Liverpool is a brilliant place to be an actor. It has a proud theatre tradition, it is one of the most filmed cities in the UK outside London, and it has a long running soap made on its doorstep. It also has a community of actors, writers and filmmakers who genuinely help each other.
I am a Liverpool based actor as well as a photographer and filmmaker, and this is the guide I wish someone had handed me: where acting work in Liverpool comes from, where to train and meet people, and how to get your materials ready so you can say yes when something comes up.
The short version
- Screen work here is real: TV dramas, films and continuing drama all shoot in and around the city.
- Theatre is strong, from the big venues to fringe spaces that welcome new work.
- Most paid screen castings still come through agents and Spotlight.
- Student films, fringe theatre and local writers are how many actors build their first credits.
- Have your headshot, Spotlight and a clip ready before the opportunity arrives.
Why Liverpool works for actors
Liverpool’s streets, docks and Georgian terraces stand in for everywhere from New York to 1940s London, so productions come here often. The Liverpool Film Office helps bring those productions in. Add in regional TV, commercials and corporate video, and there is a steady flow of screen work within reach of the city.
Being local matters. Productions often cast supporting roles and featured parts from actors who can get to set without hotels and travel, and a Liverpool accent is a genuine asset for the right role. Make sure it is listed properly on your Spotlight profile.
The theatre scene
From the Everyman and Playhouse to the Royal Court and the Unity, Liverpool has theatres that make and host new work, plus pub theatres and fringe spaces where new writing gets tested. Fringe and new writing nights are some of the best places to get seen, meet writers and directors and build a body of work you can invite agents to.
Where castings come from
Agents and Spotlight
Most paid TV and film roles. This is why an agent matters. See how to get an acting agent.
Casting platforms
Paid and profit share work, short films and commercials are often advertised openly on casting sites.
Universities and film schools
Film students need actors all year round. Great for learning set etiquette and building footage.
Word of mouth
Local directors and writers cast people they have met. Networking here is simply being around.
Training and staying sharp
Liverpool is home to well known training, including drama schools and performing arts colleges, plus evening classes, screen acting workshops and scene study groups. Even working actors keep training. Regular classes keep your instrument ready and put you in rooms with people who might cast you later.
Get your materials ready now
Opportunities in a city like this often come with short notice. A self tape due tomorrow, a short film recasting at the weekend. The actors who get those jobs are the ones who already have their materials in order:
- A current headshot that clearly shows your casting. See what happens in a headshot session.
- A Spotlight profile with your accents and skills filled in.
- At least one clip. If you have nothing yet, read getting showreel scenes.
- A simple self tape setup at home. My self tape tips cover it.
Use the city as your backdrop
If you are making your own work, Liverpool is generous with locations. Parks, docks, cobbled streets and characterful pubs can all make a short scene look expensive. Remember that filming on council land and public highways needs permission from the Film Office, which I explain in filming permission in Liverpool. For photo locations, see the best photoshoot locations in Liverpool.
Questions about acting in Liverpool
Is Liverpool a good place to be an actor?
Yes. Liverpool has a strong theatre scene, regular TV and film production, continuing drama and a supportive community of local writers and filmmakers, all within reach of Manchester’s work too.
How do I find acting castings in Liverpool?
Most paid screen roles come through agents and Spotlight. Casting platforms, film students, fringe theatre and local writers are good routes for building early credits.
Do I need an agent to act in Liverpool?
Not to start. You can build credits through fringe theatre, short films and student projects. For most paid TV and film roles, an agent makes a big difference.
Where can I get actor headshots in Liverpool?
I shoot Spotlight ready actor headshots in Liverpool as a working actor myself, with looks built around your casting. The session is £180.
More guides for actors: what actor headshots cost, self tape slates and setting up Spotlight.
Acting in Liverpool?
Let’s get your materials ready
Headshots and showreel scenes from a Liverpool actor who knows the local scene.