The time slots for readings at AWL belong to the whole membership. Casting co-ordinators adopt a balanced selection process that aims to produce the best possible production for the audience, the writer and the director, while also aiming to offer all actor members an acting opportunity.

The maximum appearance limit for an actor in any term (any three- or four-month period ending with a competition night: Spring: January to April; Summer: May to July; Autumn: September to December) is one substantial role in a full-length play and one role in a short play (less than 15 minutes long). An actor can perform twice in a term, but cannot appear in two short plays nor two substantial roles in full-length plays in the same term.

Writers of full-length plays can choose two actors for their reading, but they must nominate three possible actors for each role. Casting of nominated actors will be subject to AWL’s maximum appearance limits as specified above. The remainder of the cast will be selected by the casting co-ordinator.

The casting co-ordinators aim to offer every AWL actor a role in a reading within 18 months, however the co-ordinators are constrained by the number of roles available and the size of the membership.

At the end of every term the committee compiles a priority list of AWL actors who have not been offered a role in the previous twelve months.

New members are normally assigned smaller roles for their first reading.

Regular attendance at AWL meetings increases the possibility of being cast in readings more frequently. AWL records attendance at every meeting.

Occasionally, special circumstances result in casting co-ordinators having to deviate from the above guidelines.

Writers are welcome to suggest suitable actors for their plays, but there is no guarantee that the suggestions will be taken up. The casting co-ordinators’ priority in competitions is to give opportunities to actors who have not yet been offered a role that current term, especially those on the priority list.

These casting guidelines should be considered in the context of the respective guidelines for actors, writers and directors:

Guidelines for Actors

Guidelines for Writers

Guidelines for Directors