The acting world can appear London-centric at times, what with the majority of production houses and theatres based in the capital. But as aspiring actors living in the north of England know, Manchester’s entertainment scene is thriving—and it’s far more wallet-friendly than London. It’s home to the BBC’s biggest regional hub and tonnes of theatres, including the esteemed Lowry, Royal Exchange, and HOME. It’s also the stomping ground of one of the country’s longest-running soaps, Coronation Street.
The Manchester School of Theatre is one of the country’s 20 accredited drama schools, offering classical training to its students and the chance to showcase their final year’s work to agents. A great city for trainee actors, Manchester is an ideal place to launch your career, and finding an acting agent will only benefit your desire to get and maintain steady work.
Remember that it’s not just a case of getting signed. Working with an agent is a two-way relationship, so it’s important you find the right person to nurture your career. Fortunately, several tip-top acting agencies are waiting to snatch up shiny new talent. We’ve whittled down the longest established, best connected, and most bespoke to bring you the seven best agencies in Manchester.
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Like many agencies in the north of the country, Red Door has a London base and a regional Manchester hub, giving its clients a presence in both. Tracey Bell opened the boutique agency in 2006 after spotting a need for management for northern artists and creatives. It was one of the first businesses to open an office in the Media City development of Manchester’s neighbouring city Salford, putting it slap-bang in the middle of the region’s creative nexus. Its artists have appeared in productions for Disney, Nickelodeon, Sky, Paramount, Amazon, BBC, and HBO, and its notable names include Jenna Coleman, Lucy Fallon, Maddison Jaizani, and Malique Thompson Dwyer.
Narrow Road represents a wide range of creatives. As well as actors, its roster includes voice artists, directors, writers, and designers. One advantage of belonging to an agency that spans several industry professions is the connections it offers. For example, Narrow Road actress Rosa Hesmondhalgh appeared in We Could All Be Perfect, written by fellow Narrow Road client Hannah Morley, at the Sheffield Playhouse. Narrow Road has spent the last four decades building an excellent reputation. It has offices in London’s West End as well as Manchester’s Deansgate. About a dozen agents populate this company, including two specialists for voice acting and commercials. That gives hopefuls plenty of opportunities to find a spot on its books.
Pemberton Associates started life in Manchester in 1989 before expanding to establish a base in London. Founded by Barbara Pemberton, the agency has kept things close-knit, with her son Mark Pemberton now at the helm. The agency’s strong reputation within the theater industry is bolstered by connections Barbara Pemberton made while working at Manchester’s Contact Theatre. This network extends to other notable venues in the north of England, such as Sheffield’s Leadmill Theatre and Liverpool’s Unity Theatre. The company has represented household names like the late Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? star Brigit Forsyth. If you’re looking for well-established representation in Manchester, Pemberton might be for you.
Jane Hollowood knows what it’s like to be a Manchester-based actor: She started out on Coronation Street, Birds of a Feather, Grange Hill, and The Bill. She’s also written for television, penning episodes for series like Eastenders and Heartbeat as well as The Bill and Grange Hill. With connections across the business, she established her own television and film agency in 1998, helping her clients land jobs on Netflix, BBC Radio, and at several of the north’s best theatres, including Leeds Playhouse and HOME.
Alex Priestley Talent describes itself as “a cutting-edge boutique agency.” It represents both undiscovered and established artists, and its clients have appeared in projects like Dune 2, Hollyoaks, and Passenger. Priestly and her associate, Georgia Padfield, earned their stripes at well-established Manchester-based agencies, with Priestly leading the acting department at PHA Icon before launching her own venture in 2018. Padfield began her career as an agent’s assistant at Regan Management. The agency hosts open auditions to give people of all ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, and abilities the chance to join its books.