An amateur group with professional standardS

Welcome to Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company. Established in 1908 we are one of the oldest amateur theatre companies in the UK, proudly producing the works of William Shakespeare for our Derby audience. Amongst our back catalogue you’ll find all of the Bard’s great works which we have interpreted in many different ways, both modern and traditional. Occasionally we also produce plays by other writers and you’ll see that our repetoire has also included plays by Christopher Marlowe, Alan Bennett and Oscar Wilde as well as less classical works such as Shakers:Restirred and ‘Allo, ‘Allo. We are a fun and welcoming group who are always looking for new members. If you fancy getting involved, acting or in a backstage role, or if you’d like to come and watch a rehearsal to see what it’s all about, please get in touch. We’re sure have the kettle on!

Auditions: A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney

Directed by Mark Chawner. Production Assistant: Leni Robson

Salford, the late 1950s. Helen and her teenage daughter Jo have just moved into yet another shabby rented flat, and as usual Helen has her mind on drink and men rather than on Jo. When Helen's flash younger boyfriend Peter proposes, she marries him and leaves Jo to fend for herself.

Jo finds her own brief happiness with Jimmie, a charming young sailor, but he goes back to sea and leaves her pregnant and alone. Into the gap steps Geoffrey, a gentle art student who moves in, looks after her and helps her prepare for the baby. Just as the two of them have built something like a family, Helen's marriage falls apart and she comes back.

Written when Shelagh Delaney was still a teenager and first staged in 1958, A Taste of Honey is sharp, funny and unsentimental, a story about mothers and daughters, loneliness, and the families we make for ourselves.

Character Descriptions

HELEN: Female or female-presenting (playing age late 30s to mid 40s). Jo's mother. Glamorous and vain. Requires great comic timing.

JO: Female or female-presenting (playing age 16 to early 20s). Clever, prickly, lonely and funny. On stage for almost the whole play.

PETER: Male or male-presenting (playing age 30s). Helen's flash, younger boyfriend. A car salesman with an eye patch and an edge.

JIMMIE: Black or mixed heritage, male or male-presenting (playing age late teens to mid 20s). A charming young sailor who sweeps Jo off her feet.

GEOFFREY: Male or male-presenting (playing age late teens to mid 20s). A gentle, witty art student who becomes Jo's unlikely rock.

Audition Details

Dates: Wednesday 2nd December, Monday 7th December and Wednesday 9th December 2026, 7.30pm, Shakespeare House

Mark would like you to prepare a short monologue from a play, ideally one written around the same era as A Taste of Honey. It doesn't need to be from A Taste of Honey itself, so feel free to choose something that shows you at your best.

He'd also like you to bring a joke to tell the panel. Clean, silly or groan-worthy, it's entirely up to you!

Callbacks: Sunday 13th December 2026, 2.30pm

Shortlisted actors will be invited to callbacks, which will be a chance to read scenes together so we can see how everyone works as a company. Decisions will be made after this, and everyone will know before Christmas!

For further information, or to ask any questions, please email derbyshakespearetheatrecompany@gmail.com.

Ticket details coming soon.

COMING SOON

LATEST NEWS

Stay up to date with all the latest news by following our socials

Get Involved

We're always looking for new members so whether you'd like to perform with us, help out behind the scenes or support us as a Friend or Sponsor we'd love to hear from you.