The Understudies

Zoe and Mack are understudies for the prestigious Shakespeare festival, "The Bard Unleashed". But when the entire cast gets food poisoning, they must step up so the show goes on! Zoe has been waiting for this moment her whole acting life and is ready to shine. Mack just wants to know why they weren’t invited to cast-bonding night. As the overlooked actors juggle multiple roles from different plays they face wardrobe woes, prop problems and memory mishaps. In the midst of madness, can they find joy?

A new, original work by local actors and playwrights, Liz Vassilacos and Nat Newman, that promises to have audiences laugh their way through a night of sonnets, scenes and soliloquies. The Understudies is proudly presented by One for the Road Productions, debuting as part of Newcastle Fringe Festival 2025.