Edinburgh Qualifier

19th-21st Jun 2026
Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh

KEY INFORMATION

Our Edinburgh qualifier will take place at the gorgeous Church Hill Theatre. The competition will run for three days: Friday 16:00–21:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00–21:00. We’re excited to welcome our three judges – Sarah Jane Price, Tabitha Watson, and Andrew Simeon Lewis – to the beautiful city of Edinburgh, the home of the Fringe and a world of young talent.

THE VENUE

This event takes place in the popular Morningside area at the Church Hill Theatre, a true mainstay of the Edinburgh arts scene. The stunning pink sandstone building, originally built in 1892, offers an intimate yet professional atmosphere that is a favourite home for many of the city's major festivals. It features a traditional proscenium arch stage measuring approximately 8.5m deep by 8m wide, with an auditorium capacity of 353 seats, making it the perfect setting for our competitors to showcase their skills in the capital.

DIRECTIONS

Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh

33 Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DR

Walking There

The theatre is located on the south side of the city in the bustling Morningside neighbourhood. If you are walking from the city centre, it’s a straight line up Lothian Road and through Bruntsfield, though it’s a bit of a trek (approx. 30–40 mins). The venue is unmissable as it stands prominently on the corner of Morningside Road and Church Hill.

Public Transport

Haymarket Station: Approximately 1.5 miles away. It’s roughly a 25-minute walk or a short taxi/bus ride (Service 2 to Bruntsfield Place or Service 36).

Waverley Station: Approximately 2 miles away. The best option is to take a bus (11, 16, or 23) from Princes Street or a taxi from the station rank.

The venue is exceptionally well-connected by Lothian Buses. Services 11, 15, 16, 23, and 36 stop directly outside the theatre on Morningside Road. Additionally, the number 5 stops just around the corner on Church Hill Place.

Car & Parking

The venue does not have its own car park. On-street parking in Morningside is available but can be very busy and is largely pay-and-display during the day. We recommend allowing plenty of extra time to find a space on the surrounding residential streets if you must drive.

MEET THE JUDGES

Sarah-Jane Price
Casting Director
Sarah-Jane Price
Casting Director
Sarah-Jane is a 2025 Whatsonstage Award winner for Best Casting Direction for the Olivier-nominated musical Why Am I So Single?. Passionate about discovering exceptional talent, she works closely with creative teams to build inclusive, exciting, and memorable productions.
Her extensive theatre credits include A Christmas Carol-ish (Soho Place), Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (European Tour), Invasive Species (The King’s Head), The Hijabi Monologues and White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (The Bush Theatre), Madagascar (UK & International Tour), Fame (London & UK Tour),Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola & UK Tour), Bring it On (Royal Festival Hall), and The Adding Machine (Finborough Theatre).
A specialist in high-profile concert productions, Sarah-Jane acts as Casting Consultant for Evita, Love Never Dies, Bonnie and Clyde, and The Light Princess. Her recent concert work includes Something Rotten and Oklahoma! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and We Aren't Kids Anymore at The Savoy Theatre.
Previously, she served as Interim Head of Casting at TED Entertainment, managing casting for MSC Cruises and TUI. Most recently, she has worked on Pop Off, Michelangelo! (London & Edinburgh), La Bamba (International), and served as Casting Associate on the brand-new musical Burlesque in Manchester.
Tabitha Watson
Theatrical Agent
Tabitha Watson
Theatrical Agent
Trained in Musical Theatre and driven from the outset by a passion for nurturing talent, Tabitha began shaping her path toward Artist Management early in her career. After gaining valuable experience as an intern in London, she joined Network Artist Management (formerly MGA Management) in 2012 as an Agent’s Assistant. Her talent for artist representation was quickly recognised, and she rose to the role of full-time Agent shortly thereafter.
By 2017, Tabitha became an Agency Director and when the company transitioned to Network Artist Management in 2020, Tabitha took full ownership, stepping into the role of Head Agent and Managing Director. She now oversees the companies continued expansion, guiding its vision and ensuring the highest standard of representation across an increasingly diverse client base.
With over a decade of experience as an agent, Tabitha brings both industry expertise and strong business acumen to her leadership. She holds qualifications in Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Business Management and Leadership. Alongside her work at the agency, she lectures in Professional Development and leads industry workshops at performing arts institutions throughout the UK, supporting the next generation of talent entering the profession.
Andrew Simeon Lewis
Industry Creative
Andrew Simeon Lewis
Industry Creative
Andrew is a Director, Choreographer and performer with a career spanning London’s West End and major international tours.
His performance credits include We Will Rock You (West End and UK Tour), Legally Blonde (UK Tour as Aaron Schultz/cover Emmett), Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany covering multiple leading rolls such as Rusty and Electra), South Pacific (UK Tour), Grease, Jest End, All That Jazz, The Snow Dragon, and numerous West End and UK touring productions.
Television and commercial work include appearances on BBC, CBBC, RTE, S4C, Children in Need, Blue Peter, and international commercial projects. As a creative director, choreographer, and assistant director, Andrew has worked extensively across theatre, live events, cruise entertainment, and fashion, including MSC Cruises worldwide, resident director for Legally Blonde (International Tour), Blippi Live (West End), casting and choreography for the Nintendo Wii game Abba You Can Dance, Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla fashion shows, and multiple new musical developments. Andrew is the creative director of The West End in Concert, producing and directing The West End at the Movies and The West End at Christmas. He also directs and choreographs for colleges and theatre schools nationwide and currently travels internationally as a judge for the Dance Star World Dance Competition.