Illustration of a diverse group performing joyfully on stage, with an audience in front of a backdrop featuring urban architecture. Bold text reads "Waiting in the Wings."

Waiting in the Wings

A Cast production

About Waiting in the Wings

Cast your mind back through 250 years of Doncaster theatre...

This September, join us on Cast’s Main Stage for Waiting in the Wings, an extraordinary, original production that uncovers two and a half centuries of Doncaster’s theatrical heart and soul.

This year marks 250 years since Doncaster’s first theatre opened its doors. Long before Cast, legendary venues like the Theatre Royal and the Grand Theatre hosted world-famous icons like Laurel and Hardy and Buffalo Bill. Now, it’s time to bring those stories back to life.

Waiting in the Wings is a moving, funny, and resilient journey through our local history, charting how the arts have connected us through times of change. A company of over 50 local performers come together to celebrate Doncaster’s rich culture of performance, past and present, with storytelling, movement, song… and tonnes of community spirit.

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Waiting in the Wings is a spectacular creative reimagining inspired by real local people, historic events, and forgotten archives. 

The production is proudly co-created and performed by Doncaster People’s Theatre (DPT) and written by Chris O’Connor, with additional material from Cast’s Scriptworks creative writing group. 

With members ranging in age from 7 to 86, DPT is a talented and passionate company who represent the very best of our community, and many are regular performers on some of our country’s biggest stages. 

Don't miss this unforgettable celebration of civic pride and community spirit. 

"Stepping out onto the Main Stage gives me instant freedom to be anyone I want to be for a short while!"

Christine, DPT Member

"Waiting in the wings, for me, is the most incredible part of a show. The moment you've waited so long for. Unconditional support from strangers who want to experience every second with you. You take your bow. Your job is done. In a blink of an eye it's over and life goes back to normal and you're craving for the moment to be waiting in the wings again."

Sharon, DPT Member

Exclusive Heritage Exhibition

The Exhibition

Over the summer, Cast and DPT will be digging into uncatalogued archives, recording oral histories, and hosting over 50 workshops to craft a piece of theatre that belongs to all of us.

Arrive early to explore a curated exhibition showcasing the fascinating historical materials and memories uncovered during the project.

Image gallery

Doncaster People's Theatre

  • A group of people perform on stage; a man in a wheelchair sits at the front, clapping, while others stand behind him wearing casual and vintage-style clothing.
  • A group of elderly people in beige clothing energetically dance with raised arms around an upright piano on stage, exuding joy and enthusiasm.
  • Six people on stage, dressed in rustic costumes, stand and sit on a wooden pallet platform. The scene conveys a dramatic and contemplative mood.
  • A group of actors stands on a stage, surrounded by stacked cardboard boxes and geometric shapes. The scene is illuminated with dramatic lighting, creating a tense and focused atmosphere.
  • A stage scene with a man in a suit facing kneeling actors in red shirts. Cardboard boxes form an arch overhead. A neon eye symbol glows blue.

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