feeling.
BILLY DOWNS: (Male, early 20s) A Young Spark. An eager, impressionable, and somewhat naive young man who arrives in London and is adopted (and corrupted) by Rochester’s circle. The audience’s point of entry into this debauched world.
JANE: (Female, 20s-30s) A Sex Worker. Sharp, pragmatic, and surviving by her wits in a man’s world. Has several key scenes requiring both street-smart humour and stark honesty. The character required comfortability with choreographed physical intimacy.
MOLLY LUSCOMBE: (Female, 20s-40s) The Stage Manager. A no-nonsense, capable professional trying to run a theatre amidst chaos. Also plays BIG DOLLY and other roles.
MRS WILL UPTON: (Female, 30s-50s) Coffee-house Proprietor. Authoritative, observant, and the centre of her caffeinated domain. Also plays MADAM and other roles.
TOM ALCOCK: (Male, 20s-40s) A Servingman. Rochester’s long-suffering and pragmatic valet. The straight man to his master’s chaos.
ENSEMBLE (MALE & FEMALE):
We are seeking versatile performers to play PLAYGOERS, WHORES, CLIENTS, GUARDS, WATCHMEN, etc. These are featured roles with lines and specific character moments. Strong movement and character-switching skills are a plus.
The Libertine contains very strong adult themes, explicit language, and scenes of a sexual nature. Performers should be comfortable engaging with this material.