A DEVON theatre company has launched online auditions for its next major Shakespearian production.

The Brixham-based South Devon Players Theatre and Film Company will perform Henry V as part of the Bristol Shakespeare Festival in July, and to keep cast, crew and audiences safe it will be a digital production.

Company director Laura Jury said: ‘We are looking to the future but because of the current covid nightmare and the huge amount of uncertainty as to when it will be safe to return to the live stage, we are working over cyberspace.

‘While we will return to normal theatre performance as soon it is viable and safe for everyone we felt it imperative to keep working and creating in the interim. So for the time being we have been working online with actors and crew joining in on screen from their home studios.’

Laura is keeping everything crossed that the current crises will have subsided enough to allow a physical tour of the production later this year.

‘Obviously this would only happen when it is safe and viable to do so,’ she added. ‘There’s no firm date set yet but we’re tentatively looking at the autumn of this year for a small tour around the South Devon area – and possibly further afield.’

As always, the South Devon Players performances of Shakespeare’s dramas are performed to an extremely high standard, with a team of people ranging from established professionals, to complete beginners. Most roles are open to actors of any gender, and welcoming actors of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

While in the original text there are only two female roles, the company is a big advocate of ‘genderblind’, and inclusive casting, increasing the amount of roles available to non-male actors.

The company as always is committed to a safe, positive and pleasant environment, where everyone can create and develop to the best of their ability.

Anyone interested in the Henry V production should visit the website www.southdevonplayers.com where they can access the audition pack and find out more about the project.

The company welcomes all inquiries and applications for roles and would be delighted to hear from new talent wishing to join the team. The deadline for applications is February 28.