Freelance performers – Grue
- Deadline: 20 Nov
- Auditions: 29 Nov 2025
- Rate of pay: see below
What is Grue?
Grue is a fabulous walk-through experience for culture-lovers young and old.
In this enchanted landscape, visitors take on an important mission: helping the historian to solve the mysteries of Damart Mill. They’ll pass through secret doors, a fairy forest and even go underwater on their quest – and perhaps they’ll meet some special guests along the way.
Dreamed up by artist Steve Wintercroft, produced by Yorkshire’s very own ARCADE and built entirely from recycled and repurposed materials, Grue is named after an ancient word for ‘shiver’ – but don’t worry about the cold!
You can see info from previous versions of Grue here.
The performer
Grue includes a small team of live actors who perform the role of the historian, as well as the voices of characters within the installation. Strong improvisation skills are essential, the ability to sing and previous experience working with children as a performer would be advantageous.
We would love to work with someone from the Bradford district, and welcome applications from people of any background or age. Each performer will bring their own ideas to the role. Knowledge of the Bingley locality would be a bonus, but is not essential.
The script is still in development and characters are yet to receive names, but the details we have, which are subject to change, are below:
Historian
Curious, friendly and enthusiastic, the Historian is a member of Bingley Historical Society. They have been researching the history of the mill and found some anomalies in terms of the amount of cloth that was being produced, which far exceeded the power of the boiler.
We would like to avoid a know-it-all vibe and would prefer a thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing what they know.
The Historian has been through all the books but found nothing and so has come to the mill on his own to have a look. When they came to the mill to investigate they found a secret doorway to a strange world – they think the secret to the mill’s productivity lies within it – can the visitors help them figure out what’s been going on?
Cat (Voiced puppet)
Our cat lives in the woods around Bingley, he is a large lion-type creature who sits lazily on a rock. The cat is sleepy, with a big voice, but is still friendly, interacting with the visitors and helping them on their quest.
Lock Keeper (Voice)
The lock keeper looks after the locks and opens them for visitors. They are friendly and welcoming and will set a puzzle for visitors to solve.
Structure of the performance
The installation is visited by groups of up to 8 people every 15 minutes, so this role requires performers who:
- Can bring fresh energy to small amounts of dialogue every 30 minutes
- Is able to improvise with participants including young children and families
- Is a great voice actor with the ability to voice different characters
- Able to trigger one or two sounds, or lights from our ‘backstage’ area if needed (full training will be given and will be very simple to operate)
- Confident to use ‘puppet’ elements of characters within the installation
- Has experience in, or is excited to, work in an immersive performance in a site specific location
Where does it take place?
Grue will be performed in Damart Mill, Bingley.
When will it be performed?
During daytime hours.
Grue is open to the public from Saturday 8 February until Sunday 23 February. Rehearsals will take place on Thursday 6 & Friday 7 February.
Performers will have 1 day off a week to be arranged.
Who is involved in Grue?
Grue by Wintercroft and ARCADE. Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Grue is part of PLAY, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture’s year-round programme of free events and activities for children and families presented in partnership with Play Bradford, and co-produced with artists, architects, designers, theatre makers and the people of Bradford District.
What is the rate of pay?
Performers on Grue will be paid £575 per week, plus £150 per day for any additional day required/contracted which includes 1 day for preparation (line learning), and 2 days for on site rehearsals. This exceeds ITC minimum.
How to apply
In the first instance please send your CV/Spotlight page and a headshot/clear photo of you to [email protected], with the subject heading Grue Performer. Please include some information on your experience of working with children and families.
We expect interest to be high and as such will not be able to take everyone through to the audition stage.
Auditions
We would like to see performers in person in Bradford where possible. Auditions for the roles will take place at Church Bank House, 26 Church Bank, Bradford, BD1 4DY on Friday 29 November. All shortlisted actors will receive a piece of script from Grue ahead of the audition for you to use.
