About
We’re back with the timeless classic and charm of Guys & Dolls next January 2026* at the newly refurbished Cambridge Arts Theatre!
Nathan Detroit, a loveable rogue perpetually attempts to find a venue for his illicit craps game whilst skilfully dodging his long-suffering fiancee of fourteen years, the vivacious Miss Adelaide. Enter the charming high-roller Sky Masterson, who makes a daring bet that he can win the heart of the seemingly untouchable Sarah Brown, a determined sergeant at the Save-a-Soul Mission.
Step back into a world of 1950s Times Square, where smooth-talking gamblers, earnest missionaries, and dazzling showgirls find their lives hilariously intertwined. Expect a delightful blend of unexpected friendships, comical schemes, and genuine heartfelt moments, all set to the backdrop of iconic and toe-tapping numbers like “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.
(*Subject to the Arts Theatre refurbishment being completed this Autumn, we expect to be performing this iconic production from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th January 2026!)
Creative Team
We are delighted to announce our creative team for our production of Guys & Dolls!
HELEN PETROVNA, Co-Director & Choreographer
“We want to raise the bar for what a night out in Cambridge can be. For Guys and Dolls, our vision is for the audience to step into the newly refurbished Arts Theatre and feel swept up into something special – a glamorous, escapist night out, with choreography and design that echo the elegance of the old MGM sound stages, driven by Cambridge’s astonishing professional-level talent.”
Helen trained at The Collaborative Arts Project (CAP21) in New York City, where she specialised in Audition Technique, Mix-Belt Technique, Repertoire and Musical Theatre as a Business.
Professional theatre credits include; Graziella in West Side Story, West End Rocks, “An Evening on the Westside“, Les Miserables in Concert, Jemima in Cats, Singer/Dancer for Universal, Miss Pennywise in Urinetown The Musical, Katherine in Wine Lovers The Musical, Serena in Legally Blonde The Musical, Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde The Musical, The Slave of the Ring in Aladdin, all female roles in Starlight Express – including the lead role of ‘Pearl’, Tinkerbell in Peter Pan and Brooke Wyndham (u/s Elle & Vivienne, dance captain and jump rope coach) on the most recent National Tour of Legally Blonde The Musical.
She can be seen in the ICF feature film Chalet Girl and has previously worked for the BBC, ITV and Nickelodeon with performances on Murder in Suburbia, Genie and The Royal Variety Show. Helen is a featured vocalist for the podcast musical theatre company Pipe Dream Theatre.
Helen returned to cover all female roles in Starlight Express until having her daughter in 2022. Moving away from performing, she now directs, choreographs, and hosts professional workshops. Recent directing credits in Cambridge include 9 to 5: The Musical and Legally Blonde The Musical at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
DAVID BARRETT, Co-Director & Choreographer
“We’re excited to use movement – not just in choreography, but in set design – to bring fresh energy and rhythm to the show. While Guys & Dolls is full of sparkle, we’re also keen to dig into the historical tensions of 1950s New York – the secrecy, the stakes, and the contradictions of the time. Cambridge is full of high-calibre performers, creatives, and musicians, and this is the perfect vehicle to give them the scale and spotlight they deserve.”
David trained at Mountview Theatre School in London.
Professional theatre credits include: U/S Jesus/Judas in Godspell (directed by Scott Schwartz), Steve in Summer Holiday, U/S Rooster in Annie, Caleb in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde, and Amos in Chicago at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. He was Resident Director/Performer on both South Pacific and the 2014 UK tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (directed and choreographed by US award-winner Patti Colombo), and performed in the world record-holding Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany.
David has also appeared in Gypsy at Dundee Rep Theatre, Oliver! in Malaysia, and as the Serial Killer in Teen Scream (Edinburgh Festival). Other credits include numerous UK pantomimes and a year at the world-famous Funny Girls in Blackpool.
His work on cruise ships includes serving as Lead Production Vocalist, Vocal Captain, and Company Manager for both Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, aboard ships such as the Royal Princess, Azura and Ventura. As a creative, David has worked as Associate Director on the UK National Tour of Legally Blonde and regional productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma, Sister Act, White Christmas, and Follies. He co-directed 9 to 5: The Musical and Legally Blonde at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
David is currently Director of Theatre for the Performing Arts Centre Theatre at the Perse, Cambridge.
JAMES HARVEY, Musical Director
“I’m very excited to be back at the Arts Theatre working with such an experienced team to bring one of the all-time great musicals back to Cambridge!”
James has been involved in musical theatre in Cambridge for over 25 years (old enough to have performed for the first time at the Arts Theatre immediately after its last major refurbishment!), starting off in student theatre performing with the G+S society and MDing for CUMTS. He has worked on large-scale shows for CaOS (Sister Act, Sweeney Todd), CTC (Hairspray, Rent) and Festival Players (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Urinetown) as well as smaller ensemble shows such as Little Women (CTC), Lucky Stiff (Festival Players), Daddy Long Legs (Catharsis), Once and Amelie (Between The Bars).
He also plays keyboards and an ever-increasing number of woodwind instruments in pit bands and in a woodwind quartet, as well as singing in the local choir Cambridge Chorale.
Auditions
Our goal is to deliver professional quality with local talent, and we’re excited to see what our community brings to the stage.
To see as many people as possible, we’ll be starting with video submissions of short song excerpts from the show and a video of a short section of dance. Use this form to submit your audition for the character(s) you’re interested in and upload your video clips. If you’d like more detail on the roles available and what we’re looking for, please read through our Audition Pack.
We know forms and video auditions can feel daunting — if at any point you need help or have questions, feel free to get in touch with us at auditions@cambridgeoperatic.co.uk
Nothing you share in this form will affect casting decisions. Some of the questions are just to help us with scheduling and to create a process that works for as many people as possible.
The deadline for submissions is Saturday 5th July 2025.
In-person recalls will be held on Saturday 19th July held in Cambridge.
We strongly encourage applicants from the Global Majority, as we recognise this group is underrepresented in the industry. It’s also important to us that we have a trans inclusive cast, and we warmly welcome applicants who identify as trans or non-binary and ask that you are comfortable singing the material in the published key, as roles will be cast based on vocal fit as well as character. Our hope is to have a cast and company that is genuinely diverse and representative of our workspaces and communities.
We can’t wait to see what you bring.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will start from 1st September on the following days:
Mondays, 7.30pm – 10pm
Sundays, 11am – 5pm
The occasional Thursday, 7.30pm-10pm
Please do think carefully before auditioning if you can commit to our rehearsal schedule. We recognise that life can get in the way, but we do expect cast members to be able to attend all rehearsals.
There will be a break over the Christmas period.
Production Fees
Production fees will be £75 for non-members, including a £10 membership fee.
Production fees for members will be £65.
As with all productions, you’ll get a souvenir cast t-shirt & programme, in addition to the awesome experience of having a professional training experience with our creative team at the East of England’s finest regional theatre.
Production fees must be paid by the first rehearsal in order to secure your part in the production. We do recognise that this can be a huge ask for some members, so please do discuss payment options if you’re offered a role in this iconic production. We’re here to help.