HOT COALS PRODUCTIONS
HOT COALS PRODUCTIONS
HOT COALS THEATRE
HOT COALS THEATRE
CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOPS
KENT
BOOKING NOW
Casting Directors can often be seen as gatekeepers, the casting process full of myth and mystery. Through our workshops we offer actors and casting directors an informal and open environment, for you to meet, chat and work together on scripts. Debunking myths and creating ongoing professional relationships.
Professional Development not acting lessons
These sessions are an opportunity for you, professional actors, to hear about the casting process direct from the horse's mouth, you can ask questions, gain valuable casting tips, and flex your acting muscles weekly.
All this whilst getting the opportunity to work on real audition scripts in front of real casting directors...in the real. No zooms, no webinars we believe to make lasting and meaningful connections you need to meet in the room.
For the first time we are bringing these tried and tested workshops to actors in Kent and South East.
HOW IT WORKS
- The casting director workshops run once a week for 5 weeks.
- Each week the workshop will be run by a different Casting Director.
- Meaning at the end of the course you will have met 5 new Casting Directors!
- workshops are 2hrs each week and include; discussion, Q&A, and script work
- We run two groups, so you can choose whether to join the PM or the EVENING group.
- The PM block runs 3.30pm-5.30pm. EVE block runs 6.30pm-8.30pm
- There are usually between 10-15 actors in a group and you will work with the same group every week, so you may make new friends too.
- Casting directors are sent the list of Spotlight links for all actors in the groups, so they can find you again when they are casting.
- Workshops are not a guarantee of future work, but it does put you on the radar.
KEY INFO
2026 DATES:
Tues 4th Aug: Casting director TBC
Tues 11th Aug: Ilenka Jelowicki
Tues 18th Aug: Catriona Dickie
Tues 25th Aug: Sally McCleery
Tues 1st Sept: Tom Adams
(scroll down for Casting Director bios)
VENUE: Screen South, Digital Hub, Mill Bay, Folkestone, CT20 1JG.
(15mins walk from Folkestone Central)
PRICE: £195 for a 5 week block
(works out as £39 per session)
WORKSHOP FORMAT
Our tried & tested 2hr workshop format:
1st HOUR
INTRODUCTIONS- The casting director meets you and introduces themselves and their work. They may talk about how they got into casting, what they’ve recently cast and any do’s and don’ts for castings, showreels, self tapes etc.
Q&A
This is your opportunity to ask those burning questions about the casting process and what they are looking for.
2nd HOUR
ON YOUR FEET- For the rest of session you will work in pairs on sides (provided by the casting director). You will have an opportunity to read through together, and then in your pairs in front of the casting director who will give you notes/feedback and a chance to read again.
These scenes will be filmed, like in a casting with a simple set up, and then shared with both the casting director and actors via a private link after the session. So you can watch back and see how you improve over the weeks.
All Sessions are facilitated by a representative of Hot Coals.
HOW TO BOOK
These workshops are not acting lessons, but are designed as professional development. Therefore actors must be over 18 and be able to provide a Spotlight link.
Actors based in Kent or South East will be given priority.
*Workshops are booked as a 5 week block. We do not sell workshops individually
**Actors choose to join either the PM or EVE group, you can't switch between the two.
TO BOOK:
Use booking form below.
OR
Email us on office@hotcoalsproductions.co.uk
Please include; your name, your Spotlight link, where you are based, and tell us which group you would prefer to join PM or EVE.
Subject header: Booking Casting Director Workshops
We will then reserve your space and send you payment details.
Once we recieve payment your space will be confirmed.
CASTING DIRECTOR BIOGS.
Ilenka Jelowicki
Ilenka Jelowicki is a highly experienced freelance Casting Director, based in London.
She started out by casting extras for feature films and set up Mad Dog Casting which she ran for ten years before selling in 2009.
With over twenty years experience in the industry, Ilenka has built up a solid relationship with producers, directors, agents and actors alike and loves discovering new talent. Concentrating primarily on commercials, Ilenka also casts short films, and is currently working on her first feature.
For the last three years, she has been working on many in-house commercials for the Disney Chanel in the UK.
Catriona Dickie
Catriona Dickie is a casting director known for feature films 'Catherine Called Birdy’ for Amazon and ’The Perfect Escape’ for Netflix, along with work on ‘The Mauritanian’, ‘All The Money in The World’ and Warner/DC’s ‘Justice League’ - as associate to Nina Gold amongst others. Her recent short films include the award winning ‘Marriage Unplugged’, BFI hit ’Surprise!’, ‘Villain’, ‘Cliff Edge’ and ‘Un-Becoming’. She recently cast two shorts for Lumo TV and a charity short for Campaign Film.
As associate, her casting for television includes hit TV series 'The Responder’ for the BBC, ’Trying’ for Apple, and ‘Sense8' for Netflix. Her associate theatre casting includes The Book of Dust and The Southbury Child for the Bridge Theatre.
She has just finished casting on independent feature film ‘Chainbreaker’ which is currently filming. Her upcoming projects are several feature films including horror film Black Agnes for Warners.
Sally McCleery
Sally is an acclaimed UK-based casting director working across feature films, television, and high-profile commercials.
With over a decade of industry experience, Sally is highly regarded for her unique background in youth work, making her a leading expert in child, teenager, and traditional adult casting. She cut her teeth collaborating with industry titans like Nina Gold and Kahleen Crawford on productions including The Crown, His Dark Materials, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
As an independent casting director, her credits include the critically acclaimed indie feature, Days of the Bagnold Summer, the horror film, Daddy's Head, and serving as the UK additional casting director for Yorgos Lanthimos's recent feature, Bugonia. Sally is renowned for her accessible, supportive approach to finding breakthrough talent.
She is a full member of the Casting Directors’ Guild (CDG), the Casting Directors Association (CDA), and the Casting Society of America (CSA).
Tom Adams
Tom Adams is a casting director with more than 20 years’ experience and the founder of Thomas Adams Casting.
He has cast everything from major commercial campaigns and government initiatives to short films and features, working with brands including Mercedes, Haribo, TRESemmé, McCain and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Tom is passionate about discovering new talent and encouraging greater diversity on screen.
Recent highlights include Row, which won Best UK Feature Film at Raindance in 2025, and CALM’s suicide-prevention campaign This Is Not a Drill, winner of the CDA Award for Best Casting of a Charity/Public Awareness Commercial.
Above all, Tom sees casting as a collaborative process: understanding the particular alchemy of each project and connecting it with the person who makes the role come alive.