Wales has produced more than its fair share of great actors over the years – Richard Burton, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Sheen, Ruth Jones, and Anthony Hopkins among them. Wales is also home to three major national broadcasters: BBC Cymru Wales, S4C, and ITV Cymru Wales. Its capital, Cardiff, is a powerhouse of stage and screen production, with Wolf Studios and Bad Wolf Productions, Vox Pictures, Severn Screen, Little Door Productions, and Triongl all producing shows in the city. It’s a hotbed for theatre, too, with venues such as the Sherman Theatre, the New Theatre, and Chapter Arts Centre all producing a steady flow of work. And with Sheen relaunching National Theatre Wales as Welsh National Theatre, the scene is only set to grow.
If you’re set on becoming an actor, you’re based in south Wales, and you’re looking to get an agent, a firm based in Cardiff should have the right connections to help you make the most of local casting calls. Here’s a hand-picked selection of the city’s best agencies, chosen for the success of their clients, their Spotlight accreditation, their industry standing, and their longevity.
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Established in 2015, this boutique agency represents adult actors from across the UK. It’s a bilingual agency, with both Welsh- and English-speaking actors for whom it’s secured work in TV, theatre, and radio.
Why choose it?
The agency is listed on Spotlight’s casting directory, and it’s a member of the Personal Managers’ Association. Its actors are making strides on stage: Isabella Colby Browne landed the role of Juliet in a Theatr Cymru and Shakespeare’s Globe production of Romeo and Juliet, while Eva Pereira took the lead role in The Snow Queen at Icon Theatre. The agency is active on social media with a busy Facebook page, suggesting it’s hard at work promoting and championing its people.
How to apply
Shelley Barrett Management represents only professionally trained, established actors, and has a policy of viewing its actors performing before booking them. Digital performances count, though, so be sure to send them your showreel and invite them to any performances you have coming up. Interested individuals can contact the agency via email to initiate the application process.
With 40 years in the business, Oren Actors Management is the longest-serving agency in Wales. It is a co-operative agency, which means it’s run by the actors who make up its membership base. That could be ideal if you’re looking for more agency (if you’ll excuse the pun) in your career, but it may mean you’ll be expected to do a share of office duties.
Why choose it?
Oren is a member of the Co-Operative Personal Management Association, which works to raise the profile of cooperative actors’ agencies with employers and other industry figures. Its actors regularly land roles in stage and screen productions, such as Gareth Tidball in Netflix’s Havoc and Polly Kilpatrick, who worked alongside Gillian Anderson in The Salt Path.
How to apply
Oren is open to applications from all actors, though it prefers those who have trained at an accredited drama school. Get in touch with the agency if you have a performance one of its representatives can watch, so they can get a clear sense of your abilities. You can also apply by sending in a showreel, headshot, and acting CV. You must be a member of Spotlight before applying.
With an office in Cardiff’s landmark Castle Arcade, Emptage Hallett has been representing actors, writers, and casting directors in Wales since 1999. The agency has a partner office in London, which widens its connections and reach.
Why choose it?
Emptage Hallett’s clients include the fight director Kev McCurdy, who has supported a number of high-profile theatre projects, and Katrina Allen, who was in the BBC comedy Stunners and has worked at Shakespeare’s Globe and Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre.
How to apply
Send an email with your CV, headshot, showreel, and a cover letter.
Regan Talent Group says it has the largest Welsh-language client list in the UK. It is an umbrella group, comprising Regan Management (the agency representing actors) and Regan Developments, a BAFTA-winning production company that creates opportunities for Regan Management’s clients.
Why choose it?
As an agency with its own production company, Regan is in a fantastic position to offer its clients work. Names on its books are also doing well further afield. Among those who have landed major roles in TV and theatre projects is Steffan Harri, who starred in the critically acclaimed production of Girl From the North Country at the Old Vic Theatre, and drag artist Victoria Scone, who appeared in the musical The Frogs at the Southwark Playhouse.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter, showreel, and Spotlight link via email. You’ll hear back if they’re keen to meet with you.
Established in 2023, Creative Talent has made a big impression in a small amount of time. The agency, which represents both adult and child actors, is headed by David Pain and Julia Spencer, who have years of industry experience.
Why choose it?
Being relatively new, Creative Talent has a huge amount of energy for the business. Its books are slightly smaller than some of the major national agencies, too, which means you may benefit from a more personally tailored service. Its actors are clearly going places: Johnny Maya took the best actor Grand Jury prize at the Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival for his lead role in the feature film The One Survivor of Conifer and Jessica Gittins was a finalist for best acting performance at the Austin Micro Film Festival and was nominated for best supporting actor at the It’s My Shout Awards.
How to apply
Fill out the contact form on the agency’s website to apply. You’ll need a headshot and an acting CV to upload with the form.
With offices in Cardiff and Bristol, Phoenix Casting primarily supplies extras for productions filming in southwest and south Wales. With a focus on supporting artists, voiceover artists, models, and presenters instead of main roles, it won’t be for everyone. If you’re just starting out, however, Phoenix could help you get a foot in the door and find valuable industry experience.
Why choose it?
Founded in 1995, Phoenix Casting is a heavy-hitter in the casting world, and its supporting artists have credits on shows including The Winter King, Sex Education, Boiling Point, and Casualty. It also represents over 19,000 artists, supplying extras en masse to projects filming in Wales, the West Country, and Birmingham.
How to apply
Check out the agency’s online registration guide for application info and payment processes. Phoenix hosts in-person registration days during which you can meet the management team, but you can apply online for representation at any time. It charges a £30 listing fee, which is deducted from your first payment once you’ve found work. Commission rates are 15% for TV and film, and 20% for commercial and photographic work.
