What do Jodie Comer, Stephen Graham, Jason Isaacs, and Taron Egerton have in common? As well as being top-tier acting talent they also all come from Liverpool. Home to a diverse and vibrant acting community, Liverpool is now the base for plenty of agents who can help you get work in the city and beyond.
Many top TV shows and feature films have been shot in the local area, with the city often doubling up for New York or Moscow, which means that local talent is always in demand. Whether you want to work for one of the city’s numerous theatres, bag yourself a role on Hollyoaks (which is filmed in nearby Childwall), or join the likes of Comer and Egerton in Hollywood, getting signed by a top agent in Liverpool is a good first step.
Here’s our selection of what’s available.
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Founded in 2012 by Alan Hamilton, this Liverpool-based agency represents “featured artistes” only, which means no child actors, extras, or walk-on parts. The agency describes itself as small with “a broad mix of jobbing actors with good experience…and some of the best local talent.” It says it’s proud to have helped so many Liverpool actors get their first major breaks and currently has just over 100 actors on its books. Actors repped here have won roles on top productions like Peaky Blinders (BBC), Emmerdale (ITV), House of the Dragon (HBO), and The Crown (Netflix), so it’s not all Mersey-based. Hamilton Management has also landed its clients roles in nationwide theatre productions, commercial work, and even spots on a Japanese noodle advert!
How to contact: Email the team via its online form.
Penny Lane, named after the local street and iconic Beatles song, is an agency that represents talent who skew young. Although it does take older actors, the majority of its clients are in drama schools, graduates with degrees, or in sixth-form drama colleges. As the agency says in its blurb, “It’s not about being trained, it’s about passion and wanting to learn more.” Tracie Nelson, who founded PLAA, started it while running drama workshops in Liverpool; she noticed how much talent the city has and set up the agency to capitalise on it. PLAA’s talent have assorted credits ranging from House of Guinness (Netflix) and Miss Austen (BBC) to Emmerdale, Hollyoaks (C4), and adverts for Pontins.
How to contact: Email tracie.plaa@gmail.com, telephone 0751 409 8684, or check out the agency’s online form.
Set up in 1995, RbA describes itself as “Liverpool’s leading actors agency” and one of the “most prominent actor agencies in the North West of England.” A key aspect of RbA is that it is an actors’ co-op agency, meaning it’s run by actors working as agents, so to get signed you’ll also have to demonstrate your suitability for working in its office. Unlike a normal agency, a co-op works as a not-for-profit operation. Basically, you’re all working for each other. There are currently 16 actors on its books, and RbA clients have earned credits with big players such as ITV, Channel 4, BBC, and the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. RbA is definitely not a conventional agency, but you’ll be sure to get empathetic treatment and attentive representation. It is actively looking for new talent, especially those representing “different casting types” or who have special skills, such as musicians or puppeteers.
How to contact: Email the agency at info@rbamanagement.co.uk or use this website form to get in touch.
RedBook Casting focuses mainly on TV and film rather than theatre, although it does also deal with stage actors. A Spotlight-registered agency, RedBook describes itself as “professional, friendly and diverse,” offering a “dedicated and personal approach.” It has around 40 clients and its talent has been featured in ads for Russell Hobbs, Coronation Street (ITV), and the film Womble.
How to contact: Either fill in the online form, email Natalie James at nataliej@redbookcasting.co.uk, or give the agency a ring on 0738 913 4200.
The late founder of Allstars Casting, Sylvie Gatrill, was Liverpool born and bred and believed in nurturing the city’s young talent. Now, one of her former students, Hollyoaks actress Lauren McQueen, has taken charge of the agency and hopes to continue Gatrill’s work representing its 80+ clients. The majority of its actors are younger, but Allstars reps all ages with its clients winning work on hit shows such as The Responder (BBC), Waterloo Road (BBC), and Little Boy Blue (ITV). The agency’s books are full at the moment, but that won’t always be the case, so keep trying! Polite persistence pays.
How to contact: Message Allstars via this online form.
Julie Fox Associates perhaps offers the best of north and south with offices not only in Liverpool but also London. Representing around 50 performers, the agency is looking for actors across film, TV, stage, and commercial work. Based in the Baltic Triangle area of the city, the agency is part of the Baltic creative community, which supports creative industries in the region. With JFA’s help, clients have bagged roles on soap stalwarts such as Corrie, Emmerdale, and Doctors (BBC), as well as appeared on the West End stage and at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
How to contact: Email only via agent@juliefoxassociates.co.uk. The agency accepts showreels and voicereels.
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