Type

Theatre

Location

Greater London

Content

This production contains explicit language, adult themes, and sexual satire drawn from a 17th-century Restoration text. Performers and agents should review the full brief before submitting.

Could one of the filthiest texts in English literature also be one of its sharpest political satires?

Banned, obscene, and centuries ahead of its time, Nikita Matthews’s staging of “Sodom or The Quintessence of Debauchery” resurrects one of theatre history’s most notorious lost plays for contemporary audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Attributed to the infamous libertine poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, Sodom is a delirious Restoration satire: a riotous, explicit, and darkly comic attack on political corruption, moral hypocrisy, and elite excess at the court of Charles II.

Written around 1673 and suppressed for centuries, the play occupies a unique place in literary history — part underground pornographic provocation, part savage political farce. Combining obscene language, absurd comedy, live music, and razor-sharp rhyming verse, Rochester imagines a kingdom collapsing under the weight of its own appetites after Bolloxion, King of Sodom, legalises “buggery” throughout the realm.

General Buggeranthos reports that this policy is welcomed by the soldiers, but has deleterious effects on women of the kingdom who feel neglected and resort to other devices. With the court and country reduced to erotic madness, demons erupt onto the stage, bringing fire and brimstone. Bolloxion flees, retiring to a cavern to live out his days with his dear Pockenello.

Director's Note:

Sodom is ultimately a 17th-century text, bringing with it beautiful Baroque costumes, harpsichords, petticoats, stockings, and wigs.

In my production, the genders will be flipped. Men will play the female parts, and women the male ones. In rehearsals, we will go in-depth into elements of social performance that were customary for each sex; e.g. 17th century dance, handkerchiefs, fans, snuff boxes and hats. The men will try their best (to great comedic effect) to adopt the female idiosyncrasies of the 17th century, while women will be dressed as noblemen.

We will be working in the Lecoq school of Bouffon, Restoration minuet dance and 17th-century etiquette and movement studies. Prior Singing and Dance experience is welcomed but not required.

Yours,
Nikita

This is a revolutionary piece of theatre in its diversity and inclusivity, and therefore, we both encourage and welcome auditions from all ethnic backgrounds and gender orientations.

Dates

Performance Dates Fringe 2026
Location - theSpace @ Surgeon's Hall, Grand Theatre (160 seats)

Technical rehearsal
6th of August

Performances
7th - 22nd of August 23.30 pm

Rehearsals - Last 2 weeks of July - (subject to performer availability).
Due to the nature of the material, there will be an intimacy coordinator during rehearsals.

Apply By

17:00 - 17th June 2026

Roles

General Buggeranthos

Female Only 20 - 40

Pockenello

Female Only 20 - 30

Virtuoso

20 - 40

King Bolloxion

Female Only 20 - 40

F*ckadilla

Male Only 20 - 40

Clyt--is

Male Only 20 - 40

Queen C*ntigratia

Male Only 20 - 40

Roles Details

Title

Queen C*ntigratia

Content

C*ntigratia – Queen of Sodom (m)

Alienated by her King, she cunningly resorts to Virtuoso and court politics to maintain order amidst the uncanny chaos of Bolloxion's mandate.

C*ntigratia is a conniving woman facing neglect and abandonment; she uses her wiles to regain her power in court.

The performer should be male-presenting and prepared to cross-dress as a woman in baroque clothes.

Salary

Performing in the evenings for a 2-week run in central Edinburgh at TheSpaceUK's finest venue - Surgeon's Grand - 7th - 22nd of August. Production is offering 200 GBP/Week, plus a 4% stake in the profits of the show. Total pay: 400 GBP + est. 150 - 250 GPB in profit share. Dunsinane Productions will cover accommodation, food and travel.

Gender

Male Only

Age

20 - 40