CASTING CALL – could you be our Tiny Tim?

18 Jul 2025

We are launching an exciting casting call to find young actors to star in the role of Tiny Tim as part of our staging of the timeless classic A Christmas Carol from 20 November 2025 – 17 January 2026.

Tim Cratchit aka Tiny Tim, is a deaf and/or disabled character of around 9 years old who lives in poverty with his hard-working parents and siblings. He is cheeky, playful and positive and thaws the heart of Scrooge.

We are seeking three young performers of any gender to share the iconic role of Tiny Tim. They should be:

aged 8-12 years old
identify as deaf and/or disabled. Please note that access requirements will be discussed at point of submission to ensure all young people are supported but please note that we are only considering disabled suggestions for this role.
under 4ft 8inches
any ethnicity
do not need any prior acting experience as we are looking for young people who have a natural and playful acting style. No previous experience is required to audition.
must live within a 50 mile radius commute (approx 1 hour) from Leeds Playhouse (LS2 7UP)

This adaptation by Deborah McAndrew, directed by Amy Leach, will be set in Victorian Leeds, embracing the woollen industry heritage of the city. Filled with music and singing, it will be a fun, spine-tingling, festive treat for all the family.

The Playhouse is working with leading casting directors Keston & Keston, who recently supported the Playhouse’s search for Oliver and Dodger and young ensemble for Oliver! which was named Best Musical at the 2024 UK Theatre Awards and Charlie Bucket as part of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical which toured nationally.

Information and how to apply

These will take place between Mon 6 Oct and Sat 8 Nov and a schedule will be provided on offer to be discussed with parents/carers/guardians. The team has extensive experience working with disabled young people, parents/carers/guardians and all rehearsal scheduling is made in advance. Rehearsals will generally take place in the evenings, on weekends and/or during the October half term.

These are between 10 and 27 Nov. This is the period when the show moves into the Quarry Theatre. The young people need to be free throughout this period and will likely require some time off school.

The production runs from 20 Nov 2025 – 17 Jan 2026. The young people will need to be available throughout this period but as there will be three Tiny Tims, they will not perform at every performance. A full performance schedule can be found here: https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/a-christmas-carol/#book-now

This production will be performed by a cast of deaf, disabled and non-disabled actors and feature British Sign Language (BSL). All performances from 27 November will offer creative audio description for our blind and visually impaired audiences. There will be a team of BSL interpreters working on the show throughout rehearsals and performances, and Leeds Playhouse have a lot of experience in supporting and providing access for deaf and disabled actors and creatives. If young children need parents/guardians to support them throughout the audition process and/or performances please note this on your accessibility requirements.

Workshop auditions will take place from Saturday 6 September onwards. No preparation will be required and details of the workshop will be sent to all young people who fall in casting criteria. The workshop style session will involve playing games and drama exercises as a group

Yes – there will be payment for both rehearsals and performances, which will be discussed during the casting process at the offer stage.

To apply, register via this link here by 15 August 2025.

Please include your child’s name, a photo, height, contact details and a little about their interests and hobbies. Please also specify at point of application if the child has any access needs we need to be aware of to support them throughout the process. This application will go via children’s casting directors Keston & Keston who are leading the search for this production.