Waring & McKenna

Waring & McKenna is a respected London talent agency that has built a solid reputation over many years of representing actors across theatre, film, and television in both the commercial and prestige segments of the British entertainment industry. The agency occupies a valued position in the London representation landscape as a firm that consistently delivers professional, well-prepared actors for both stage and screen work without the extreme selectivity barriers of the top-tier powerhouses. Their client roster demonstrates a balanced approach to career building — actors who maintain active theatre careers alongside their screen work, reflecting the agency's understanding that versatile performers who work across mediums build the most sustainable and creatively fulfilling careers. The agency's endurance in a competitive market speaks to the genuine value they provide and the strength of the casting director relationships they have cultivated over years of consistent, professional representation.

Waring & McKenna's actors regularly appear in West End productions, national touring shows, BBC and ITV dramas, Channel 4 programming, and feature films — a breadth of booking activity that reflects the agency's balanced approach to representing talent across all available mediums. The agency maintains strong working relationships with casting directors throughout the UK and Ireland, and their name on a submission carries the professional credibility that comes from years of providing reliable, well-matched talent. The balanced focus between theatre and screen is a genuine differentiator, as many agencies naturally gravitate toward one medium or the other while Waring & McKenna maintains genuine expertise and active relationships in both. For actors who view their careers as spanning stage and screen equally, this balance ensures that neither dimension of their work is treated as secondary or neglected.

Waring & McKenna considers new submissions from trained actors with professional experience who can demonstrate versatility across multiple mediums. The agency values actors who have invested in quality training, who maintain professional standards in all their interactions, and who bring a genuine work ethic to their careers. Submissions should include a current Spotlight profile, professional headshots, and a showreel that demonstrates on-camera ability, as well as theatre credits that indicate commitment to live performance. The agency is more accessible than the top-tier elite firms while maintaining standards that ensure their reputation with casting directors remains strong, making them an attractive option for actors who may not yet be competitive at the highest level but who are ready for serious professional representation.

Represented actors benefit from Waring & McKenna's established casting director relationships and their consistent presence as a trusted source of professional talent for both theatrical and screen productions. The agency submits clients through Spotlight alongside direct relationships with casting professionals, and their balanced reputation means they are equally credible when putting actors forward for a West End production and a BBC drama. Career guidance from the agency reflects their understanding that the strongest acting careers in the UK are built by performers who work consistently across mediums, developing different aspects of their craft through the complementary demands of stage and screen. The agency's practical, professional approach focuses on getting clients into the right audition rooms and providing the support needed to convert opportunities into bookings.

Waring & McKenna's roster represents a cross-section of the professional UK acting community — trained performers at various career stages who work regularly across theatre, television, and film and who share a commitment to professional standards and versatile craft development. The agency's balanced theatre-screen approach attracts actors who refuse to be pigeonholed in a single medium and who understand that the most sustainable careers in British entertainment are built on versatility. Long-term client relationships reflect the trust that develops when agents genuinely know their clients' abilities and advocate effectively over years of consistent collaboration. The roster includes both actors with substantial credits and those building momentum in the early-to-mid career stage.

Commission is charged on booked work only, with no upfront costs, registration fees, or hidden charges — the standard UK commission-based model that aligns the agency's financial interests with their clients' booking success. The agency's commission rates are in line with standard UK industry percentages, typically 10-12% for theatrical work and up to 20% for commercial engagements, with specific terms negotiated individually. There are no mandatory expenses for headshots, workshops, showcases, or any other services connected to maintaining representation. The transparent financial relationship and absence of any ancillary charges ensure that the agency earns exclusively through genuine career-advancing work on their clients' behalf.

Waring & McKenna is recommended for UK actors with solid training and a growing body of work who want a well-connected agency that provides genuinely balanced coverage across both theatrical and screen work, with professional credibility that ensures their submissions receive serious consideration from casting directors. The agency is particularly well-suited for versatile performers who work across mediums and who value an agent that understands and supports the complete scope of their career rather than privileging one dimension. If your primary ambition is the most prestigious possible agency name and you are willing to wait for a top-tier slot, agencies like Curtis Brown or Troika may be your eventual target. For actors who need effective, professional representation that delivers genuine results across theatre and screen right now, Waring & McKenna provides reliable, well-connected representation with a proven track record.

Develop genuine versatility across theatre and screen to take full advantage of the agency's balanced approach — actors who are equally compelling on stage and on camera will benefit most from representation that actively pursues opportunities in both mediums. Maintain your theatre career alongside screen work, as the agency values performers who stay connected to live performance and the craft development it provides. Keep your Spotlight profile, headshots, and showreel current and reflective of your best recent work. Build relationships within both the theatrical and screen production communities, as networking across mediums reinforces your versatile identity. Be proactive in your communication with the agency about training, new skills, availability changes, and career goals, as the most effective agent-client relationships are collaborative partnerships where both parties contribute to career momentum.