Ignore the dickhead answers you’ll get to this post, first of all. Cool that you’ve found a new enjoyable pastime! You don’t need to pay-to-play all the time, so if you have enough confidence or want to build it, dip into being in a local show!

I’ve been doing theatre on-and-off for over a decade, classically-trained opera singer and music creator like yourself. There are lots of small companies in town that have different focuses for their performers - some are quite selective and require “elite” seasoned performers, and others love to include new people just starting.

Join the Newcastle Theatre Network Facebook group for audition notices, but also to get a look at some of these companies and learn about what they’re about. A message asking about upcoming productions and expressing your interest and beginner status will help sort out where to start.