{"id":5315,"date":"2024-05-06T10:02:36","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T10:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=5315"},"modified":"2025-06-05T19:08:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T19:08:42","slug":"what-casting-directors-do-to-find-actors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-essentials\/what-casting-directors-do-to-find-actors\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Casting Directors Find Performers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How the casting directors of \u2018Starlight Express\u2019 and \u2018Sister Boniface Mysteries\u2019 use Spotlight to find performers and their other methods.<\/span><\/h2>\n

As a performer, you only see one side of the casting process. You or your agent submits you for a role and if you\u2019re right for the part, you\u2019ll send a self-tape or attend an in-person audition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind the scenes, casting professionals are constantly on the lookout for new talent and using tools like Spotlight to find the perfect performer who fits their brief. Every casting director is different. They each have their own process, experience and speciality. However, there are certain methods most of them will use when looking for performers to cast.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Spotlight Prize<\/a>, we spoke to casting directors James Pearson of <\/span>Pearson Casting<\/span><\/a> and John Cannon from the BBC. Pearson Casting has cast productions such as the Oliver-award-winning <\/span>Operation Mincemeat<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>SIX the Musical <\/span><\/i>on the West End, and the upcoming revival of <\/span>Starlight Express<\/span><\/i>. John Cannon\u2019s impressive list of credits include <\/span>Sister Boniface Mysteries<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Father Brown<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>EastEnders<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Silent Witness<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We asked James and John what processes they use to find performers for their projects. Here\u2019s what they shared:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/ins><\/p>\n

\n