Website URL Hippocampus Theatrics
Hippocampus Theatrics is currently seeking non-union actors for our inaugural production of Jonathan Harvey’s urban love story, Beautiful Thing. As we launch our theatre company, we are looking for brave, collaborative artists to help us bring this gritty yet tender story of Thamesmead to life at STLFringe FEST ’26 this August.
In the sun-drenched housing projects of Thamesmead, neighbors Jamie and Ste find an unexpected refuge in one another. Though one is introverted and the other a popular athlete, they forge a deep bond over their complex home lives and awakening identities. Beautiful Thing is a tender “urban fairytale” that captures the raw, exhilarating rush of first love. It is a poignant celebration of the courage it takes to be oneself, proving that hope can blossom in the most unlikely of places.
Production Team
Director: Mike De Pope
Assistant Director/Fight Choreographer: Gabriel Scott Lawrence
Intimacy Choreographer: Kasey Cox
Seeking: Non-Union Actors (unpaid)
Auditions: Submission-Based (Deadline May 1)
Callbacks: By Invitation only
Rehearsals: June – August, 2026
Rehearsals will begin no earlier than Sunday, June 1, 2026.
Rehearsal Locations: Rehearsals will utilize a hybrid of Zoom meetings, private residences, and public rental spaces.
Final Schedule: To be determined based on the collective availability of the cast.
Weekly Commitment: Roughly 2 to 3 weeknights during June and July (6:30 PM – 9:30 PM).
Tech Week: Schedule will be determined by St. Louis Fringe (late July – August 2026).
Performances: Final schedule will be determined by St. Louis Fringe (August 3-9) and will be available before casting is complete.
Venue: .zack theatre 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Character breakdown
NOTE ON CASTING: We are committed to a diverse and inclusive audition process. For every role, we invite and encourage actors of all ethnicities and racial backgrounds to audition. Please note that the ages listed below are the characters’ ages. We are looking for performers 18+ who can portray these ages.
Jamie Gangel
Male Identifying | Character Age: 15 | All ethnicities encouraged
A 15-year-old schoolboy who is sensitive and often bullied at school for his dislike of football. He lives with his single mother, Sandra, and is coming to terms with his sexuality.
Seeking: A young actor to portray Jamie’s sensitivity, shyness, and reserved nature as he navigates his emerging sexuality. This role requires an actor who can convey a profound internal world and the quiet courage of a character coming of age. The actor must be comfortable with staged intimacy (including a first romance with Ste) and physical fight choreography with the character of Sandra. We welcome and encourage gender-nonconforming and non-binary actors to audition for this role, with the understanding that the character identifies as a young man.
Ste Pearce
Male Identifying | Character Age: 16 | All ethnicities encouraged
Jamie’s next-door neighbor and classmate. He is athletic but suffers from domestic violence at the hands of his father and brother. He is initially guarded but finds comfort and love with Jamie.
Seeking: An actor to portray the character’s outwardly athletic persona while revealing the deep-seated fragility of a young man facing domestic challenges. This role requires significant physicality and emotional depth. The performer must be comfortable with staged intimacy and choreographed physical movements. We welcome and encourage gender-nonconforming and non-binary actors to audition for this role, with the understanding that the character identifies as a young man.
Sandra Gangel
Female Identifying | Character Age: 35 | All ethnicities encouraged
Jamie’s mother, described as a “visceral, vulgar, and hard-faced” single mom with a massive heart. She is ambitious for a better life and protective of her son
Seeking: A powerhouse actor to portray a visceral, “hard-faced” exterior and a fiercely protective heart. The actor must have impeccable comedic timing and the emotional range to handle high-stakes conflict. This role requires the actor to be comfortable with staged intimacy with the character of Tony and physical fight choreography with the character of Jamie. We welcome and encourage gender-nonconforming and non-binary actors to audition for this role, with the understanding that the character identifies as a woman.
Leah
Female Identifying | Character Age: 16 | All ethnicities encouraged
A neighbor and “outsider” character who has been expelled from school. She spends her days listening to Mama Cass records and observing the lives of those on the estate.
Seeking: A dynamic performer to portray a sassy, outspoken, and defensive personality. The actor must have a bold stage presence and be comfortable portraying a character experiencing a drug-induced “bad trip,” requiring a high level of physical and vocal expression. We welcome and encourage gender-nonconforming and non-binary actors to audition for this role, with the understanding that the character identifies as a young woman.
Tony
Male Identifying | Character Age: 27 | All ethnicities encouraged
Sandra’s younger, somewhat “hippie” boyfriend. He is often a source of tension or comic relief as he tries to fit into the lives of Sandra and Jamie.
Seeking: An actor to portray an earnest “middle-class hippy” energy and a sarcastic nature. The actor serves as both comic relief and a source of domestic tension. The actor must be comfortable with staged intimacy with the character of Sandra and being seen in costumes suitable for a domestic setting. We welcome and encourage gender-nonconforming and non-binary actors to audition for this role, with the understanding that the character identifies as a man.
Please see the full production and audition information at hippocampustheatrics.com/auditions
If you have any questions, please contact hippocampustheatrics@gmail.com.