2026 is the bicentennial year of UCL, and to launch the year's celebrations we are kicking it off with UCL Illuminated!
UCL Illuminated will be a night to remember, celebrating UCL’s past, present and future and launching a year of celebrations for our 200th anniversary! This is not just for staff, students and alumni, UCL Illuminated is open to everyone! Running on the evenings of 11, 12 and 13 February 2026, UCL’s iconic Wilkins Building and newly remodelled Quad will be transformed into a dazzling Son et Lumière - an immersive experience brought to life with cutting-edge 3D projection mapping, light, music, storytelling and animation.
Here’s a link to the event page with more information on the event.
We are looking for actors to bring the quad to life with a variety of immersive characters.
Actors Call-Out
Think UCL200 meets Punchdrunk! We're looking for actors to take on all sorts of characters from UCL’s history. This is a really exciting opportunity to create an immersive world for the audience step into, before they watch the Son et Lumiere. This is a paid role for a very special occasion. Each role will have a character brief to take on, and it will be your job to embody these people, interact with each other and the audience, through various improvisations around the quad. We want to create a really vibrant environment that will bring the whole experience to life. Each performer will work through a small number of rehearsals with Brodie Ross (Head of Arts) and Ella Jarman (UCL200 Creative Associate). You will be given a working ‘reference script’ and will be required to attend. All casting will be gender and race blind, and as we want to represent the diversity of our student community today.
Application Process:
STAGE ONE – AUDITION APPLICATION FORM
STAGE TWO - AUDITIONS
- After you've submitted the webform below, you will be sent an invite to an audition workshop (see dates below)
- Attend audition workshop
The deadline to fill in the application form is midday on Monday 12th January 2026. We will then be in touch with you regarding audition slots. Please do feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.
Commitments for the role:
What is the commitment?
Auditions will take place on the Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th of January 2026 - 6pm – 8pm in the form of a group workshop. You will only be required to attend one of the auditions days.
There will be 4 rehearsals taking place on:
- Wednesday 28th January 2026 - 6pm – 8pm
- Wednesday 4th February 2026 - 6pm – 8pm
- Thursday 5th February 2026 - 6pm – 8pm
- Monday 9th February 2026 - 6pm – 8pm
The event takes place on the evenings of:
- Wednesday 11th February 2026
- Thursday 12th February 2026
- Friday 13th February 2026.
FAQ's
Who is eligible to apply?
The roles are open to any current UCL student.
Is it paid?
Yes. The fee will be the same rate as the student staff fee at £13.85 per hour. You will be paid for all rehearsals and performances.
What's the application deadline?
The deadline to apply is Thursday 8th January 2026
Who will be on the audition panel?
Ella Jarman – UCL200 Creative Associate, Brodie Ross – Head of Arts
How can I apply to audition?
You can apply online through a webform - link here
When are the auditions?
Auditions are on the 13th and 14th of January 2026, 6pm-8pm – you only need to attend one audition and you can select your preference in the online application form.
Do i need to be available for the entire audition?
Yes, the audition will in the form of a group workshop so it's important for you to be
there for the duration.
What if i want to audition but can't make the audition time?
Please contact [email protected] for more information
What can I expect from the audition?
The audition will be a group workshop. We will be looking at some character work and will be mostly improvisation based. Don't let that word scare you, the aim is to have fun and be creative. The environment will be very warm and friendly, so you feel safe to be playful.
Can I still audition if I am unavailable for the rehearsal and event dates listed?
Due to the nature of the event all applicants will be required to attend all the rehearsal and event dates listed.