SHUFF & BYNG 2025 - CASTING CALL - MRS SHUFFLEWICK

About the Project

Shuff and Byng is (at this stage) a R&D exploring the possibility of a new show inspired by the life and legacy of two groundbreaking and distinct female impersonators - Dougie Byng and Rex Jameson.

''Shuff & Byng’ offers an entertaining, yet serious glimpse of the mainstream ways in which the fluidity of male gender has been expressed in Britain over time. Although set in an age when homosexuality was illegal in Britain, the project will show how these issues continue to reverberate within contemporary social constructions of male identity.” Tony Lidington

The team

Billie Bottle - MD

Kinny Gardner - playing Douglas Byng

Matthew Linley - producer

Tony Lidington – writer and project lead

The project is based in Harwich and Colchester

About the role

We are looking for an actor / female impersonator to join us for the R&D to play:-

Rex Jameson – Mrs Shufflewick:

• Male.

• Playing age 50+

• Experience of performing in drag.

• Spry and wiry, with a wicked sense of humour and the ability to improvise & play with an audience.

• DESIRABLE: experience of being an R&D actor, or evidence of being able to experiment and test and in some cases playing against your own personal strengths

• DESIRABLE: An active interest in some or all of the themes of the R&D (ie drag, cabaret scene, gender fluidity, the lives and legacy of Rex Jameson and Dougie Byng) 

• DESIRABLE: Knowledge/understanding/interest in LGBTQ+ culture and history

• You can watch a video of Mrs Shufflewick here

Fee for Mrs Shufflewick

• Company wage of £575 for 2 weeks.  £1,150 

• Accommodation and travel on top

Compensation & Availability

• Accommodation and travel will be provided where needed.

• The R&D dates in Harwich are Monday, April 28th - Friday, May 2nd, 2025, and Monday, June 16th - Friday, June 20th, 2025.  You must be available for all dates

The project is funded by the Noel Coward Foundation and through funding from the National Lottery, via Arts Council England

To Apply

Please email linleymatt@gmail.com with Mrs Shufflewick as the email header including

• a show reel or video of you performing

• a performance CV or biography (or link to a website)

• a short paragraph (guide no longer than 400 words) / or video / sound file explaining why you are interested in the role

Submissions should be received by 5pm 12 February

Meetings to discuss the role will take place in Harwich, Colchester or London.  London meetings will take place on the 20th February, and meetings in Essex will take place in the week commencing 24 February

For More Information - please dont hesitate to be in touch with either

• Matthew Linley: linleymatt@gmail.com (producer)

• Tony Lidington: info@prom-prom.com (writer/director)

We really look forward to hearing from you