Get ready to crank up the volume and unleash your inner rock god – coming to the Gaiety Theatre in October 2026, Centre Stage Productions proudly present Rock of Ages! 

This Tony Award-nominated smash-hit musical comedy will take you back to the time of big bands, big dreams, and even bigger hair! Bursting with over 25 electrifying rock anthems including We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight This Feeling, I Wanna Rock, and I Want To Know What Love Is – this show promises the ultimate night of pure 80s escapism. 

It’s the tail end of the 1980s in Hollywood, and the party’s still going strong at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary rock venues. But when developers threaten to tear it all down, a group of dreamers must fight to keep the spirit of rock ’n’ roll alive! Follow aspiring rockstar (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew, small-town girl Sherrie, and an unforgettable cast of larger-than-life characters as they chase fame and the ultimate power chord! 

It’s loud, it’s proud, it’s outrageously funny…and we can’t wait to bring the spirit of the Sunset Strip to the Isle of Man!

"WE BUILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL!"

Sponsor Rock of ages

As a registered charity (number: 406), Centre Stage Productions aim to provide the island with entertainment for all the family whilst nurturing local talent both on and off the stage. 

Choosing to sponsor a major event at the Gaiety Theatre demonstrates a commitment to the cultural and economic development of our island community, as well as promoting awareness of your brand over our 6 month rehearsal period and performance nights. It can also complement your company’s marketing and community involvement strategies and provide a unique opportunity for employee or client entertainment.

A sell-out performance at the Gaiety means your business’ advertising being viewed by approximately 700 people per show. Over the course of 8 performances, this could equal roughly 5,600 people! That isn’t even including all the show advertising and publicity (banners, social media, flyers, posters, public stalls/events, billboards, etc.) in the run up to the show. 

We are currently open to friendly discussions with any business, whether large or small, who may be interested in sponsoring our October 2026 production of Rock of Ages.

Creative Team

Director

Tony Eccles

Originally from the Isle of Man, Tony Eccles trained in Musical Theatre at The Hammond School in Chester before earning a Master’s degree in Acting for Screen from Drama Centre London. 

His professional career spans Theatre, Film, and Television, with credits including Coronation Street, Silent Night: A Song for the World, Channel 4’s Bloody Tales of the Tower, and Nick Dear’s The Promise, along with numerous international commercial campaigns. 

On the Isle of Man, Tony has played leading roles in To Kill a Mockingbird (Jem), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Phoebus), 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor), and Young Frankenstein (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein). 

As a director, his credits include High School Musical, Macbeth and Harold Pinter’s Victoria Station for the MADF One Act Play Festival, which received multiple awards including Best Play. 

Tony is also co-principal of Elite Theatre Arts, where he and his partner Leah Carter provide acting and musical theatre training for students aged 4 – 18, helping to nurture the next generation of performers.

Musical Director

david holland

David has been involved in more than 100 musical productions at the Gaiety Theatre and returns to Centre Stage Productions as Musical Director, having previously worked with the society on the sell-out success ‘Grease’ (2022) and CSP’s inaugural production, ‘Back to the 80s’ (2018), for which he received the NODA North West District 2 Award for Best Musical Director.

Over his career, David has served as Musical Director for 37 productions and performed as an accompanist or orchestral/band musician for a further 38. Some of his recent credits include ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (2025), ‘Chicago’ (2025), ‘We Will Rock You’ (2024), ‘Evita’ (2024), ‘Kinky Boots’ (2023), and ‘Young Frankenstein’ (2023).

Choreographer

Molly Bowman

Having attended the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts College, Molly is now in her graduate year of a BA (Hons) in Dance Education with the Royal Academy of Dance. 

Her recent performing credits include Dance Ensemble in DCU’s Chicago (2025), Dance Captain for Two Feathers Productions’ Jersey Boys (2024), Assistant Choreographer for CSP’s Elf (2023), and Frenchy in Grease (2022). 

This marks Molly’s second time choreographing a Gaiety production after The Band (2026), with previous choreographic credits including Six, Legally Blonde and Sister Act at Castle Rushen High School. 

Passionate about developing young talent, Molly also leads Mannin Youth Dance Company, the island’s only contemporary youth dance company, focusing on creativity and collaboration. 

Assistant Musical Director

Mandy Griffin

Born and bred on the Isle of Man, Mandy began singing at Peel Clothworkers School and QE11 High School and was also a member of the Manx Youth Choir under the leadership of Alan Pickard. Mandy undertook her BA (Hons) in Music and Drama in Liverpool and followed that up with an MA and PhD in music at Durham University. 

Since returning to the Island in 2004, she has been a soloist with the Isle of Man Choral Society on many occasions and performed in numerous shows and concerts for various societies in the Gaiety Theatre, Erin Arts Centre and Peel Centenary Centre. Mandy has also been awarded the Cleveland Medal on 4 occasions before retiring from singing in the Manx Music Festival in 2014. She has also worked professionally off Island having sung regularly in opera, oratorio and recital in France, the UK, New Zealand and Australia as well as a guest entertainer for Fred Olson Cruise Lines. 

These days Mandy is semi-retired from singing and her time is now taken up with working with both the Isle of Man Choral Society and the Isle of Man Arts Council Community Choir (formally The Isle of Man Government Staff Choir), as well as teaching singing to students of all ages and all levels of experience. An avid learner, she has subsequently continued her own studies with Alison Wells in London and furthered voice-teacher training in London and New York.

Production Assistant

Trish Whyley

This is Trish’s first time being part of the Creative Team, having become a committee member for Centre Stage Productions in 2025 and previously working on The Band. 

A lifelong lover of singing and musicals, Trish has performed in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Young Frankenstein, Evita, and School of Rock. She has also competed in the Guild with the Ballacottier Staff Choir and sings with Manx Voices.

 Trish continues to develop her passion for performance through regular singing lessons with Heather Daykin.

Lighting Design

Neil Dolman

Sound Design

Alex Linney

Stage Manager

Alex Armstrong

Assistant Stage Manager

Kelly Firth

Head of Wardrobe

Nora lean & Sarah Buss

Head of Hair & Makeup

Judith Fullerton

Props Team

Ben Gale & Sandy Shimmin

Artwork & Design

Kelly Firth

Head Chaperone

Angela Gerrard & Stacie Murphy

Please note: All auditionees must be 18+ by audition weekend. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from individuals turning 18 after this date.

Audition materials for each character will be emailed to you following submission of your application.

character breakdown

Drew

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 18 – 30s
Vocal range: Bb3-D5 High Tenor (rock belt)

An appealing, good-guy rocker with great, easy comedic timing, a boyish charm, vulnerability and strong rock tenor voice. Drew works at the legendary Bourbon Room hoping and waiting for his dreams to come true. He finds an instant attraction to Sherrie, the new arrival from the Midwest, who encourages him to go after his dreams.

  • I Wanna Rock (all)
  • Heaven (bar 47-78)
  • Dialogue 1
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)
  • (Callback) Dialogue 2

Sherrie

Identifies as: Female
Playing age: 18 – 30s
Vocal range: G3-F5 Strong Belt / Mezzo-Soprano

A fresh faced, innocent Midwestern girl stepping right off the bus into a new world to pursue her dreams of stardom in LA. She finds an instant attraction to Drew but gets mixed up with the wrong crowd and finds herself working in an erotic dance club. Strong comedic timing, strong rock belt, good movement ability.

  • Harden My Heart (bar 9-32)
  • Hate Myself For Loving You (bar 9-20 and 32-40)
  • Dialogue 1
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)
  • (Callback) Dialogue 2

Lonny

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 25 – 40
Vocal range: D3-D5 Tenor/Baritone

The narrator of the musical; charming, mischievous, welcoming, vibrant personality, a person who would be fun to spend one drunken night with. Acts toxically masculine but actually has a heart of gold. Strong, honest comedic timing and improv skills, and strong rock vocals.

  • Noize/Paradise/Good Time (bar 27-77)
  • Dialogue 1
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)
  • (Callback) Dialogue 2

Dennis Dupree

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 40+
Vocal range: D3-G4 Baritone

Laid back and easy-going, Dennis runs the famous Bourbon Room club on the Sunset Strip. Fatherly figure. Torn about whether he should sell the club to Hertz, a German businessman. Very strong comedic timing and Bari-tenor rock vocals.

  • We Built This City (bar 28-53)
  • Dialogue 1
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Dialogue 2

Stacee Jaxx

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 30+
Vocal range: C3-Eb5 Tenor (rock god)

A sexy rock star. At the top of his game and just left his very successful metal rock band to venture out on his own. Self important, confident, intriguing in all the wrong ways, the ultimate bad boy; His life is a merry-go-round of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. Great comedic timing and strong rock tenor voice.

  • Wanted Dead Or Alive (bar 17-41)
  • I Wanna Know What Love Is (bar 5-23)
  • Dialogue
  • Movement audition

Justice Charlier

Identifies as: Female
Playing age: 35+
Vocal range: G3-Eb5 Strong Belt

Strong commanding presence, an easy sensuality about her. Once a performer, she now operates a strip club where Sherrie winds up working. Takes on the maternal role for the girls that work for her. Strong, soulful vocals and belt needed.

  • Shadows Of The Night (bar 58-78)
  • Every Rose Has Its Thorn (bar 1-20)
  • Dialogue
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Harden My Heart (bar 41-55)

Hertz Klinneman

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 40+
Vocal range: F3-Ab4 Baritone

A middle-aged German gentleman. Uptight, cold, intimidating businessman trying to buy up the Strip to develop it. A villain, with a commanding presence, strong comedic timing, and baritone vocals. German accent.

  • We Built This City (bar 1-25)
  • Keep On Lovin' You (bar 1-24)
  • Dialogue
  • Movement audition

Franz Klinneman

Identifies as: Male
Playing age: 18 – 30
Vocal range: Db3-E5 Baritone

Hertz’s son, a young German. Works for his father, but very much not by choice. Camp and flamboyant in personality, with an expressive, theatrical flair that contrasts with his natural shyness. Gentle and kind-hearted, with a big heart beneath the bravado. Strong rock vocals with a confident falsetto/higher register, excellent comedic timing, and able to sustain a convincing German accent throughout.

  • Hit Me With Your Best Shot (bar 1-18)
  • Dialogue
  • Movement audition

Regina

Identifies as: Female
Playing age: 20 – 40
Vocal range: A3-Eb5 Mezzo-Soprano

A fun, hippie type, earthy girl who fights against the attempted takeover of The Strip. Strong comedic timing, belt vocals. 

  • We're Not Gonna Take It (bar 13-35)
  • Dialogue
  • Movement audition

Featured dancers

Identifies as: Female
Playing age: 18+
Vocal range: Any

Sassy, confident, and a strong dance capability. A smaller group of Featured Dancers will portray the strippers of the Venus club.

Dancers will also portray a wide range of characters with some featured roles.

  • Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)
  • Movement audition
  • Featured dance audition
  • (Callback) To Be With You (bar 36-44)
  • (Callback) Dialogue 2

ENSEMBLE

Identifies as: Any
Playing age: 18+
Vocal range: Any

We are seeking a small but versatile ensemble with strong rock vocals and the ability to harmonise. Ensemble members will portray a wide range of characters including rockers, waitresses, protesters, tourists, fans, and club regulars, and will feature heavily in key musical numbers.

Please choose ONE of the dialogue options below for your audition.

  • Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)
  • If you would like to be considered for any vocal solos or roles, please prepare a second excerpt of your choice from any of the other above.
  • Dialogue option 1
  • Dialogue option 2 (Constance)
  • Dialogue option 3 (Waitress)
  • Dialogue option 4 (JaKeith)
  • Movement audition
  • (Callback) Sister Christian (bar 13-36)

Booth singers

Identifies as: Any
Playing age: 18+
Vocal range: Any

Off-stage vocalists providing live rock vocals and harmonies throughout the show. Strong rock technique, excellent blend, and vocal stamina required.

If you are only auditioning for Booth Singer, you are not required to do a dance or dialogue audition.

  • Don't Stop Believing (bar 1-49)

Audition weekend

27th - 29th March 2026

Rehearsals

May - October 2026

Theatre tech

Sun 4th - Thu 8th October 2026

show dates

Fri 9th - Sat 17th October 2026

A headshot will be taken of you during the audition weekend. If you are successfully cast, this image will be used in the public cast announcement on our social media channels and the Centre Stage Productions website. It will not automatically be used in the show programme, we will offer re-shoots at a later date. 

If you are not successfully cast, you may request a free copy of your headshot for personal use. Otherwise, the image will be deleted from our records within one week.

meet & greet / workshop

All auditionees are invited to attend a ‘meet and greet’ on Monday 23rd March at 7.45pm, at Onchan Methodist Hall. This is your chance to meet the committee, the production team, and learn more about the show. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a workshop-style session where the movement audition will be taught, allowing you to practise ahead of the audition weekend.

No preparation is necessary for this workshop – just come along to find out more, have fun and get into the groove of the show.

audition weekend (loch promenade church)

Friday 27th March - Booth Singers & Dance Call

The audition weekend kicks off with auditions for Booth Singers at 7:00pm, followed by a movement call for all other auditionees between 7:30pm and 9:45pm. This group session will allow us to assess movement ability, energy, and stage presence. Don’t worry if you’re not a confident dancer, just bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn! 

Those auditioning for ‘Featured Dancer’ roles will learn the featured dance during the audition itself, giving the choreographer the opportunity to see how you respond to new material and how quickly you pick up choreography in the room. 

Make sure to come dressed in suitable clothing for movement.

saturday 28th March - individual auditions

Individual audition time slots will be allocated and emailed in advance. These will consist of solo singing and acting auditions, where you will perform the chosen song and dialogue excerpt. This is your opportunity to showcase your vocal ability, character interpretation, and stage presence.

All auditionees will have individual slots for acting and singing. Please choose one character that you would primarily like to audition for, and prepare all the scenes and musical extracts required. You’ll be asked on your audition form to let us know which of the characters you would like to be considered for, and whether you’d like to be considered for Ensemble. Please try to be as honest as you can – not wanting to accept alternate roles in no way affects our decisions when casting. 

You don’t need to be off book; however, we do expect you to be prepared and be familiar with the audition material. Make the scenes as big, and as ‘larger than life’ as you can. Remember that this is a rock show, so riffing and opt-ups are all encouraged. Feel free to really make the songs your own and show us what you can do! Release that inner rock god…

sunday 29th march - callbacks

Some auditionees may be invited back on Sunday for further callbacks, which could include scene work with other performers, additional singing, or revisiting choreography. 

Please note, callbacks allow us to explore dynamics between cast members and ensure the right casting decisions are made. Not receiving a callback does not mean you won’t be cast in the show.

video auditions

If you are unable to attend the in-person auditions, we will be accepting a video audition as an alternative. 

To be considered, you must submit your audition video via email to centre-stage-productions@outlook.com by Wednesday 25th March 2026. 

Your video audition should include:
Singing – Perform the set audition song provided.
Acting – Perform the set dialogue excerpt (ask someone to read in).
Dance – Learn and perform the routine from the instructional video.

We encourage you to take the time to learn and rehearse these pieces before submitting your video. While in-person auditions are preferred, we understand that some may have unavoidable commitments. If you need to submit a video audition or require any accommodations, please get in touch with us as early as possible.

inclusion

At Centre Stage, we are committed to making auditions as inclusive and supportive as possible. If you have any specific requirements or need adjustments to fully participate in the audition process, please let us know when you register. 

If you have any access requirements for the audition process, rehearsal process, or performances, please let us know and we will make any reasonable adjustments. We’re happy to work with you to ensure you feel comfortable and can perform at your best. 

Actors of all gender identities are very welcome to audition for any role. Please note that we are not able to transpose any vocal lines and so would require performers to sing in the original keys written in the score. We are also not able to modify any of the text of the libretto including changing genders so you must be comfortable portraying these as written. 

We will consider performers with a disability for any role and would actively encourage disabled performers to audition. We have no preconceived ideas as to the ethnicity of any role and ethnicity will not be a factor in any casting choice.

If you are successfully cast, it is important that you be available for rehearsals, unless prior commitment has been given. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be provided after casting. The venue for rehearsals is Onchan Methodist Church Hall.

Attendance at all tech/dress rehearsals (4-8 October) and performances (9-17 October) are mandatory.

Monday 4th may

First rehearsal: full read-through/sing-through of the show.

Rehearsals will usually take place twice a week (on Monday and Wednesday) from 7:30pm to 10pm. Additional Sunday rehearsals will be added from September.

BLOCKING DATES

The dates pencilled for blocking are (subject to change:
Mon 8th - Thu 11th June
Mon 13th - Thu 16th July
Mon 10th - Fri 14th August
Mon 21st - Thu 24th September

bECOMING A MEMBER

To participate in Rock of Ages, you must become a member of Centre Stage Productions (CSP), as we are a registered charity and must comply with the Charities Registration and Regulation Act 2019. 

Membership fees contribute to the society’s operational costs, including insurance, governance and community activities. In addition to the membership fee, a rehearsal fee is required to help cover the costs of hiring rehearsal spaces, equipment, and other associated production expenses. 

MEMBERSHIP FEES:

rehearsal fees:

Adult Membership Fee: £50
Deadline for payment: 4th May 2026

Adult Rehearsal Fee: £30
Deadline for payment: 1st August 2026

Failure to pay either the membership or rehearsal fees by the required deadlines may result in your removal from the production, as the society must adhere to its legal and insurance obligations. For more information, visit our Membership page.

code of conduct

As a CSP member, you’ll need to abide by our policies, including our Code of Conduct, which outlines the standards of respect, teamwork, and professionalism we expect from all participants. This is to ensure that rehearsals and performances are enjoyable and productive for everyone. 

You can find our Code of Conduct and policies by clicking here. Please take a few moments to review them before auditions, as they are key to creating a positive experience for everyone involved.

Please follow the link below to complete your audition application form. Forms must be submitted by Friday 20th March 2026.
Please note: there is a £5.00 non-refundable audition fee to be paid at the audition weekend.

You should receive an automatic email response after submitting your form (please be sure to check junk/spam mail).

Audition materials, including vocal tracks, scripts, and an instructional movement video will be emailed to you following submission of your application.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please feel free to get in touch via: centre-stage-productions@outlook.com

AUDITION FORM

YOUR COMMITMENT

By auditioning for Rock of Ages, you are committing to being a dedicated and reliable member of the cast. Theatre is a team effort and every actor plays an essential role in making the show a success. When you miss rehearsals, it doesn’t just affect you, it impacts the whole cast and progress of the production. That’s why it’s so important to be upfront and honest about your availability from the start. 

We understand that life is busy, and everyone has commitments outside of the show. That’s okay, but it’s vital that you list all known conflicts on your audition form – including weekends. Holidays, work trips, weddings, if you know about it, let us know. Conflicts not disclosed in advance may impact casting decisions, and repeated absences could result in you being removed from the production. 

If you’ve got other shows, gigs, projects, or activities on the go, we ask you to please think carefully about whether you can give Rock of Ages the time and energy needed. Please be aware that once the schedule is set you will be expected to attend rehearsals to which you are called, and missing rehearsals may lead to us making a decision to re-cast a role or reconsider your participation in the show. We’re looking for cast members who can give their commitment to rehearsals for the good of the entire production.

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