• Tamasha Theatre Company have announced that applications for SHIFT Artist Labs are now open, a six-month programme offering £7,000 per project, alongside dramaturgical and producing support

• Submissions for The Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights are now open.

• Leeway Productions have issued a callout for all Women and female identifying creatives, for their new 20 MINUTE MUSICALS development programme in Porth, South Wales.

• The Dramaturg Workshop has issued an open invitation to join the next free online monthly workshop on 4th November, to explore the craft of dramaturgy.

• Cove Park have announced a general call for applications for Awarded Residencies in 2027 & 2028 is now open.

• Birmingham Hippodrome have announced that they are the hosts of New Earth’s Cultivate Residency on Friday 20 November for B/ESEA* artists based in the Midlands.

• Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced that Open Room for early career theatre practitioners is now open for applications.

• Hackney Showroom are looking for 4 exceptional double acts to make brand new shows for NICE PAIR, a two week festival as part of a new residency at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith’s Studio in March 2027.

See below for full details of each opportunity including deadlines and links to apply. Theatre Pathways shares artist and professional development opportunities for theatre folk every Friday - for a regular update straight to your inbox, sign up here:

Tamasha Theatre Company have announced that applications for SHIFT Artist Labs are now open.

This six-month programme offers £7,000 per project, alongside dramaturgical and producing support, to help bold ideas grow. Open to artists across the UK, SHIFT Artist Labs are open to artists at every stage of their career, and you can apply as an individual or as a group of up to 4 artists.

Running between January and July 2027, for artists with ideas that need the time, care and investment to grow. Five projects will receive a tailored package of investment including:

• £7,000 research and development funding.

• A dedicated dramaturg throughout the programme.

• Bespoke producing support.

• A steward from one of our partner organisations.

• Workshops with artists, producers and cultural leaders.

• A final industry gathering to share your work and connect with collaborators.

Deadline: 30 November 2026

More info and apply

Submissions for The Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights are now open, created by Orísun Productions founder and CEO, Shereener Brownein, in partnership with Arcola Theatre and Methuen Drama.

Black writing in the UK has become more visible, but British Caribbean playwrights remain significantly underrepresented in major playwriting awards, commissions, and production pathways. Named after the generation of pioneering men and women who laid the foundation for others who later settled in Britain, the Windrush Prize exists to address this gap; to encourage the next generation of playwrights from the Caribbean diaspora to tell the stories of their community in their way. It is the first award of its kind in over 30 years and the only prize in the UK aimed solely at British Caribbean playwrights.

For an unpublished play by a British Caribbean playwright. The selected winner will receive £10,000; mentoring and support; text publication by Methuen Drama; and a minimum three-week production run at Arcola Theatre, to address the historical loss of plays from this community and, crucially, build legacy.

Deadline: 2 December 2026

More info and submit

Leeway Productions have issued a callout for all Women and female identifying creatives, for their new 20 MINUTE MUSICALS development programme in Porth, South Wales.

20 MINUTE MUSICALS is an innovative creative development programme supporting women and female identifying artists, writers, composers, musicians and multidisciplinary creatives in Wales who are keen to explore and develop their work in musical theatre and music theatre

At the heart of the programme is a commitment to amplifying female voices and creating space for women’s stories, perspectives, experiences, languages and cultures.

Three partnerships will be established (6 creatives), with each creative receiving £1,000 to support the delivery of their commission, mentorship, and professional development.

Deadline: 30 November 2026, 5pm

More info and apply

The Dramaturg Workshop invites you to join the next free online monthly workshop on 4th November, where the craft of dramaturgy is explored so it can be applied to your work.

These free monthly sessions are designed for playwrights, composers, and lyricists passionate about honing the craft of storytelling.

Each month, receive The Dramaturg’s Workshop free newsletter setting out the key points of the month’s subject.

These include topics such as

• What Is a Dramaturg, Actually? (And How to Spot a Bad One)

• Collaboration struggles and how to solve them.

• How your ending effects every choice you make.

• Building your characters and making an audience care.

Join a community striving to improve their skill set and discuss what great dramaturgy looks and sounds like.

Register here

Cove Park have announced a general call for applications for Awarded Residencies in 2027 & 2028 is now open.

As one of Cove Park’s key programmes, the biennial call for Awarded Residencies reflects an ongoing commitment to the support of local, national, and international artists, researchers, writers, and creative practitioners, working in all art forms and at every career stage. These residencies offer supported time for research, creative development, and the production of new work. The appointed residents will receive a fee, funding for travel and, when required, for materials, access support, and the visa application process.

The fully funded Awarded Residencies will take place between May 2027 and December 2028 and can be for as short a time as two weeks or up to three months in duration.

Deadline: Friday December 11 2026, 5pm GMT

More info and apply

Birmingham Hippodrome have announced that they are the hosts of New Earth’s Cultivate Residency on Friday 20 November for B/ESEA* artists based in the Midlands.

Cultivate is a full day residency, for B/ESEA* artists based in the Midlands to develop their artistic practice and continue building an artistic community. Join for a full day immersed in workshops, food and connection.

*The team use the term B/ESEA to mean those who identify as East Asian or South East Asian living and working in the UK.

More info and register

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced that Open Room for early career theatre practitioners is now open for applications.

Open Room aims to give theatre practitioners at the very beginning of their careers a chance to see inside a professional rehearsal room.

The team are inviting aspiring Directors, Movement Directors, Dramaturgs and Musical Directors to apply for the opportunity to observe the rehearsal, tech and preview processes of three productions in our 2027 season.

Deadline: 10am on Wednesday 25th November 2026

More info and apply

Hackney Showroom are looking for 4 exceptional double acts to make brand new shows for NICE PAIR, a two week festival taking place at HACKNEY SHOWROOM AT THE LYRIC – a new residency at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith’s Studio in March 2027.

Hackney Showroom and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre have joined forces to launch a major new residency which sees Hackney Showroom take over the Lyric’s Studio Theatre with two world premieres to be announced and a festival, creating a new home for innovative, genre-defying, risk-embracing theatre.

The festival – NICE PAIR – will present, from an open call, four double acts to create original work in collaboration with Hackney Showroom‘s artistic team. Each pair will receive a fee of £6,000, work with an exceptional creative team and have their show presented for a week’s run at the festival running from 8-20 March 2027.

More info and apply

• The Theatre503 International Playwriting Award is back and opens for submission on Nov 1st 2026.

• Rebound Productions are looking for original one-act plays, featuring 2 or 3 characters, to be performed as part of a programme of new writing.

• Tall Stories are calling out to emerging directors interested in family storytelling theatre for a free short course, Directing Storytelling Theatre in January 2027.

• Birds of Paradise (BOP) Theatre have announced that applications for our Disabled Playwright Support Programme in collaboration with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland have opened.

• Applications are now open for the February 2027 residencies at Summerhall Arts Studio in Edinburgh.

• Canal Cafe Theatre have announced the return of SKETCHFEST in 2027, celebrating the best in live sketch comedy in North and West London.

• Applications for the Orange Tree Theatre Writers’ Collective 2027 cohort are now open.

• Applications for the Women in Theatre Network 2027 mentoring programme are still open, closing November 16th.

See below for full details of each opportunity including deadlines and links to apply. Theatre Pathways shares artist development and professional development opportunities for theatre folk every Friday - for a regular update straight to your inbox, sign up here:

The Theatre503 International Playwriting Award is back and opens for submission on Nov 1st 2026.

The team are seeking the best new plays and the most talented early career playwrights from around the world. Theatre503 is the home of new writers and the artists who bring their words to life. They stage the work of more debut writers than any other theatre in the world, and have launched modern classics including The Mountaintop and Rotterdam.

The winning playwright will receive the £6,000 Carne Prize, including an advance towards a guaranteed production at Theatre503 and publication by Samuel French Ltd, a Concord Theatricals company.

Deadline: 12pm (midnight) Jan 31st 2027

More info on how to submit

Rebound Productions are looking for original one-act plays, featuring 2 or 3 characters, to be performed as part of a programme of new writing.

​Submissions will be reviewed by Rebound Productions and a panel of collaborators, with selected plays assessed on the following criteria:

• Originality and creativity

• Plot and structure

• Storytelling

• Writing technique

• Overall impact and enjoyment

​The team welcome bold, imaginative and boundary-pushing work featuring interesting, diverse characters. We are particularly keen to receive plays that allow for flexible casting, with characters who can be played by actors of any ethnicity and performed in any accent.

Deadline: midnight on December 1st 2026

More info and apply

Tall Stories are calling out to emerging directors interested in family storytelling theatre for a free short course, Directing Storytelling Theatre in January 2027.

Artistic Director Toby Mitchell leads the course, now open for applications. with support from the Tall Stories team and professional actors. You’ll explore a range of texts, direct your own scene and learn how to work with performers to tell a story that grabs a young audience.

This is for Directors aged 18+ with some directing or assistant directing experience. No family theatre experience needed. Dates: Saturday 9, 16 and 23 January 2027, 10am to 6pm.

Deadline: 9am, Monday 16 November 2026

More info and apply

Birds of Paradise (BOP) Theatre have announced that applications for our Disabled Playwright Support Programme in collaboration with Playwrights' Studio, Scotland have opened.

This programme is designed to help you develop a new full-length play from initial idea to first draft. The programme includes:

• Six months of tailored support

• One-to-one mentoring with an established professional playwright

• Community events, workshops, theatre visits and peer connection

• Financial support

And more! Programme starts from January 2027

Deadline: 1 pm, Monday 9th November 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the February 2027 residencies at Summerhall Arts Studio in Edinburgh.

Summerhall Arts Studios are dedicated residencies for the early development of new theatre and cross-disciplinary live performance work. They are designed to give artists and collaborators time and space to test ideas, explore approaches, and begin shaping work intended for live audiences.

Studios are not about having a finished script or fully realised production. They are about experimentation, exploration and play. We are particularly interested in projects that benefit from working in real space: testing form, staging, sound, movement, liveness, audience relationship or collaborative process.

Deadline: Sunday 8 November, 11PM

More info and apply

Canal Cafe Theatre have announced the return of SKETCHFEST in 2027, celebrating the best in live sketch comedy in North and West London.

Applications are now open for SketchFest 2027 - SketchFest celebrates the best in live sketch comedy, uniting North and West London in a unique collaboration.

SketchFest dates are 15 Mar 2027 – 28 Mar 2027

Deadline: January 1st 2027

More info and apply

Applications for the Orange Tree Theatre Writers’ Collective 2027 cohort are now open.

For over a decade, the OT Writers’ Collective has offered a cohort of mid-career playwrights an opportunity to share practice, build networks, gain industry insights, and develop new ideas.

This 15-month attachment to the Orange Tree includes:

• Monthly in-person masterclasses and talks with leading writers, directors, agents and other industry professionals

• Workshops and support in developing a new project, with dramaturgical feedback from the Orange Tree’s Literary Associate and other members of the team

• Access to desk space and office facilities at the Orange Tree, and to our large reference collection of published playtexts

• A tax-free training bursary of £1250

• A final showcase of work in the Orange Tree’s main auditorium for an audience of industry guests and the general public.

Deadline: 10am on Mon 2 Nov.

More info and apply

Applications for the Women in Theatre Network 2027 mentoring programme are still open.

This programme aims to connect aspiring and early-career theatre professionals with established women across the industry.

Deadline: Monday 16th November 2026

More info and apply

• Lyric Hammersmith have announced SPRINGBOARD 2027, a year-long, free, part-time actor training programme for 18-25 year olds based in West London.

• The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond have announced a new course Acting Lab: Devised Theatre, a practical five week introduction to devising and theatre making from 28 October 2026.

• ATG will be running a Women in Tech Course - a three-day taster offering practical Back of House skills at Richmond Theatre Friday 13 Nov - Sunday 15 Nov 2026.

• Support Playwrights and the team at Soho Walthamstow are offering new dates for co-working at Soho Theatre Walthamstow for playwrights and screenwriters who live or write in East London.

• Nick Hern Books and An Tobar and Mull Theatre are inviting applications for a three-week writing residency in April 2027 on the Isle of Mull for two professional playwrights – one who is Scottish or currently resident in Scotland, and one from anywhere in the UK.

• Applications are now open for the Squint Playwriting Award discovers, develops and champions exceptional playwrights of the future.

• YesYesNoNo have opened application for their YOUNG DRAMATURGS programme - a year-long theatre programme for young people aged 16-21 to gain expertise in real-life creative dramaturgy.

• Live Theatre Newcastle have announced applications are now open for the next free Playwriting Course running from November 2026 to May 2027.

• And it’s the last chance to apply for Live Theatre’s #LiveWrites for actors and directors based in the North East to be part of the next scratch night on 10 Nov 2026.

See below for full details of each opportunity including deadlines and links to apply. Theatre Pathways shares artist development and professional development opportunities for theatre folk every Friday - for a regular update straight to your inbox, sign up here:

Lyric Hammersmith have announced that applications are now open for SPRINGBOARD 2027, a year-long, free, part-time actor training programme for 18-25 year olds based in West London.

SPRINGBOARD is for performers who are ready to take their next steps into the theatre industry and the team are now looking for the next cohort of 10 talented and ambitious performers aged 18 to 25 who live in *West London, have little to no formal drama training, and are currently underrepresented in theatre.

The 2027 offer includes:
• Monthly bursaries during term time
• An industry Studio showcase & Studio show
• Weekly actor training + artist development mentoring
• Free headshots & showreels
• Industry support: unions, tax, casting masterclasses, networking & career support
• Rehearsal observation with Lyric productions/directors
• Free & discounted theatre tickets across London

Deadline: Monday 30 November at midday

More info and apply

The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond have announced a new Acting Lab: Devised Theatre, a practical introduction course to devising and theatre making to run over five weeks on Wednesday evenings from 28 October 2026.

At Acting Lab: Devised Theatre, you can develop performance skills and understanding of theatre-making through improvisation and devising exercises. Through this five week course you will:

• Develop your performance and making skills by creating work in a variety of styles

• Respond creatively to stimuli to develop new work

• Learn how to let go of your inhibitions and make work quickly

• Explore exercises and techniques for voice, movement and imagination

• Learn how to create character and develop scenes

Acting Lab: Devised Theatre is open to anyone aged 18+. No previous experience is necessary- just a sense of curiosity.

Cost: £135 with some limited bursary places available.

More info and sign up

ATG will be running a Women in Tech Course - a three-day taster, designed for cis and trans women and non-binary individuals aged 18yrs+, at Richmond Theatre Friday 13 Nov - Sunday 15 Nov 2026.

This course offers practical Back of House skills that can lead to entry-level roles as apprentices or casual technicians in theatre. Over the three days, you will gain hands-on experience and training in stage, hemp flying, knots, lighting and sound set up and operation. The course will also explore pathways into working in the industry.

Cost: £180

More info and sign up

Support Playwrights and the team at Soho Walthamstow are offering new dates for co-working at Soho Theatre Walthamstow to support playwrights and screenwriters who live or write in East London.

The Crosshall bar will be open exclusively for playwrights and screenwriters to work quietly. The foyer area is already open for the general public but the spacious, super comfy, frankly luxurious Crosshall will be for WRITERS ONLY – to be together and work. Completely free on Monday to Wednesday - 10am - 5pm

CURRENTLY RUNNING TILL 11th NOVEMBER 2026.

More info and how to join

Nick Hern Books and An Tobar and Mull Theatre are inviting applications for a three-week writing residency in April 2027 on the Isle of Mull for two professional playwrights – one who is Scottish or currently resident in Scotland, and one from anywhere in the UK.

The Playground Residency offers something simple and increasingly rare: time and space. With accommodation provided, a weekly stipend, travel expenses and dramaturgical support, the residency is designed to enable research, experimentation, thinking, reading and writing – without the pressure of delivering a finished script – all in one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the UK.

If you’re a professional playwright based in the UK, have an idea for a new play that you would like the freedom to explore, and feel you would benefit from three uninterrupted weeks on Mull.

Deadline: 12 noon GMT on Monday 2 November 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the Squint Playwriting Award discovers, develops and champions exceptional playwrights of the future.

Returning for its second year, the Award supports early-career, London-based writers from low-income backgrounds through a paid six-month playwriting programme.

The team provide the creative and financial support writers need to develop a one-act (70-minute) play, build their craft and progress professionally with the aim of discovering, developing and championing exceptional playwrights of the future..

Eight exceptional writers will develop a one-act (70-minute) play across six months with the support of leading industry professionals, culminating in an industry showcase at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Participants are paid a seed commission for writing time, London Living Wage for contact hours and travel expenses. Bursaries for access costs are also available.

Deadline 2 November 2026

More info and apply

YesYesNoNo have opened application for their YOUNG DRAMATURGS programme - a year-long theatre programme for young people aged 16-21 looking to improve their creative skills and gain expertise in real-life creative dramaturgy.

The team are looking for 16-21 year olds to join across Nov/Dec to learn about making theatre and help make a brand new show about art...

Young Dramaturgs gain experience of a professional creative environment, participate in creative workshops for playmaking, performance-making and creative writing. The Young Dramaturgs are invited to participate in the creation of YESYESNONO shows over the year. Through creative discussions on the themes, workshops on the content and special invitations to early sharings of the work, the Young Dramaturgs become a key part of how the team develop new work and develop their dramaturgical skills in the process.

If you’re interested and want to apply, email rhian@yesyesnono.org to express your interest and get an application form.

More info and get in touch

Live Theatre Newcastle have announced applications are now open for the next free Playwriting Course running from November 2026 to May 2027.

You can explore new approaches to storytelling, learn from some of the most exciting voices in theatre and develop a brand-new play of your own. Designed for playwrights who have already had work staged or performed and are now looking to develop their practice further.
The team are looking to work with writers who are curious, open to experimentation and excited to push their work in new directions.

Deadline: Tuesday 27 October 2026

More info and apply

It’s also the last chance to apply for Live Theatre’s #LiveWrites for actors and directors based in the North East to be part of the next taking place on Tue 10 Nov 2026.

Live Theatre’s new writing showcase and development event with all creative positions filled from Open Calls for North East based Writers, Directors and Actors. A whole host of opportunities for theatre creatives of all experiences to flourish in a safe and supportive space, with live feedback, networking and championing of the amazing artists of our region.

Each Live Writes event will see a handful of writers chosen from an open submission window to have their work performed in a scratch setting in the main theatre space.

Directors and Actors for each piece will also be selected from open windows, getting to choose which script they would like to be considered for from the synopses and character breakdowns of the four pieces.

These are all paid opportunities with every creative receiving the same day fee of £150. For writers, this is intended as a rights fee to perform your work and not a commission fee.

Deadline: Mon 19 Oct 2026

More info and apply

Theatre Pathways was created back in April 2025 and the idea was born because there was no one place to find development opportunities, and if you don’t already have connections in the industry, they can be difficult to find. The aim is to share opportunities more widely, demystify possible pathways for theatre careers and make it easier to find ways to connect with like minded creatives and community.

We’re thrilled to be partnering with West End Best Friend to reach more people, help remove barriers to entry in theatre and work together to make the industry we love a better place.

So… Without any further ado, here are the Friday New Pathways opportunities for this week.

• Wardrobe Ensemble in Bristol are calling out for early career theatre-makers based in the South West, with a creative theatre project brewing for ITCH 2027.

• Applications are open for the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, for theatrical visionaries ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.

• Applications are now open for the newly launched Young Vic Young Company and Young Technicians programme for 18-25s and will soon open for Young Disruptors for theatre producers.

• Scrum Theatre have announced a new five day Autumn Playwriting Intensive with Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu & Somebody Jones at the end of October.

• Join Capital Theatres in Edinburgh for a free circus workshop for artists, led by industry professionals from Circa Contemporary Circus on 28 October.

• Writing submissions are now open for Page2Stage - an exciting new writing night, hosted by Traverse in Edinburgh.

• The Emma Rice Company just added two more Theatre-Maker Tasters to their Training programme calendar in Edinburgh and Bath - applications now are open.

Wardrobe Ensemble in Bristol are calling out for early career theatre-makers based in the South West, with a creative theatre project brewing for ITCH 2027.

This is a scratch showcase to try new ideas out in front of a friendly, warm and reflective audience. The team would love to see applications from early career theatre-makers or those who are trying something new and are particularly interested in Devised Theatre and New Writing.

Deadline: 3pm on Friday 19th February 2027.

More info and apply

Applications are open for the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, for theatrical visionaries ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.

Audible are seeking early-career theatrical writers who craft immersive fictional experiences that engage, entertain, and inspire. Whether your work explores internal worlds through sound, creates vivid landscapes through language, or experiments with narrative structure—if it pushes boundaries and demands to be heard, this is for you.

For this cycle, applications are open to these genres: Action & Adventure, including Mystery, Thrillers, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Core Fiction including Contemporary Fiction, Romance, and Literary Companion Pieces.

Deadline: November 18, 2026 (11:59PM EST)

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the newly launched Young Vic Young Company and Young Technicians programme for 18-25s and will soon open for Young Disruptors for theatre producers.

The Young Vic Young Company programme offers six months of free industry training and culminates in a new play at the Young Vic in July 2027. Starts in January.
Deadline: Friday 23rd October, 12pm

Young Technicians is a six month paid training programme for 18-25s. Participants will work with our in-house Production team on Young Vic shows to learn entry-level technician skills in Lighting, Sound, Costume and Stage. Starts in January. Deadline: Monday 2nd November, 12pm

In November applications will open for Young Disruptors! Also for 18-25 year olds, participants will learn fundamental skills in theatre producing and programme their own event at the Young Vic. Starts in January.

More info and apply

Scrum Theatre in Hammersmith have announced a new five day Autumn Playwriting Intensive with Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu & Somebody Jones: Tell Me a Tale x The Black Phantastic: Play in a Week.

This playwriting intensive will help you kick-start and develop your next piece of theatre, using Tristan’s own Tell Me A Tale Method. This is a practical framework for building story from the inside out — you’ll develop a bold script set in the Speculative world (fantasy, sci-fi, horror), working across devising, structure, character, dramaturgy and world-building.

Date: Mon 26 Oct-Fri 30 Oct 2026
Time: 10am-5pm daily
Cost: £480 (bursaries available)
Location: Riverside studios

More info and book

Join Capital Theatres in Edinburgh for a free circus workshop for artists, led by industry professionals from Circa Contemporary Circus on 28 October.

This workshop is part of the run of Duck Pond at the Festival Theatre. You will learn new circus skills and movement languages specific to the show. These performance components are then integrated to create a sequence or scene accompanied by the Duck Pond musical composition by Jethro Woodward and Tchaikovsky.

More info and book

Writing submissions are now open for Page2Stage - an exciting new writing night, hosted by Traverse in Edinburgh.

Page2Stage supports grassroots theatre providing an open-access route to connect and collaborate. The event showcases extracts from 4 brand new plays, performed as rehearsed readings in front of a live audience and an industry panel providing dramaturgical feedback on the night. The audience, participants and panel are then invited to the cafe bar to continue the conversation and make connections.

Mentorship is also provided for new Directors to navigate the format and a feedback session after the event to discuss the event, your next steps or anything else you might want support with. Event date: Wednesday 25 November, 7.30pm

Deadline: Sunday 18 October, Midnight

More info and submit

The Emma Rice Company just added two more Theatre-Maker Tasters to their Training programme calendar - and applications are open.

You can apply to join:

• the Tristan & Yseult team in Edinburgh at Lyceum Theatre on Thurs 22 October, or for a place to collaborate,

• play and learn with members of our A Child’s Christmas in Wales company at The Lucky Chance in Frome on Fri 11 December, during the run at Theatre Royal Bath.
  
  These free half-day tasters offer a unique opportunity to work closely with the team and learn how Emma Rice Company shows are made. You don’t need loads of experience, but you do need to be a confident performer.
  
  Preference is given to local artists; and applications are encouraged from people who are underrepresented in the theatre industry.

More info and apply

• Freelancers Make Theatre Work have released Freelancing 101 - a new hub that brings together practical guidance, quick tools and trusted signposting for Theatre Freelancers.

• In Good Company are bringing their week long intensive Producer Bootcamp for early career artists and producers to Hackney Empire in London from 7 – 11 December 2026.

• London Playwrights have released their Autumn Workshops, covering writing your play, pitching, screenwriting, writing complex female villains and more.

• The Old Vic has launched OV Masterclasses: a series of free masterclasses for early-career artists, exploring creative practice and offering practical skills for navigating artistic careers.

• This November house southeast theatre network are bringing Pitch Up to London, with a focus on supporting theatre artists in the early stages of their careers, hosted by Stanley Arts, London, on Friday 13 November.

• Capital Theatres in Edinburgh are teaming up with award-winning theatre company Jordan & Skinner to host a workshop on Devising Accessible Theatre.

• Birmingham Hippodrome have announced a new workshop, led by their Head of Artist and New Work Development, Sophia Griffin on Character Driven Playwriting Saturday 10th October 2026 1-3pm, as part of the Birmingham Literature Festival.

See below for full details of each opportunity including deadlines and links to apply. Theatre Pathways shares artist development and professional development opportunities for theatre folk every Friday - for a regular update straight to your inbox, sign up here:

Freelancers Make Theatre Work have released Freelancing 101 - a new hub that brings together practical guidance, quick tools and trusted signposting for Theatre Freelancers.

Created for freelancers across theatre and live performance, this new FMTW hub brings together practical guidance, quick tools and trusted signposting for the questions that can make freelance life feel needlessly complicated.

Start with your first five steps, explore money and admin, check a contract, think through a job offer, find support or simply look up a term you have never had explained.

More info and check it out

In Good Company are bringing their week long intensive Producer Bootcamp for early career artists and producers to Hackney Empire in London from 7 – 11 December 2026.

During this week, the team will be training up early career artists and producers in all things producing in the freelance subsidised world! If you want to grow your knowledge of what producing is and what's involved, this workshop will cover a huge range of topics from touring, budgets, funding bids, audience development, marketing & PR and more.

The bootcamp cots £250 for 5 days.

More info and book

London Playwrights have released their Autumn Workshops, covering writing your play, pitching, screenwriting, writing complex female villains and more.

London Playwrights is a resource for emerging writers in London and beyond. Bringing together opportunities, resources, and good advice - our aim is to support the next generation of playwrights, promoting a level playing field to empower writers to get their work on stage. As part of their work, the team offer workshops and dramaturgical support, showcase new writing through live events, and provide a weekly round-up of the latest playwriting opportunities.

More info and book

The Old Vic has launched OV Masterclasses: a series of free masterclasses for early-career artists, exploring creative practice and offering practical skills for navigating artistic careers.

Masterclasses are open for registration roughly four weeks in advance, through sign-up forms on the website. To be notified when future masterclasses are open for registration, you can join the Artist Development mailing list here.

All masterclasses are free to access. You will be notified by email if the team can offer you a place. Events have a limited capacity, so only register if you plan to attend.

The first masterclass is Develop Your Playwriting Toolkit on October 21st, 2-5pm.

More info and sign up

This November house southeast theatre network are bringing Pitch Up to London, with a focus on supporting theatre artists in the early stages of their careers, hosted by Stanley Arts, London, on Friday 13 November.

Pitch Up: Beginning will help demystify the theatre industry for early career theatre artists new to connecting with venues; helping artists to understand how venues work, learn about their artist support offer, and what effective collaboration can look like.

house have been running Pitch Up for the last 10 years, fostering a collaborative and more open approach to traditional pitching events, creating a space for new partnerships to emerge.

Artists and companies can apply to pitch: deadline 14 October.

The team will be joined by venue representatives from London and the South East region who will share their artist support offer, before giving the floor over to up to 20 early career artists to give a snapshot of their work and plans. The event will include two panel discussions with industry leaders, covering how to begin relationships and take work to venues plus a practical guide to marketing and selling your show.

More info and apply or book

Capital Theatres in Edinburgh are teaming up with award-winning theatre company Jordan & Skinner to host a workshop on Devising Accessible Theatre.

Jordan & Skinner, creators of ‘Do Not Pass Go’ will share their approach to creating accessible, physical theatre using clown, movement and visual vernacular and what the team are discovering while working with BSL and English in the creative process.

Ticket discount for participants
Participants to the workshop will receive a discounted ticket for the performance of Do Not Pass Go on the day of their choice. Details will be emailed out within 24hrs of your workshop booking being confirmed.

More info and book

Birmingham Hippodrome have announced a new workshop, led by their Head of Artist and New Work Development, Sophia Griffin on Character Driven Playwriting Saturday 10th October 2026 1-3pm, as part of the Birmingham Literature Festival.

From Hamlet to Hedda Gabler, the best plays often live longest in the memory because of the colour and vividity of their characters.

In this energetic workshop with award-winning playwright Sophia Griffin, you will be encouraged to develop thrilling and alive new characters whose journeys entirely shape the narrative arc of your play.

Come along with your new ideas for plays, scenes or first drafts waiting to be revisited, and leave with the tools required to create unforgettable new protagonists. Perfect for early-career playwrights and writers wishing to refresh their approach. Tickets cost £32.34.

More info and book

• Stage One have announced their next Off West End Producing Workshop on 3 November at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park.

• Applications for the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme 2027 are now open.

• Punchdrunk have announced an open casting call, looking for performers for a new immersive project, Playdates, co-produced with the London Museum.

• Squint Theatre Company have launched the Squint Playwriting Award, to develop early-career, London-based writers from low-income backgrounds through a paid six-month playwriting programme, in partnership with Theatre Royal Stratford East and Hackney Showroom.

• ShakeSphere 2027, an initiative of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network, is now open for applications, inviting theatre makers from around the world to create bold, small-scale Shakespeare-inspired productions made to travel.

• LUNG Theatre have announced an in-person Verbatim Bootcamp at Lowry in Manchester on 13 October 2026

• Spill Festival has announced the launch of FLOCK: a free network for young creatives across East Anglia, as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

See below for full details of each opportunity including deadlines and links to apply. Theatre Pathways shares artist development and professional development opportunities for theatre folk every Friday - for a regular update straight to your inbox, sign up here:

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Stage One have announced their next Off West End Producing Workshop on 3 November at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park.

The day will run 10am-5.30pm and will offer a producer training workshop dedicated to producing commercial theatre on a smaller scale at Off West End venues. Tickets cost £80 or £60 concessions.

More info and book

Applications for the Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme 2027 are now open.

The Jerwood Royal Court Commissioning Scheme is an open-access national fund to unlock risk and investment in commissioning new plays.

Each year, the Scheme awards six annual grants of up to £6,000 each to underwrite first payments for new play commissions, supporting UK-wide theatres and producers to back ambitious new playwrights.

This opportunity is for joint proposals from a playwright and a producing company or venue - subsidised, or commercial. The grant covers the hardest-to-fund first instalment, helping writers and producers take creative risks and develop daring, original work with a real route to production. You can join a free webinar on Tue 13 Oct, 10.30am for more information.

Deadline: Monday 11 January 2027 at midday.

More info and apply

Punchdrunk have announced an open casting call, looking for performers for a new immersive project, Playdates, co-produced with the London Museum.

Playdates is a free experience for families which will bring magic to the museum’s galleries, in pursuit of one of London’s most elusive creatures.

The team are seeking to cast 3 performers to play Robin and Andi Brewen, cousins in the Brewen family, playing age: 20-45. People of all genders are welcome to apply for either role. Those applying must have:

• Belief in the power of storytelling and imagination.

• Experience of creating, facilitating or performing theatre work for young audiences.

• Experience of working in interactive, improvised or immersive performance.

Deadline: 9am, 22 October 2026

More info and apply

Squint Theatre Company have launched the Squint Playwriting Award, to develop early-career, London-based writers from low-income backgrounds through a paid six-month playwriting programme, in partnership with Theatre Royal Stratford East and Hackney Showroom.

Returning for its second year, the Award discovers, develops and champions exceptional playwrights of the future. The opportunity provides the creative and financial support writers need to develop their first full-length play, build their craft and progress professionally. Applications are now open.

Eight exceptional writers will develop their first full-length plays across six months of workshops with industry leaders, culminating in an industry showcase at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Participants are paid a seed commission for writing time, London Living Wage for contact hours and travel expenses. Bursaries for access costs are also available.

Deadline: Monday 2 November 2026

More info and apply

ShakeSphere 2027, an initiative of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network, is now open for applications, inviting theatre makers from around the world to create bold, small-scale Shakespeare-inspired productions made to travel.

A team of up to five people. At least two performers. No touring set. And all costumes and props fitting into just two suitcases.
The selected production will travel to at least seven Shakespeare festivals across Europe - and Craiova will be one of its stages in May 2027.

A Shakespeare text reimagined or an entirely new work inspired by Shakespeare: the team are curious to see what can fit into two suitcases - and how far it can travel.

Deadline: 11 October 2026

More info and apply

LUNG Theatre have announced an in-person Verbatim Bootcamp at Lowry in Manchester on 13 October 2026.

Verbatim Bootcamp by LUNG Theatre
Date: Tue 13 Oct 2026
Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm
Venue: Lowry Studio TBC
Cost: Free to attend with a £5 refundable deposit

Join award-winning theatre company LUNG (Resident Company at the National Theatre and Lowry Partner Company) for a practical workshop exploring different approaches to creating verbatim theatre and meaningfully bringing the words of real people to life onto the stage.

Led by Matt Woodhead (Co-Director, LUNG), this will be a hands-on introduction to verbatim theatre. Working with real testimony and interview transcripts, participants will explore how stories are edited, shaped, and brought to the stage, while considering the creative and ethical responsibilities of representing other people's voices.

More info and book

Spill Festival has announced the launch of FLOCK: a free network for young creatives across East Anglia, as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Designed by young people, for young people (aged 18-25), it brings emerging creatives together to build connections, share knowledge and discover new career opportunities.

Over the next six months, the programme includes insider insight into freelancing, funding your projects, producing live events and carving your creative careers outside of London.

The first event - The Business of Showbusiness - takes place on Sat 25 Sep at the Key Theatre in Peterborough. FLOCK supports young creatives, our future arts leaders, through developing skills, sharing sector knowledge and growing a cultural community for young creatives.

Join for free

• Raw Material Arts are calling out to Scottish or Scotland-based writers for their Raw Potential programme, for new projects for development in 2027, aiming to produce a project in Spring / Summer 2028.

• TripSpace in London have announced that applications are open for mothers working as independent choreographers for the MotherSpace Artistic Residency.

• Chichester Festival Theatre have announced the launch of BOLD Artist Training: three days of training for artists to deliver high-quality, person-centred sessions for people living with dementia.

• Graeae have issued a call out for y Deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent writers for their next Crips with Chips Scratch Night on Friday 11 December.

• New Diorama Theatre have announced a slate of new Artist Development opportunities including free space lotteries with Theatre Deli, technical residencies, dramaturgical clinics, artist and company surgeries, communal software licences and more.

• Applications are now open at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham for The Next Page Season; an annual festival of rehearsed readings of exciting plays in development.

• VAULT Creative Arts have announced an exciting new initiative… The Lower Marsh Arts Festival will give over 100 artists free performance space to experiment and try out new work in 2027.

• The Emma Rice Company has announced dates for a Technical Taster Workshop and a Theatre-Maker Taster Workshop to take place at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford in October.

For weekly updates straight into your inbox of new artistic and professional development opportunities in theatre all over the country, consider subscribing to Theatre Pathways:

Raw Material Arts are calling out to Scottish or Scotland-based writers for their Raw Potential programme, for new projects for development in 2027, aiming to produce a project in Spring / Summer 2028.

Raw Material is an award-winning, independent, producing company based in Glasgow, Scotland. The team want to hear from professional playwrights with big ideas, bold stories and work that shares our passion for creating theatre that inspires, entertains and captivates audiences across borders.

This is for full-length plays, plays with songs and musicals. Your project can be an idea or an unproduced script - and we’re particularly excited to hear from playwrights we haven’t worked with before. You must be Scottish or based in Scotland and have had at least two plays professionally produced.

Deadline: 11pm, Sunday 4 October 2026

More info and apply

TripSpace in London have announced that applications are open for mothers working as independent choreographers for the MotherSpace Artistic Residency.

TripSpace is looking for 3 independent choreographer mothers to take part in a 4-month programme supporting artistic development, wellbeing, leadership and teaching practice.Motherhood should not be a barrier to sustaining an artistic career.
MotherSpace has been created for choreographer mothers who are ready to develop their practice, explore new ideas and build more sustainable careers within the dance sector.

The Residency includes:

• 8-day Artistic Residency at TripSpace: 28 hours of dedicated studio time

• £1,200 Seed Commission

• £400 Teaching Fee- 8 x 90-minute ProDance classes at TripSpace

• £320 Childcare Allowance

• £100 Work-in-Progress Sharing Fee

• Choreographic Mentoring

• Free access to Lead&Create Leadership Course

The opportunity is for independent choreographer mothers who have not previously received significant or ongoing support from an established dance or cultural organisation and have experience teaching dance or a strong interest in developing their teaching practice. Applicants should be interested in contributing to ProDance Training at TripSpace and be able to participate in the 4-month programme from 26th October 2026

Deadline: 11th October

More info and apply

Chichester Festival Theatre have announced the launch of BOLD Artist Training: three days of training to equip artists to deliver high-quality, person-centred sessions for people living with dementia.

During the course, participants will:

• Learn how to adapt creative practice for dementia engagement

• Explore sensory, participatory and responsive approaches

• Develop confidence in inclusive facilitation

• Deliver a live workshop with participants

• Receive expert feedback and mentoring

• Connect with other likeminded artists working in the field

Dates: 20 - 22 October

Location: Chichester Festival Theatre

Cost: £200 per person

Deadline: 5pm on Friday 25 September

More info and apply

Graeae have issued a call out for y Deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent writers for their next Crips with Chips Scratch Night on Friday 11 December.

The team are seeking four comedic, short plays by Deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent writers for the next Crips with Chips Scratch Night at Graeae. The team encourage stories with humour, wit, satire, or irony to highlight human truths, challenge perspectives, and simply make audiences laugh out loud.

Rehearsals will take place across the week commencing 30 November and 7 December. Each selected writer who platforms their play receives a fee of £500 plus dramaturgical support from Graeae.

Deadline: Friday 2 October

More info and apply

The New Diorama Theatre have announced an exciting slate of Artist Development opportunities including free space lotteries with Theatre Deli, technical residencies, dramaturgical clinics, artist and company surgeries, communal software use and more.

Artist Surgery dates announced so far are Tuesday 29th September and Tuesday 24th November, Company Formation Surgeries will be each Wednesday afternoons on Zoom and the first Dramaturgical Clinic date will be 14th October.

More info and apply

Technical Residencies will be offered at the New Diorama and The Centre for Performance, Technology, and Equity (PTEQ) in London and HOME in Manchester in January and February 2027.

Deadline: Thursday 8th October at 11pm

More info and apply

NDT x Theatre Deli: The Allotment offers free R&D and rehearsal space in Central London to independent artists, with no strings attached. These spaces are offered through lottery selection, launching two dedicated spaces across nine months until June 2027 at Theatre Deli Crossharbour. Applications for the first phase of lottery selection (October 2026 - February 2027) are now open.

Deadline: Thursday 1st October at 6pm

More info and apply

Introducing: The Freelancers’ Laptop. The NDT have a high spec MacBook Pro with licenses for AutoCAD, QLab, Logic, Capture, and the full Adobe Suite. For theatre designers who would benefit from using the laptop and its software, for whom cost is a barrier to accessing these resources. Applications are open for use of the laptop between 19th October - 18th December 2026.

Deadline: Thursday 1st October 2026 at 6pm

More info and apply

Applications are now open at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham for The Next Page Season; an annual festival of rehearsed readings of exciting plays in development.

Writers get the chance to hear their work aloud and share it with a public audience. Next Page Readings will be between 2nd and 16th of January, 2027.

• Readings are a maximum of 60 minutes

• Box office deal: 60/40 in visiting company’s favour

• Readings will take place in our main theatre. Capacity for the venue is 89, tickets are charged at £6

Deadline: 12th October 2026 at 10am

More info and apply

VAULT Creative Arts have announced an exciting new initiative… The Lower Marsh Arts Festival will give over 100 artists free performance space to experiment and try out new work in 2027.

Spread over the course of 4-and-a-half weeks in February/March, this festival will give over 100 artists free performance space to experiment and try out new work in their venue, LowMAC.

This is a low-risk space for artists to try out new ideas. It’s an opportunity to test stuff out, andsee if it lands with an audience. As such, the team are looking for shows that have been performed fewer than 5 times before and shows should be light-touch in terms of set/props and using the space.

Deadline: Friday 16th October, 11:59pm

More info and apply

The Emma Rice Company has announced dates for a Technical Taster Workshop and a Theatre-Maker Taster Workshop to take place at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford in October.

Technical Taster Date: WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER 12.30PM TO 4PM

Theatre Maker Taster Date: FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER, 12.30PM TO 4PM

Deadline: 28 September 2026

More info and apply

• Artist-Leader: UNLOCK is back for Autumn 2026 - a free six session, 12 week creative leadership programme for artists, facilitators, and creative practitioners, prioritising those from Greater Manchester and underrepresented backgrounds.

• Applications are now open for MT FestUK at The Other Palace - a unique festival that provides a platform to showcase and celebrate original musical theatre.

• Applications are now open for writers, for Newcastle Live Theatre’s new writing showcase LIVE Writes: Writer/Performer Edition.

• Ink Theatre has opened submissions for the next Ink Festival in April 2027 in Halesworth, Suffolk.

• BEAM is the UK’s largest showcase of new musical theatre, taking place in May at Royal & Derngate, Northampton in 2027. Pitching slots will take place all over the UK between September and December 2026, with two new London pitching days added.

• Birmingham Hippodrome and Talawa Theatre Company are working together with a growing cohort of local Black artists to develop craft and support a growing artistic community with the return of the Gathering Residency on Friday 25 & Saturday 26 September.

• Theatre Royal Plymouth have announced an open call for artists and companies with the EXPERIMENT programme to R&D the seed of a new idea with a work in progress sharing.

• Write Club is the Hope Theatre’s yearly festival of new work that highlights bold new stories with BIG ideas in Islington and ​submissions for 2027’s festival are now open.

• Applications are now open for Sprint Festival 2027 at Camden People’s Theatre for early career artists.

For weekly updates straight into your inbox of new artistic and professional development opportunities in theatre all over the country, consider subscribing to Theatre Pathways:

Subscribe now

Artist-Leader: UNLOCK is back for Autumn 2026 - a free six session, 12 week creative leadership programme for artists, facilitators, and creative practitioners, prioritising those from Greater Manchester and underrepresented backgrounds.

Artist-Leader: UNLOCK is for those ready to lead projects, work with communities, and build values-led creative work. Across three themes — Know Yourself, Know Your People, Know Your Project — you’ll dig into your creative identity, map your collaborators and community, and shape a project that’s ready to pitch or fund.

This programme is free, with priority given to practitioners in Greater Manchester and those from underrepresented backgrounds, including neurodivergent, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ creatives.

Six Mondays, 10:00–11:30am | Starting 5 October 2026

Deadline 30 September 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open for MT FestUK at The Other Palace - a unique festival that provides a platform to showcase and celebrate original musical theatre.

Productions will be selected from the open submission process and their creative teams given an opportunity to workshop and present their work in ‘sharing’ sessions to audiences.

Writing teams from all backgrounds and from across all the UK and internationally are encouraged to apply.

Submit your musical for consideration with:

• 150-word synopsis

• 150-word development summary

• Creative team biogs (if secured)

• 2 contrasting songs

Deadline Sunday 27 September, 11.59pm

More info and submit

Applications are now open for writers, for Newcastle Live Theatre’s new writing showcase LIVE Writes: Writer/Performer Edition.

For the next Live Writes on 10 November 2026, this special Writer/Performer edition is open to writers who want to perform their own work, whether that’s a solo piece or something with up to three additional performers. Live Writes is all about trying things out in a supportive, low-pressure environment. So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to step on stage and share your own writing, this is it.

The team are looking for bold new writing brought to life by the people who created it, in a friendly, supportive scratch night where ideas can be tested, risks can be taken, and works in progress are celebrated.

Deadline: Wednesday 30 September - 12pm

More info and apply

Ink Theatre has opened submissions for the next Ink Festival in April 2027 in Halesworth, Suffolk.

Each year, INK selects 70 new theatre and radio pieces from over 1,000 submissions. These are professionally produced and performed at our annual five-day festival in 12 venues across the Suffolk market town of Halesworth.

INK has become a recognised launchpad for new talent. Writers, performers and creatives are regularly discovered at the festival, with many offered further opportunities. Partnerships with organisations, including The Pleasance at Edinburgh and Criterion New Writing, help selected writers showcase or develop their work beyond the festival, while theatre producers from across the industry attend INK looking for exciting new voices and plays to champion.

Deadline 30 September

More info and submit

BEAM is the UK’s largest showcase of new musical theatre, taking place on 20 & 21 May at Royal & Derngate, Northampton. Pitching slots will take place all over the UK between September and December 2026, with two new London pitching days added.

London pitching days had completely sold out - so the team have added two brand new pitching days for BEAM2027 - slots are now available to book on the website

23 November - The Exchange, Twickenham
30 November - Stratford East

Don’t miss your chance to pitch your new musical. Book your slot now as spaces are limited, so get in quick.

Book your slot

Birmingham Hippodrome and Talawa Theatre Company are working together with a growing cohort of local Black artists to develop craft and support a growing artistic community with the return of the Gathering Residency on Friday 25 & Saturday 26 September.

Gathering is a programme for Black artists in the Midlands to develop craft and continue building an artistic community. Join us for two days of workshops, food and connection.

Schedule includes:

• Friday 25 September

  • Bringing Characters to Life with Aimée Powell

  • Working with Text for Performers, Directors and Writers with Justine Themen

• Saturday 26 September

  • Movement: Finding the Story Through the Body with Keiren Hamilton-Amos

  • An introduction to the Windrush Prize and practical workshop on idea generation and redrafting with Shereener Browne and Sophia Griffin

More info and sign up

Theatre Royal Plymouth have announced their EXPERIMENT programme has an open call for artists and companies who are looking to R&D the seed of a new idea with a work in progress sharing.

The open call will run as follows:

To R&D as part of the 2027 Spring Season (various weeks throughout April-June), submit your idea between 1st September to 31st October 2026. Artists will receive an automated message to confirm receipt of their proposal and be notified of the outcome by 15th January 2027.

To R&D as part of our 2027 Autumn Season (various weeks throughout September-November), submit your idea between 1st February to 31st March 2027. Artist will receive an automated message to confirm receipt of their proposal and be notified of the outcome by 18th June 2027.

More info and apply

Write Club is the Hope Theatre’s yearly festival of new work that highlights bold new stories with BIG ideas in Islington and ​submissions for 2027’s festival are now open.

It is open to anyone with a piece of writing just waiting for that debut performance or a theatre maker with a new idea.​​

Up to thirty shows are selected by The Hope Theatre’s Literary Team and each show successfully selected for the Festival will be given a run of two - four shows or a rehearsed reading.

In addition, each writer doing a full run will be given support from the venue and get feedback from established playwrights.​

​Deadline: 30 September 2026

More info and submit

Applications are now open for Sprint Festival 2027 at Camden People’s Theatre for early career artists.

CPT’s annual SPRINT festival takes place every spring, for artists at the very start of their careers making bold and brand new work. (And "early career" hasn't got anything to do with age - whether you're 18 or 108, the team want to hear from you). For four weeks, that work populates the CPT stage, twisting theatre into new shapes and fashioning fantastic experiences for audiences.

More info and apply

• The Leodis Prize, offering representation, publication and a full production, has reopened submissions for unrepresented writers to submit their plays.

• Applications are now open for the Northern European Mobility Opportunity (NEMO) is back and offers grants of up to 10,000 euros for artists and arts practitioners developing new exchange projects between the Nordic countries, the UK and Ireland.

• Cloudburst Productions at Stockport Garrick Theatre are looking for writers of six short plays, and actors to perform in them for their LEG BREAKERS scratch night.

• Forest Forge Theatre Co have announced Forge Ahead Commissions, the allocation of funds to support local artists and organisations in the New Forest with grants of between £500 – £5,000.

• Thickskin Theatre Company in Wigan has announced that Generator, a paid opportunity for professional young theatremakers and performers is back.

• NOVUM have announced that their free Creative Producer Training: Newcastle is back and applications are open.

• Applications are now open to share your work at Writer’s Block, hosted at Birmingham Hippodrome.

For weekly opportunities straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to Theatre Pathways here:

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The Leodis Prize - an initiative to spotlight previously unrepresented writers - has reopened submissions for new writers to submit their plays.

The prize is a major opportunity for aspiring playwrights. No other theatre award in the UK offers representation, full production and publication.

Leodis will again produce the winning entry at Fringe 2027 and the play will be published by Methuen Drama, as well as offering a fully paid writing residency at a producing theatre.

In your submission, you should include:

· Full play
· Synopsis of play
· Character breakdown

Entries have now reopened!

Deadline in November – exact date TBC.

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the Northern European Mobility Opportunity (NEMO) is back and offers grants of up to 10,000 euros for artists and arts practitioners developing new exchange projects between the Nordic countries, the UK and Ireland.

Projects can take place from the end of November 2026 to November 2027.

Deadline: 18 September 2026, 11.59pm CEST

More info and apply

Cloudburst Productions at Stockport Garrick Theatre are looking for writers of six short plays, and actors to perform in them for their LEG BREAKERS scratch night.

It’s open to anyone, whether this is your first play, or your hundred and first.

Writer’s Prompt: A threshold has been reached. A decision must be made, or a step must be taken. This is the most important moment of their life or lives, but this doesn’t have to be clear.

Read the prompt, write to the prompt, and send us the result.

If your script is selected, it’ll be performed at the event in front of a supportive audience. The team provide dramaturgy, rehearsal time, and you’ll also receive audience feedback. This is a paid opportunity.

Deadline: October 2nd 2026

More info and apply

Forest Forge Theatre Co have announced Forge Ahead Commissions, the allocation of funds to support local artists and organisations in the New Forest with grants of between £500 – £5,000.

Projects should deliver activity within one of our three areas of activity: rural touring theatre, participation/community arts participation, or artist development. The team anticipate making 5 – 10 Forge Ahead Commission grants.

For more info and apply

Thickskin Theatre Company in Wigan has announced that Generator, a paid opportunity for professional young theatremakers and performers is back.

The team are looking for ten talented young performers aged 18-25 to join our Generator Company next spring.

Generator is ThickSkin’s ambitious company for young professional theatre makers, designed to launch the next generation of fearless talent. If you’re based in the North West and interested in a career in theatre, sign up to audition now.

Auditions
24 – 28 November 2026

Rehearsals & Performance
February & March 2027

+ paid job
+ professional headshots
+ advice about working in the industry

More info and apply

NOVUM have announced that Creative Producer Training: Newcastle is back and applications are open.

Newcastle City Council & Curated Place are looking for producers with 5–10 years’ experience who want to sharpen their skills, build bigger partnerships and take their creative practice to the next level.

• 10 free sessions

• Practical skills development & proper producer know-how

• New connections and partnerships

• Tools to grow your work and make more ambitious things happen

And the big one… a chance to pitch for 6 x c.£15,000 commissions for Novum 2027 at the end of the programme.

This is about backing the people behind the big ideas; the producers turning creative sparks into festivals, live events, community projects and experiences that actually make things happen.

Digital info session: Tue 15 Sep

Programme starts: Nov 2026

Priority will be given to producers based in Newcastle and the North East, but applications are also welcome from the wider North East (including Tees Valley)

Deadline: 1 October 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open to share your work at Writer’s Block, hosted at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Tickets are also now live - you can reserve your free spot by clicking the button below!

• Next event is on Wednesday 30 September

• There are 3 slots per event, each slot is 20 minutes long, including time for feedback

• There is £125 available for each slot

Writers Block is a free to attend, informal scratch night where theatre writers can test new work to kind ears.

Deadline: Sunday 13 September

More info and apply

• Playhouse East in London are seeking one act shows for LEMON: a new theatre festival from mid-October to mid-November 2026.

• Capital Theatres in Edinburgh are looking for theatremakers and companies to take part in our seasonal scratch night, Open Floor, on Friday 23 October 2026.

• Applications are now open for the Genesis Theatre Design Programme - a free 2 year part-time course for Black and Global Majority applicants who want to pursue a career as a Theatre Designer.

• The National Theatre have announced an open call, searching for exceptional performers who are fantastic actors, dancers and singers for a new production.

• ILLUMINE has announced an open call for a new commissioning opportunity for Black and Global Majority artists working with light.

• Musical Theatre Network and Pollinate are hosting a new event about transformative collaboration when making musicals sustainably: How can new collaborations build a regenerative musical theatre sector?

• Applications are now open for REWRITES - a partnership programme that champions new musicals led by Lowry, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mayflower Southampton, Norwich Theatre and Capital Theatres.

For weekly updates straight into your inbox of new artistic and professional development opportunities in theatre all over the country, consider subscribing to Theatre Pathways:

Subscribe now

Playhouse East in London are seeking one act shows for LEMON: a new theatre festival from mid-October to mid-November 2026.

LEMON is a new festival for work that doesn’t fit the usual boxes: physical theatre, comedy theatre, clowning, conceptual theatre, and anything pushing the form at its edges. The team want the avant-garde of London, the UK and beyond: one-act shows around the one-hour mark.

The submission is deliberately short. If we want more, we’ll ask for it. Acceptance replies go out 7 to 14 days after the deadline.

Deadline: Sunday 31 August

More info and apply

Capital Theatres in Edinburgh are looking for theatremakers and companies to take part in our seasonal scratch night, Open Floor, on Friday 23 October 2026.

Open Floor is an opportunity to get an idea up on its feet in front of an audience and see what does and doesn’t work. It’s about testing, experimenting and getting feedback that can help you take your idea forward in the future. This time there are no restrictions around genre or intended audience.

The team are keeping this quick and dirty so think low tech – basic lighting states, a few sound cues, nothing too complicated – and light touch when it comes to set.

Open Floor offers:

• A slot to perform 10-15 mins of material at our Scratch Night on Friday 23 October

• A fee of £450 for your performance

• Photography from the night

• Feedback from the event

Deadline: Sun 13 September 2026, midnight

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the Genesis Theatre Design Programme - a free 2 year part-time course for Black and Global Majority applicants who want to pursue a career as a Theatre Designer.

This is a free training and mentoring course for Black and Global Majority applicants, who are from socially and economically challenging backgrounds, who want to pursue a career in theatre as a Performance Designer, Costume Designer​, Stage Designer or Designer / Director.

Deadline: Sunday 20th September 2026

More info and apply

The National Theatre have announced an open call, searching for exceptional performers who are fantastic actors, dancers and singers for a new production.

Successful applicants will need to:

• Be available between beginning of September 2027 – end of March 2028

• Be brilliant singers and actors

• Have a very high level of dance training/experience

• Be over the age of 18 by September 2027.

Deadline: 10am on Wednesday 9 September 2026

More info and apply

ILLUMINE has announced an open call for a new commissioning opportunity for Black and Global Majority artists working with light.

In autumn 2026, Light Up The North (LUTN) will launch ILLUMINE 2, an ambitious light art commissioning opportunity for Black and POC artists. This is a positive action that recognises and responds to the lack of artist diversity at festivals of light art. The opportunity is to create a new, striking mid/large-scale light art installation that will tour to multiple light art festivals of LUTN members and includes:

The ILLUMINE commissioning opportunity includes:

• an artist’s bursary of £8,000 to research, create and present an original, exciting and captivating proposal for a new light art work

• a comprehensive induction to the partners and festivals

• support, training and mentoring from across the LUTN network including guidance in areas, if required, such as marketing, finance, production, risk assessments method statements (RAMS) and fundraising

• a projected production/creative budget between £40k – £70k, subject to festivals funding the work

The Application Deadline: 5pm, Friday 11 September

More info and apply

Musical Theatre Network and Pollinate are hosting a new event about transformative collaboration when making musicals sustainably: How can new collaborations build a regenerative musical theatre sector?

A discussion between commercial producers, major venues, grassroots organisations and new initiatives to explore how sustainability is being embedded in the production of new major UK musicals, and what innovative collaborations are needed to transform the sector’s impact.

Join to be inspired, and want to understand how your organisation can take action to contribute to a growing movement of regenerative musical theatre.

More info and book

Applications are now open for REWRITES - a partnership programme that champions new musicals led by Lowry, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mayflower Southampton, Norwich Theatre and Capital Theatres.

REWRITES champions bold new musicals that are ready to connect with audiences across the country, recognising touring as a crucial stage in a show’s development. By enabling productions to test, refine and strengthen their work in front of diverse audiences nationwide, REWRITES creates a clear pathway for ambitious new musicals, combining direct financial support with in-kind expertise from some of the UK’s leading theatre organisations.

REWRITES offers:

• Multiple performances at each venue (exact number of performances may vary)

• Performance fee from each participating tour venue

• Technical Support

• Marketing support

• Mentorship and practical support from venue partner teams

Deadline: 18 December 2026

More info and apply

• Applications are now open for Candoco’s Choreo Accelerator: a flagship programme for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent choreographers.

• Tees Valley Creates: The Freelancer Network is excited to introduce a new microgrant opportunity designed to support creative and cultural freelancers born, living, or working in the Tees Valley.

• Applications are now open for the 2027 Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries with a focus on dance; for choreographers, dance makers or artists who places movement at the heart of their creative practice.

• Unlimited have announced a new round of Partner Awards to help disabled artists bring ambitious new work to life.

• Capital Theatres is looking for two theatre makers to join a new Associate Artist Scheme.

• Submissions now open for the Biyi Bándélé Award for Emerging Writers of the African Diaspora with Brixton House and Curtis Brown.

• Aberdeen Performing Arts is seeking to commission a new play by an early career writer aged 18 – 35 who is based in or connected to the North-East of Scotland for Light the Blue Festival.

For weekly updates straight into your inbox of new artistic and professional development opportunities in theatre all over the country, consider subscribing to Theatre Pathways:

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Applications are now open for Candoco’s Choreo Accelerator: a flagship programme for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent choreographers.

Before the final commission is awarded, three shortlisted choreographers take part in a Commissioning Readiness Programme – a paid development process designed to make sure every shortlisted candidate has the support they need to pitch with confidence.

That means one-to-one mentoring, access to specialist advisors and dedicated time to develop their ideas before presenting. The strongest commissions come from choreographers who’ve had the space to think, experiment and be properly prepared.

The team then guide one D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent choreographer from open call all the way through to national tour, fully supporting them to make the work they want to make, with the performers and creative team they choose.

Deadline: Monday 28 September 2026, 11.59pm

More info and apply

Tees Valley Creates: The Freelancer Network is excited to introduce a new microgrant opportunity designed to support creative and cultural freelancers born, living, or working in the Tees Valley.

Grant Details:

• Total monthly funding pool: £500

• Maximum award per individual: £250

• How much to apply for: Apply for the amount you need – £25 up to £250 per person

This is a rolling opportunity each month - you can apply for the grant as many times as you like. If your application isn’t successful in one round, don’t be discouraged – the team welcome continued applications.

Application deadlines: The 25th of each month.

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the 2027 Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries with a focus on dance; for choreographers, dance makers or artists who places movement at the heart of their creative practice.

The team are looking for artists whose practice is rooted in creating dance work – whether you’re a choreographer, dance maker or an artist who places movement at the heart of your creative practice. We welcome applications from those working across all styles, forms and approaches.

This is for ambitious dance makers with originality and vision. Specifically, we’re after innovative voices with new things to say. Explorers, transformers, rule-breakers.

If you're a dance maker with professional experience and an ambitious new project you'd like to realise, apply now!

Deadline: 9am Wednesday 9 September 2026.

More info and apply

Unlimited have announced a new round of Partner Awards to help disabled artists bring ambitious new work to life.

This year the team are offering 11 awards totalling £280,000 across England, Scotland, and Wales.

• England: Apples and Snakes, Creative Folkestone, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Plymouth Culture, Sainsbury Centre, Storyhouse, Turner Sims, and Without Walls

• Scotland: Cryptic and Scottish Sculpture Workshop

• Wales: Sherman Theatre

Deadline: Monday 28 September 2026, midday

More info and apply

Capital Theatres is looking for two theatre makers to join a new Associate Artist Scheme.

This is an 18-month programme between October 2026 and March 2028 supporting artists to develop ambitious new work for audiences who are often underserved by mainstream theatre.

This scheme has been created for artists beyond the emerging stages of their careers to provide the time, resources, mentoring and space to deepen your practice, develop new ideas and create work that places access at its heart.

The team are seeking two Associate Artists:

• One artist to develop work for people living with dementia

• One artist to develop work for children with complex or additional support needs

Deadline: 31 August 2026

More info and apply

Submissions now open for the Biyi Bándélé Award for Emerging Writers of the African Diaspora with Brixton House and Curtis Brown.

The Biyi Bándélé Bursary is a new initiative established by the family of Biyi Bándélé in partnership with Brixton House and Curtis Brown to honor the legacy of acclaimed Nigerian writer and filmmaker Biyi Bándélé.

This annual award will support three emerging writers of African diaspora heritage, aged 18 and over, who are living in the UK. The award is designed to foster new talent, encourage bold storytelling, and amplify voices within theatre, film and literature. The bursaries will be awarded at an event at Brixton House in October, with the programme beginning in Spring 2027.

Deadline: 28 August 2026

More info and apply

Aberdeen Performing Arts is seeking to commission a new play by an early career writer aged 18 – 35 who is based in or connected to the North-East of Scotland for Light the Blue Festival.

Light the Blue is a festival for and by young people, with an annual programme featuring over 1000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland. Through the Emerging Artist strand, the festival supports early career individuals to develop their practice, test out ideas and create new work for wide-ranging audiences.

This commission opportunity is to create a new piece of theatre for adult audiences in 2027. The new production will open at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen in June 2027 for a run of up to 1 week.

More info and apply

• Sign ups are now live for Frantic Assembly’s flagship development programme, Ignition with 13 partner venues around the UK.

• Tamasha Theatre are opening up a series of five artist workshops to be held at the SHIFT Symposium, available to anyone wanting to deepen their practice.

• Submissions are now open for the Bush Theatre’s Writer Discovery Programme.

• Casting call! Graeae is looking for an eclectic, rebellious gang of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent performers to join a brand-new anarchic folk punk musical.

• Applications are now open for Curious School of Puppetry’s intensive (Mondays - Saturdays) in-person, 8-week course from 18 January - 13 March 2027.

• Birmingham Hippodrome’s Playspace applications are now open for September, October & November slots for three days of free rehearsal space.

• Perfect Pitch and Stage One have announced the continuation of their collaboration to offer additional support for successful applicants to the Stage One Bursary.

For weekly updates of new artistic and professional development opportunities in theatre all over the UK, consider subscribing to Theatre Pathways:

Subscribe now

Sign ups are now live for Frantic Assembly’s flagship development programme, Ignition in 13 partner venues around the UK.

Working with 13 regional partners, Ignition sets out to find people with the potential to work in the Arts, opening doors and making them feel their presence is welcome.

No experience is necessary - this is particularly for young people who have little or no previous involvement with theatre or the arts.

Throughout September and October, the Frantic team travel across the UK to deliver Trial workshops. Visiting theatre and non-theatre spaces, these workshops are created for young people with little or no experience of theatre, who face barriers accessing the Arts, and may never have considered a pathway in the industry possible.

A Trial is a workshop to further understand and explore Frantic’s distinct approach to devising theatre.

The programme culminates in the Intensive; for 24 participants, selected from the trials who will join each other for a week long workshop in London. Guided by Frantic Assembly, they will create two original performances for a public audience and participants will continue to be supported for the following year by the team at Frantic.

More info and sign up

Tamasha Theatre are opening up a series of five artist workshops to be held at the SHIFT Symposium, available to anyone wanting to deepen their practice.

SHIFT Artist Workshops: How do we create theatre that doesn’t just tell decolonial stories, but is made through decolonial practice?

Led by artists and collaborators from the SHIFT network, these sessions offer space to question, experiment and reimagine how we make work. Together, we’ll explore new ways of collaborating, challenge inherited models, and share practical tools for creating work that responds to the world we live in today.

Spanning comedy, dramaturgy, movement, ecology and creative practice, each workshop offers a different way into the questions at the heart of SHIFT. Attend a single session or join us for the full series.

Dates: 20 August, 27 August, 3 September, 10 September, 24 September 2026.

More info and book

Submissions are now open for the Bush Theatre’s Writer Discovery Programme.

Are you a writer that is not currently represented by an agent, based in the UK or Ireland and writes for the stage? This is for you…

The team are looking for original voices and ideas - writers asking the big questions of today inventively, urgently and theatrically. This is an opportunity to find exciting new voices, learn more about who’s making work today, and begin conversations. Plus at least one writer will be offered a place on the Bush Writers’ Group!

To submit you should send a script sample (no more than 20 pages), send the full script of the same play and fill out a short form.

Note: if the team get close to hitting the maximum number of scripts we can read we might need to close our window early. We’ll aim to give you two days’ notice if we have to do this.

Deadline: 12noon Wednesday 26 August 2026

More info and submit

Casting call! Graeae is looking for an eclectic, rebellious gang of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent performers to join a brand-new anarchic folk punk musical.

Directed by Jenny Sealey and created by the team behind Reasons to be Cheerful, the team are seeking Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent:
Actor-musicians
Actor-singers
Actor-signers (BSL)

To apply, send a self-tape or audio submission (up to 5 minutes) including at least two of the following:
• Singing or signing a song
• Playing your instrument(s)
• Reciting/signing a short contemporary text

Graeae are particularly interested in meeting skilled drummers and bassists and are keen to hear from other instrumentalists too. You should also include a short self-introduction or your Spotlight link. Send your application via WeTransfer, Dropbox or another viewable link to jobs@graeae.org

Deadline: Thursday 20 August 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open for Curious School of Puppetry’s intensive (Mondays - Saturdays) in-person, 8-week course from 18 January - 13 March 2027.

The course is for sixteen adults who want to use puppetry performance in their professional work and creative practice. It is for those with a desire to learn puppetry performance techniques and collaborative theatre making with openness to applying those techniques in a learning environment both independently and in a company.

This is specifically a course for performing, not puppet making.

The course will be taught by professional puppeteers, directors and artists. They will teach a variety of perspectives and practices based on shared puppetry principles.

Key course information: dates will be 18 January - 13 March 2027, 8-weeks, full time, Mondays - Saturdays at St Barnabas Dalston, London. Fees: £3200.

More info and apply

Birmingham Hippodrome’s Playspace applications are now open for September, October & November slots.

For three days every month, Playspace allows a different artist or team access to space at Birmingham Hippodrome to explore an idea with no pressure to create a piece of work.

Playspace offers:
- Three days of free rehearsal space
- Access costs support
- A small materials budget
- An outside eye if useful

Deadline: Sunday 23 August

More info and apply

Soho Theatre Labs are now open for applications. Labs available are three Comedy Labs (Character, Stand Up or Plus) and the Cabaret & Drag Lab.

These 10-week Saturday Labs programmes are back this October across four iconic Soho Labs:
★ Comedy Lab: Character
★ Comedy Lab: Stand Up
★ Comedy Lab: Plus
★ Cabaret & Drag Lab

Fees: £150 (partial and full bursaries are available to those on Universal Credit and other welfare benefits. However, if cost is a barrier to participating, contact us at engagement@sohotheatre.com and we can discuss payment options)

Deadline: 7 September 2026

More info and apply

Perfect Pitch and Stage One have announced the continuation of their collaboration to offer additional support for successful applicants to the Stage One Bursary.

The Stage One Bursary supports emerging independent commercial theatre producers. Unlike many other funding opportunities, the bursary focuses on supporting the producers career trajectory rather than a specific production. Helping individuals build the skills, relationships and experience needed to establish themselves within the commercial theatre industry.

This Autumn, Stage One and Perfect Pitch will continue with their partnership, working together to award outstanding emerging producers an increased level of financial support for both the producer and the project to allow meaningful development of new British musicals to take place.

Producers whose application is successful for the initial Stage One Bursary award and whose projects align with the aims of Perfect Pitch will be invited to apply for additional financial support of up to a further £20,000 which will also include:

· Access to low-cost development opportunities

· Subsidised workshop & rehearsal space

· Additional musicals mentorship (alongside the support provided by Stage One)

· Access to musical focussed networking events

· Access to industry pitching days to be the first to hear about new musicals in development and meet the creative teams involved e.g. BEAM festival

Deadline: 18 August 12 noon

More info and apply

• Applications are now open for seven paid writing commissions by Middle Child to be performed at Fresh Ink, Hull 2027

• Deafinitely Theatre will be offering 8 paid placement opportunities for deaf creatives across the UK.

• Arvon is offering six funded residencies at Lumb Bank from 21-24 September 2026, for writers, artists and creative practitioners living and working in the north of England.

• The Venues North collective have announced a relaxed networking event during the Edinburgh Fringe for Northern artists: Routes In Refresh and Recharge, Thursday 13 August at 2.30pm.

• The White Pube Creatives Grant is a one-off £500 grant to be given out to a different working class creative practitioner based in the UK once every month.

• Shetland Arts have announced Even Here, Even Now - an artist-led programme connecting, supporting and advocating for creative practitioners living and working across Scotland’s islands.

• Applications are open now for the 2027 Ed Improv Fest, which will run from 4-7 February 2027 by Best Mouse Ltd.

For weekly updates of development opportunities in theatre for artists and other theatre folk, subscribe to Theatre Pathways:

Applications are now open for seven paid writing commissions by Middle Child to be performed at Fresh Ink, Hull 2027

Middle Child are looking to commission writers with a variety of experiences, who have a meaningful connection to the city of Hull and can demonstrate why their work makes sense as part of a festival that develops grassroots work in the city.

There are different-sized commissions available, from ten-minute monologues, all the way up to a complete 70-minute play. What you write about is up to you, but the team are looking for stories that speak to contemporary Hull.

Deadline: Friday 28 August 2026

More info and apply

Deafinitely Theatre will be offering 8 paid placement opportunities for deaf creatives across the UK.

Working with partner organisations, these placements are designed to provide hands on experience within professional theatre settings and help deaf people develop skills, confidence and industry connections.

Whether you are interested in producing, technical theatre, programming, creative development or exploring a career behind the scenes, this is an opportunity to learn directly from experienced theatre professionals.

Placements will offer:

• A paid placement equivalent to 5 days of activity

• Flexible scheduling, tailored around the host organisation and your interests

• Mentoring and support from industry professionals

• The opportunity to gain practical experience within a leading arts organisation

• Valuable industry contacts and insight into how theatres operate

• Full access with BSL interpreters provided

Deadline: Friday 31 August 2026

More info and apply

Arvon is offering six funded residencies at Lumb Bank from 21-24 September 2026, for writers, artists and creative practitioners living and working in the north of England .

Arvon is interested in all art forms, interdisciplinary, cross-platform, hybrid and digital. If your work is collaborative (with one other person) it might be possible to accommodate your collaborator.

The outputs of the residency will be shared at an event at Lumb Bank in 2027.

Deadline: 5pm Friday 4 September 2026

More info and apply

The Venues North collective have announced a relaxed networking event during the Edinburgh Fringe for Northern artists: Routes In Refresh and Recharge, Thursday 13 August at 2.30pm.

Come and join a relaxed networking event during the Edinburgh Fringe for Northern artists.

Hear from the Venues North team, members of the network and take some time to meet fellow artists and ask any programming questions you may have.

Venues North is a network of venues from across the North of England, who are committed to supporting artists to create new work. We work together as venues to support new and emerging artists from the North to get their work more widely seen regionally, nationally and internationally.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Library Gallery, Summerhall, Edinburgh, 2:30-4:30pm

More info and join

Timba Dash Theatre are excited to launch a brand new training day: Sensory Connections: An Introduction to Multi-Sensory Theatre Practice on Wednesday 26 August in Newcastle.

This practical training day is for artists, SEN teachers, educators, young and emerging creatives, and anyone interested in making theatre more sensory, accessible and inclusive.

Participants can make a pay-what-you-feel donation to TimbaDash Theatre if they're able. There are 12 places available. All applications are welcome but the team particularly encourage people who are:

• Disabled and/or neurodivergent
• People from Global Majority communities
• Young and emerging artists

Deadline: 17 August 2026, 10am.

More info and apply

The White Pube Creatives Grant is a one-off £500 grant to be given out to a different working class creative practitioner based in the UK once every month.

This grant has been set up to support creatives of all ages who are early in their careers and would benefit from this no-strings attached financial support to help them in whatever they like - be that money to cover time to make, or money to fund materials, equipment, research, subscriptions, development, travel, or even rent and bills. The grant is open to anybody who makes stuff. Art, writing, performance, sound, music, craft, comedy, games, whatever you want!

Anybody can put themselves forward and there is no deadline as this is a monthly rolling grant, and the grant does not expect any outcomes or reporting. If you are not awarded the grant one month, your submission is still taken into consideration for future months so there is no need to re-submit.

More info and submit

The Dukes Lancaster are looking for up to five theatre makers/creatives to join them as Associate Artists for a period of 18 months.

The team are looking for theatre makers, companies or individuals from an array of artistic disciplines (writers, directors, designers, producers and others), that may benefit from this opportunity. Associate Artists will be supported in the development of their work and this will be tailored to their individual needs.

Deadline: Monday 17th August 2026

More info and apply

Shetland Arts have announced Even Here, Even Now - an artist-led programme connecting, supporting and advocating for creative practitioners living and working across Scotland’s islands.

It builds on the Even Here, Even Now manifesto created by island artists and is developing into a practical inter-island network focused on visibility, opportunity, collaboration and influence.

The next phase will relaunch in Autumn 2026 and the team are looking for:

3 x Artist Associates
3 x Creative Advocacy Group members

These freelance roles will be based in Orkney, The Outer Hebrides and Shetland from October 2026 - May 2027.

Deadline: Monday 31 August 2026

More info and apply

Applications are open now for the 2027 Ed Improv Fest, which will run from 4-7 February 2027 by Best Mouse Ltd.

You can apply with an established team or, if you’ll be travelling alone to the festival, the Ensemble Team meet for the first time at the festival and perform that weekend. Teams who perform get a cut of the box office takings for their show.

Deadline: Sunday 6 September 2026

More info and apply

• Imaginate are now accepting applications for their Launchpad project, with aims to support early-career or career-shifting theatre and dance artists based in Scotland making performances for young audiences.

• Applications are now open for the 2026/7 Trainee Directors and Assistant Directors’ Pool at the Royal Court.

• Musical Theatre Network have announced the next in their series of producer round tables on Producing New Musicals with an online session: Producing Original Family Musicals on 18 August, 2pm-3.30pm.

• Applications are now open for the annual RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award for emerging directors.

• Birds of Paradise Theatre have launched BOP Change Makers, part of BOPs Cue Backstage project, which aims to make backstage and offstage roles more accessible for D/deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent people in Scotland.

• Sheffield Theatres have announced a range of Open Works Festival Workshops which are on sale now, for industry professionals and those wanting to develop their knowledge of all elements of theatrical performance.

• Summerhall in Edinburgh are offering paid time and space to artists in the early to mid-development stages of a project.

For weekly updates straight to your inbox for artist development, professional development and training opportunities in theatre, consider subscribing:

Imaginate are now accepting applications for their Launchpad project, with aims to support early-career or career-shifting theatre and dance artists based in Scotland making performances for young audiences.

Launchpad is a professional development project offering artistic and producing support aimed at artists who have not yet had funding to create and tour their own production.

Launchpad comes with an overall budget of £8 – 10k to include time for research, for attending relevant performances or events and professional development. There are separate budgets to cover access requirements (including for the application process, the project and development time).

You can get in touch if you would like to discuss anything to do with your idea, the application process, your access needs or Launchpad prior to applying.

Deadline: 14 September 2026

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the 2026/7 Trainee Directors and Assistant Directors’ Pool at the Royal Court.

Trainee Directors: year-long salaried roles

For the Trainee Director programme, the team recruit two year-long positions, overlapping by six months, offering unrivalled development as a full-time member of our artistic team.

Assistant Directors’ Pool: year-long attachments & bursaries

Recruited annually and supported by a one-off bursary and year-round opportunities, the Assistant Directors’ Pool gives a cohort of early-career directors first access to apply for paid assistant director roles in both our theatre spaces.

Deadline: Sunday 30 August 11.30pm

More info and apply

Musical Theatre Network have announced the next in their series of producer round tables on Producing New Musicals with an online session: Producing Original Family Musicals on 18 August, 2pm-3.30pm.

Drawing together expertise from across the industry - this conversation is a peer-to-peer round table discussion for anyone interested in the ins and outs of producing work for young people - whether you’re an early career producer, work for an arts organisation, someone currently working in family theatre or a self-producing creative, this is for you!

Family theatre is one of the largest areas of new, original musical theatre - this can sometimes be lost in an industry focused on the next commercial hit or the bright lights of the West End. This discussion is intended to open up areas of best practice, look at case studies and shine a spotlight on all stages of getting a show for families or young audiences from inception to production.

More info and book

Applications are now open for the annual RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award for emerging directors.

This award is designed to provide an up-and-coming director with a career-transformative first-time opportunity to originate and direct, as sole or lead director, a fully-funded production as part of a main season of plays on the main stage of a mid-scale British regional theatre and to take that production on tour to other mid-scale regional theatres.

The 2026 Award offers a director the chance to create a brand-new production at Exeter Northcott Theatre, before touring in a co-production in 2027 with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Northern Stage, Salisbury Playhouse and Royal & Derngate.

Deadline: 6pm Monday 21 September 2026

More info and apply

Birds of Paradise Theatre have launched BOP Change Makers, part of BOPs Cue Backstage project, which aims to make backstage and offstage roles more accessible for D/deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent people in Scotland.

The BOP team are looking to recruit up to 15 people who work in Backstage and / or Offstage roles within the Scottish theatre sector to work with us. Supported by BOP, the Change Makers will work independently and within working groups to research, create solutions, and test ways to break down barriers to make change in the sector.

The proposed activity currently looks like:

• 2 In Person days (one in Autumn 2026 and one in Spring 2027)

• 3 Online sessions up to 2 hours

• Supported Independent research

BOP Change Makers will be made up of freelance and salaried workers.

Deadline: 5pm 17th August 2026

More info and apply

Sheffield Theatres have announced a range of Open Works Festival Workshops which are on sale now, for industry professionals and those wanting to develop their knowledge of all elements of theatrical performance.

Workshops include:

• Character Through Movement with Roots Mbili

• The Street is Theatre with Monica Hunken

• Listening to Landscapes with The Bare Project

• Text, Rules, Improvisation and Performance with Forced Entertainment

• BBC Writers with Esther Jackson-Burton

• Verbatim Bootcamp with LUNG Theatre

• Art and Activism with SBC Theatre

More info and book

Summerhall in Edinburgh are keen to welcome artists creative spaces to experiment, develop new ideas, and take time to focus on their work. This paid space offers a dedicated, supported week for artists or collectives in need of space, time, and a small financial boost to help things along.

What’s included:

• Up to 5 days’ in either Tech Cube Zero or Anatomy Lecture Theatre

• Venue specifications available on request

We offer two tiers of support:

• £500 weeks – for individual artists undertaking solo work. These weeks are intended for work that does not require paid collaborators.

• £1000 weeks – for projects where the lead artist is working with one or more collaborators and needs support to fairly pay others or to bring specialist skills into the room.

This opportunity is best suited to artists or groups in the early to mid-development stages of a project who would benefit from focused time and space, without the pressure of public outcomes or sharing.

More info and apply

• Mercury Muscial Developments (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN) have announced a series of pitching days across the country for BEAM 2027 with slots now open for booking

• Applications are now open for Stage One Bursary, aimed at financially supporting the next generation of independent commercial theatre producers.

• Proper Job Theatre are bringing together artists, practitioners and theatre enthusiasts for an inspiring Theatrical Biomechanics Symposium in Huddersfield on the 22nd August.

• Wooden Arrow Theatre are reaching out to emerging boundary pushing artists - actors, directors, writers, designers and other creatives, and would love to see work at the Camden Fringe.

• Rural Arts are calling out for expressions of interest for upcoming programme Bookmarked: Thirsk 2026

• Applications for Young Associates at Brixton House in South London are now open.

For weekly updates straight to your inbox for artist development, professional development and training opportunities in theatre, consider subscribing:

Mercury Muscial Developments (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN) have announced a series of pitching days across the country for BEAM 2027 with slots now open for booking.

As co-producers of the BEAM showcase, MMD & MTN travel across the UK for the BEAM pitching days to meet hundreds of artists with ideas for a new musical. No other showcase travels as far to find the new musicals of tomorrow. Pitching for BEAM2027 will take place between September and December 2026.

For dates, locations and details of panels:

More info and book

Applications are now open for Stage One Bursary, aimed at financially supporting the next generation of independent commercial theatre producers.

The Stage One Bursary supports emerging independent commercial theatre producers. Unlike many other funding opportunities, the bursary focuses on supporting the producers career trajectory rather than a specific production. Helping individuals build the skills, relationships and experience needed to establish themselves within the commercial theatre industry.

Deadline 12pm, 18 August 2026

More info and apply

Proper Job Theatre are bringing together artists, practitioners and theatre enthusiasts for an inspiring Theatrical Biomechanics Symposium in Huddersfield on the 22nd August.

This one-day Biomechanics Symposium—an exciting opportunity to explore one of theatre's most influential physical performance techniques which have influenced major directors such as Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowski and Bertolt Brecht.

Through discussion, practical exploration and experimentation, you'll discover how Biomechanics can deepen physical awareness, sharpen performance and unlock new ways of storytelling through movement.To express interest, email polly@properjob.org.uk

More info

Wooden Arrow Theatre are reaching out to emerging boundary pushing artists - actors, directors, writers, designers and other creatives, and would love to see work at the Camden Fringe.

The team are keen on seeing Work In Progress shows and productions early in their development that might want support developing their shows further. Please share this post with anyone you know with a show at the Camden Fringe 2026 and help emerging artists grow.

If you'd like a member of the team to come along, send an email to woodenarrowproductions@gmail.com with shows details

More info

Rural Arts are calling out for expressions of interest for upcoming programme Bookmarked: Thirsk 2026

Bookmarked: Thirsk is a year-long programme of cultural events, creative workshops, performances and community-led experiences designed to animate
Thirsk High Street, increase footfall, and strengthen connections between local people, businesses and cultural organisations.

The team are looking for creatives to work with as part of Bookmarked: Thirsk, you might be an artist, performer, author, facilitator of creative workshops, poet or spoken word artist. If you think your creative practice aligns with the project, we’d love to hear from you. Please note books are at the heart of the programme so there must be a link, you can be creative with this.

• Fee: £3000

• Materials: £7000

Deadline: 9am, 14 July 2026

More info and apply

Applications for Young Associates at Brixton House in South London are now open.

The Young Associates programme is an exciting opportunity for emerging performers aged 18–26 to explore a broad range of creative roles across theatre and live events.

The programme connects young creatives with industry professionals to develop skills in creative management, writing, directing, production, and collaborative projects, alongside mentorship from peer mentors.

Deadline: Monday 17 August 2026

More info and apply

• The Jewish Literary Foundation has announced The Jewish Playwright’s Programme, a development initiative for Jewish playwrights.

• Submissions are now open for the Bill Cashmore Award: One Act Play Prize in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

• Complicité have announced two collaborations; one with Kneehigh and one with Jacque LeCoq School to offer two new workshop opportunities.

• Writing submissions are now open for Genesis Theatre Production’s Page2Stage at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

• Framework Theatre in Aberdeen have announced the return of their Blueprint Programme, for emerging theatre-makers at the start of their careers.

• Applications are now open for the Disabled Writers Commissions 2027 for London-based D/deaf and/or disabled writers from the London Writer’s Centre.

• Musical Theatre Network (MTN) have announced their next workshop available to all: Producing New Musicals – Side Hustle to Main Focus

• Freelancers Make Theatre Work have launched a series of 6 mental health and wellbeing support workshops, FREE for actors and stage management professionals.

• Theatr Clwyd are doing an open call for professional theatre companies, independent producers and individual performers who are touring professional shows from Spring 2027.

• Applications for Open Door across the UK for ACTING for 2026 are now open for North and North West, as well as London Essex and the South East.

For weekly updates straight to your inbox for artist development, professional development and training opportunities in theatre, consider subscribing:

The Jewish Literary Foundation has announced The Jewish Playwright’s Programme, a development initiative for Jewish playwrights.

The Jewish Playwrights Programme is a development initiative for early-career and emerging playwrights. Its goal is to strengthen the presence of Jewish artists, culture and storytelling within UK theatre, representing it in all its diversity.

This six-month programme will support eight playwrights through the development of a full-length play. The programme is open to either Jewish playwrights, or playwrights who will work on a play that engages with Jewish themes and/or culture. Through curated in-person sessions, structured writing deadlines and sustained peer feedback, the programme offers an intimate and supportive environment where writers can be bold and courageous with their work.

Deadline: 3 August at 5pm

More info and apply

Submissions are now open for the Bill Cashmore Award: One Act Play Prize in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

The Bill Cashmore Award offers a paid opportunity for two new one-act plays by writers aged 18-30, to be professionally produced at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Bristol Old Vic.

To submit, you must:

• Be aged 18-30 at the time of submission and based in the U.K. (incl Northern Ireland)

• Be without professional literary representation (ie. a literary agent)

• Have no more than 2 professional writing credits

The prize includes a fee of £4,078.47 (exclusive of royalties) and the two successful artists will be creatively involved in shaping the marketing and involved in the rehearsal process.

Deadline: Tuesday 25^th August at 12pm

More info and apply

Complicité have announced two collaborations; one with Kneehigh and one with Jacque LeCoq School to offer two new workshop opportunities.

1. Kneehigh x Complicité: The Conditions for Creativity

A four day workshop, with 12 creative practitioners coming together to explore the conditions that allow creativity to emerge with companies that have made bold and collaboratively devised theatre.

• Monday 14 –Thursday 17 September 2026

• Kneehigh Barns are located on Lamledra Hill, Gorran Haven, Cornwall, PL26 6JS

• Fee: £450 (with some half price bursary places available)

Deadline 10.00 on Monday 10 August 2026

2. The Masks of the Jacques Lecoq School – Toward the structures of play

A unique week-long masterclass for theatre professionals led by Jos Houben with a day featuring Complicite’s Artistic Director Simon McBurney and additional members of the Jacques Lecoq School team.

• Monday 28 September – Saturday 3 October 2026, 10.00 – 17.00

• Siobhan Davies Studio, 85 St George’s Road, London SE1 6ER

• Fee: £720 (with some half price bursary places available)

Deadline: 09.00 on Monday 3 August 2026

More info and apply

Writing submissions are now open for Genesis Theatre Production’s Page2Stage at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

Page2Stage supports grassroots theatre providing an open-access route to connect and collaborate. The team showcases extracts from 4 brand new plays, performed as rehearsed readings in front of a live audience and an industry panel providing dramaturgical feedback on the night. Submissions should be 10-15 and can be stand alone pieces or part of a longer play.

Event date: Wednesday 16 September, 7.30pm Traverse Theatre

Deadline: Sunday 02 August, Midnight

More info and submit

Framework Theatre in Aberdeen have announced the return of their Blueprint Programme, for emerging theatre-makers at the start of their careers.

Blueprint is a series of free, bespoke workshops for a selected group of 10
emerging artists. This year we’re heading to Aberdeen for an exciting 1-night residential. 4 spaces on the programme will be ringfenced for artists living in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire.

DEADLINE: Tuesday 4th August

More info and apply

Applications are now open for the Disabled Writers Commissions 2027 for London-based D/deaf and/or disabled writers from the London Writer’s Centre.

Supporting three writers to develop and showcase new work, each commissioned writer will receive:

• £1,000 commission fee

• Three mentoring sessions

• 1-2-1 development and production support

• A showcase at Deptford Literature Festival 2027, plus print and online publication

To apply you must be aged 18+, Deaf or disabled and writing poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction or writing for performance. Free to apply.

Deadline: 10am on Monday 14 September 2026

More info and apply

Musical Theatre Network (MTN) have announced their next workshop available to all: Producing New Musicals – Side Hustle to Main Focus

MTN’s next online panel of producers will share insights on how their producing careers began, how they’ve built stepping stones from development sharings to a first production for a musical, approaches to building up industry contacts, and generally how they’ve gathered resources to support their ambitions to produce musicals.

Tickets are free to MTN members, £5 to non-members.

More info and book

Freelancers Make Theatre Work have launched a series of 6 mental health and wellbeing support workshops, FREE for actors and stage management professionals.

Expert-led workshops to support actors and stage management professionals in building skills for improved mental health and sustainable creative practice. The sessions are facilitated by experienced practitioners who regularly work with performing artists.

More info and book

Theatr Clwyd are doing an open call for professional theatre companies, independent producers and individual performers who are touring professional shows from Spring 2027.

Every year the team programme hundreds of shows and events across a range of theatre spaces - from site-specific rural touring events for 50 people, to the 200 seat studio, and the 540 seat main house. The team regularly scouts new work, but inevitably miss finding out about some amazing shows until it’s too late.

That’s the reason for this call out - the team want to meet new companies, people, programmers and tour bookers - to make sure they continue to bring the best work from Wales, the UK and beyond to Clwyd audiences.

More info and get in touch

Applications for Open Door across the UK for ACTING for 2026 are now open for North and North West, as well as London Essex and the South East.

Open Door is an organisation that helps talented individuals who lack the resources and financial means to secure a place at one of the UK’s leading drama schools, enabling them to pursue a career in television, theatre and film

The team can offer the support needed to approach an audition with confidence, knowing that you have benefited from the advice and training of industry professionals. Successful candidates will also have their audition fees paid at our partner UK drama schools.

In order to apply for Open Door, you will need to:

• Be based in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Warrington, the Borough of Halton, Blackburn with Darwen, & South Lancashire inc Blackpool, Preston & Burnley for the North and North West applications.

• Be based in London, Essex and the South East for the London, Essex and the South East applications.

• Aged 18+ from the 1st October 2026

Deadline: Monday 7th September 2026

More info and apply

• Common/Wealth have announced a paid opportunity for 12 people based in South Wales or Bradford to be part of The Commons - a group of people who will shape the work from the inside out.

• Capital Theatres in Edinburgh is looking for two theatre makers to join a new Associate Artist Scheme, an 18-month programme supporting artists to develop ambitious new work for audiences who are often underserved by mainstream theatre.

• Yellow Coat Theatre Company are looking for monologues that are 5 minutes long (approximately 500-600 words) to be performed at their Pass It On event at the Glitch in London.

• The Fresh Ink Festival in Hull have announced an exciting line up for the festival on 18-19 July.

• Northern Stage have some exciting opportunities to get involved with applications now open for Young Designers, Young Directors, and Young Creatives cohorts beginning in September.

• The Hugo Burge Foundation has announced a £15,000 Funding Opportunity with grants aimed at 3 main areas : Creative Education, Creative Communities, and Creative Individuals.

For weekly updates straight to your inbox for artist development, professional development and training opportunities in theatre, consider subscribing:

Common/Wealth have announced a paid opportunity for 12 people based in South Wales or Bradford.

Common/Wealth have been making theatre where it matters for almost 20 years - in houses, boxing gyms, community centres and factories. Commoning is at the heart of how we work, bringing people together to celebrate, protect and expand our shared resources. Where do you go to meet friends and make things? What’s left for working-class people when the rich have taken over, hiked the prices and closed the buildings?

Now the team are launching The Commons - a group of people who will shape the work from the inside out. Members will receive training, see creative work together, and feedback on our upcoming shows and our policies.

Open to all - no theatre experience necessary.

Deadline: 29 July

More info and apply

Capital Theatres in Edinburgh is looking for two theatre makers to join a new Associate Artist Scheme, an 18-month programme supporting artists to develop ambitious new work for audiences who are often underserved by mainstream theatre.

This is a new opportunity for mid-career theatre makers in Scotland because there are very few professional development opportunities available for artists once they move beyond the early stages of their career. This scheme has been created to provide the time, resources, mentoring and space to deepen practice, develop new ideas and create work that places access at its heart.

The team are seeking two Associate Artists:

• One artist to develop work for people living with dementia

• One artist to develop work for children with complex or additional support needs

The Associate Artist placements will run over 18 months between October 2026 and March 2028.

Deadline: 31 August 2026

More info and apply

Yellow Coat Theatre Company are looking for monologues that are 5 minutes long (approximately 500-600 words) to be performed at their Pass It On event at the Glitch in London.

This opportunity is open to creatives from marginalised genders. This includes women, female-identifying and non-binary people.

To apply, submit work to hello@yellowcoattheatre.com by 5pm on Sunday 19th July 2026 with the subject: Pass It On Writer submission.

Deadline: Sunday 19th July 2026 at 5pm

More info and submit

The Fresh Ink Festival in Hull have announced an exciting line up for the festival on 18-19 July.

Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival is an annual theatre festival supporting writers with a meaningful connection to Hull to create and develop new plays in the city.

Inspired by scratch nights, Fresh Ink showcases early versions of new plays, commissioned especially for the festival. It features script-in-hand performances alongside writer workshops, industry talks and two keynote speeches, across venues in Hull’s Fruit Market quarter.

See the line up and book

Northern Stage have some exciting opportunities to get involved with applications now open for Young Designers, Young Directors, and Young Creatives cohorts beginning in September.

These opportunities are for young people aged 13-17 who are passionate about all aspects of theatre, and is a chance to get involved, get creative, and build skills in a supportive and fun environment.

Discounted and free bursary places are available for Young Designers and Young Directors, with Young Creatives being FREE to take part. Financial support is available with the cost of travelling to Northern Stage.

More info and apply

The Hugo Burge Foundation has announced a £15,000 Funding Opportunity with grants aimed at 3 main areas : Creative Education, Creative Communities, and Creative Individuals.

Grants are for projects focusing on:

• Creative opportunities for young people (0-29)

• Develop and deliver cultural or creative initiatives in their local areas

• Support artists to develop artistic projects/practice

  Deadline: 31 July 2026

More info and apply

• Theatre503 have announced the Autumn 2026 Season of the Writers’ Programme in September with courses for writers and producers.

• Applications are now open for the Regional Creatives Fund from Amazon with grants available from £1000 to £30,000.

• Applications are now open for Polka’s Playwriting Award, which offers a writing commission, full play staging and script publication as its prize.

• Expressions of Interest are now open for the Manipulate Festival Visual Theatre Commission in Scotland, led by Manipulate Arts, in association with Capital Theatres and with support from Cove Park.

• Also from Capital Theatres in Edinburgh, Open to Ideas residency programme is back for 2026 and applications are now open.

• Submissions for plays at INK Festival for 2027 in Halesworth, Suffolk are now open.

• Writers’ Lab applications at Soho Theatre are now open.

For weekly updates on artist development opportunities in theatre, subscribe to the Theatre Pathways blog:

Theatre503 have announced the Autumn 2026 Season of the Writers' Programme in September with courses for writers and producers.

This season features courses on:

• Write Your First Full Length Play with Theatre503's Literary Manager Steve Harper,

• Introduction to Playwriting with James McDermott

• Advanced Playwriting with Satinder Chohan

Introduction to Producing with Adwoa-Alexsis Mintah (NT Producer)

More info and book

Applications are now open for the Regional Creatives Fund from Amazon with grants available from £1000 to £30,000.

The Regional Creatives Fund is Amazon’s annual grant programme supporting charitable organisations that create access to creative industry careers for people from underrepresented backgrounds. We fund programmes that are already running and already making a difference, and we help them go further.

Grants are available from £1,000 to £30,000 for individual organisations, and up to £100,000 for consortiums. Funding is awarded across four tiers based on what you need the money for: a targeted boost, sustaining what you have, strengthening your offer, or scaling into something bigger.

Deadline: 2 August

More info and apply

Applications are now open for Polka’s Playwriting Award, which offers a writing commission, full play staging and script publication as its prize.

This award puts the creation of professional theatre for audiences aged 7-13 at the centre of creative, vital conversation, and was set up to find diverse stories, new voices and brilliant new writing for this overlooked age group.

Alongside the award, you can take part in online masterclasses exploring new writing for young audiences explore the quality, rigour and imagination needed to write for and inspire such an exciting audience base, who are so often overlooked.

Deadline: 19th July

More info and apply

Expressions of Interest are now open for the Manipulate Festival Visual Theatre Commission.

The Manipulate Festival Visual Theatre Commission is a new commissioning fund, led by Manipulate Arts with funding from Creative Scotland’s Expanded Festivals Fund, in association with Capital Theatres and with additional support from Cove Park. The commission will be awarded to a professional artist/company, based in Scotland, to develop a new work intended to premiere at Manipulate Festival’s 20th anniversary festival in 2028, with support to plan onward touring nationally and internationally.

The closing date for expressions of interest is: Wednesday 15 July at 12 noon. Following this we will invite up to 5 artists/companies to make a full application by 26th August.

More info and apply

Also from Capital Theatres in Edinburgh, Open to Ideas residency programme is back for 2026 and applications are now open.

The team are offering three R&D residencies to support Scottish theatremakers to test out new ideas with:

• Five days of rehearsal space at the Studio Theatre, Edinburgh

• Two days of technical support if you need it

• £2000 in seed funding

• A consultation with our Talent Development Coordinator

Deadline: 6 August

More info and apply

Submissions for plays at INK Festival for 2027 in Halesworth, Suffolk are now open.

Whether you're a first-time writer or a seasoned pro, the team want to hear from you. INK celebrates diverse voices and fresh ideas, and scripts are welcome from writers of all ages and levels of experience. Festival dates are 15-18 April 2027.

Deadline: 30 September

More info and apply

Applications are now OPEN for Mercury Musical Devenlopment’s Writers Labs - whether you’re an emerging writer or an experienced musical theatre creator, there’s a Writers Lab designed to support you.

You’ll join a welcoming community of fellow writers to:

• Share your work

• Receive artistic and professional feedback

• Build lasting creative connections

• Develop your musical theatre craft

There are four Labs to choose from, catering to writers at different stages of their careers. You only need to complete one application form, where you can indicate which Lab(s) you’re interested in and Labs are open to writers of all backgrounds.

Deadline: Sunday 19th July at midnight.

More info and apply

Writers’ Lab applications at Soho Theatre are now open.

If you’ve got a script idea that’s quietly (or loudly) demanding your attention, this is your sign to apply.

This 9-month entry-level programme is designed to take you from first idea to finished script, with the tools, structure, and support to get you there. Costs from £200 with a number of full bursaries on offer, so please don’t let cost hold you back from applying.

Writers’ Lab takes on 48 writers per year. There are four full-day Saturday workshops with all 48 participants, in addition to regular monthly Tuesday evening sessions where the participants are split into groups of 16. Participants also enjoy three tailored one-to-one feedback sessions throughout the writing process.

More info and apply

• Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) is inviting young people aged 18-25 to join the CFT Young Practitioners Programme, building creative facilitation and leadership skills.

• Join In Good Company for a one off online workshop on Wednesday 8 July on Embedding Creative Access for Performance, led by Stopgap.

• Shakespeare’s Globe have announced that submissions for the Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 are now open.

• The Mercury Theatre, Colchester has announced the launch of the inaugural Mercury Essex Playwrights Award.

• Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh have announced two Arts Surgeries to take place in August

For weekly updates straight to your inbox for artist development and training opportunities in theatre, consider subscribing:

Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) is inviting young people aged 18-25 to join the CFT Young Practitioners Programme, building creative facilitation and leadership skills.

Taking place between September 2026 – July 2027, the programme provides opportunities for individuals to be trained and mentored by theatre professionals, whilst developing practice as workshop assistants and leaders for Chichester Festival Youth Theatre (CFYT).

The programme combines practical workshop experience and development sessions, alongside one-to-one mentoring and coaching opportunities. Our 2026-27 programme runs over three terms and builds towards delivering youth theatre workshops and supporting CFYT’s participants.

Deadline: 3 July

More info and apply

Join In Good Company for a one off online workshop on Wednesday 8 July on Embedding Creative Access for Performance, led by Stopgap.

This online zoom session (from 11.00 - 13.00, with break in-between) puts access at the heart of artistic practice and invites artists, producers and creatives to explore how access can enrich the creative process from the very beginning; expanding practice and breaking down barriers for audiences.

Drawing on Stopgap’s experience developing the award-winning production Lived Fiction. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to deepen your work, this session offers fresh perspectives and approaches to access and making performance work.

This event will be BSL interpreted and pay what you feel. Please email In Good Company if you have any access requirements we can accommodate at: igc@derby.ac.uk

More info and book

Shakespeare’s Globe have announced that submissions for the Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 are now open.

The prize is designed to uncover the most exciting new plays about the climate crisis, and support them to find their audiences.

Submitted plays:

• Should be full length plays, of 70 minutes or longer

• Should be written by UK and UK-based playwrights in the English language

• Should not have had a previous production

In partnership with Climate Spring and Fern Culture, with associated partners: Chichester Festival Theatre, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Theatre Belfast, Mercury Theatre, New Earth, Pentabus and Tiata Fahodzi

More info and submit

The Mercury Theatre, Colchester has announced the launch of the inaugural Mercury Essex Playwrights Award, a major new initiative designed to champion both emerging and established playwrights from across Greater Essex

The team are seeking Essex writers from all backgrounds with new ideas and new stories. Your work can be any genre or style – be contemporary or historical.

The winner of the Mercury Essex Playwrights Award will receive a full commission, dramaturgical support from the Mercury’s artistic team, and a fully staged production in the Mercury Studio during 2027.

Deadline: Fri 24 Jul 2026.

More info and apply

Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh have announced two Arts Surgeries to take place in August; artist development initiatives championing innovative, early-stage ideas in a generous, low-pressure environment.

Across two events during the Fringe, on 11 and 18 August, eight artists and collectives will share short excerpts of unfinished, in-progress performance with an audience of peers, public and industry professionals. Building on Summerhall Arts’ long-standing commitment to experimentation, risk-taking and artist-led development, the Surgeries create space for artists to test ideas, play with form and spark new creative connections across artforms.

The Surgeries offer a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most exciting work currently being developed across theatre, performance, movement, spoken word and interdisciplinary practice. After each event, we encourage audiences to stick around for a drink and an informal chat with the artists.

More info and book

• In Good Company has introduced the brand new Midlands Writers Award.

• The National Theatre Skills Centre have announced a new raft of backstage focused training courses for young people including an Introduction to Stage Management and Space to Create 2026.

• Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse have announced their annual Seed Commissions and Script Submissions windows are open for 2026.

• Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Mountview are working together to deliver the Musical Director Launch Pad, for aspiring Musical Directors.

• KICK THE DOOR DOWN have opened their next round of submissions for stand alone scenes and are looking for Writers and Actors.

• ArtsAdmin are now accepting applications as part of an open call for Diasporas Now Formula with Diaspora Now and as part of Whitechapel Gallery’s Backyard Biennial: East workshop.

• An exciting networking event has been announced in London: ⁠STAMP Connects is an opportunity for early and mid career artists on 2nd July at Shoreditch Town Hall.

More details on all of these opportunities including how to apply can be found below. For a weekly update on artist and professional development opportunities in theatre, click on the old subscribe button to allow it to plop into your inbox!

In Good Company has introduced the brand new Midlands Writers Award - a writers commission, paid at WGGB rates, for a new studio scale play written by a Midlands writer.

The winner of this award will get:
- Paid commission of £7286
- Producing and dramaturgical support from Middle Child
- Mentoring support from In Good Company
- Premier debut with Middle Child in Hull
- Slot at Derby Theatre in 2028
- Future life with possible tour with IGC partner venues

The team are looking for a writer based in, from, or with a strong connection to the Midlands.

Deadline: Friday 3rd July, 10:00am

More info and apply

The National Theatre Skills Centre have announced a new raft of backstage focused training courses for young people including:

Space to Create 2026 is a series of free theatre-making workshops in London for emerging creatives (18—25-year-olds). Apply by 22 June.

Introduction to Stage Management is a free course for 16-21 year olds interested in stage management and how productions come together behind the scenes. Apply by 29 June.

Behind the Curtain: Technical Theatre Taster Workshops are free 13—17-year-olds interested in sound, lighting and stage management. Apply by 1 July.

More info and apply

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse have announced their annual Seed Commissions invite for playwrights to pitch ideas for an exhilarating, ambitious new play.

The scheme offers writers support to develop their ideas and begin the writing process. The team want to stage theatre that asks big, complex questions about our world and our community – questions that resist easy answers – and are looking for writers who are excited to start those conversations.

With original new work taking pride of place in our annual programme, the initiative will give three writers £1,000 to begin developing a thematically expansive, entertaining and thrillingly theatrical new play.

The Seed Commissions run alongside the opening for Script Submissions with the same deadline.

Deadline: 10am, Mon 13 July

More info and apply

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Mountview are working together to deliver the Musical Director Launch Pad, an opportunity for aspiring Musical Directors.

This is a one-year, part-time, paid development opportunity offering aspiring Musical Directors an extended learning opportunity within Mountview’s training environment. The Launch Pad participant will be embedded within the CertHE Musical Theatre course in Manchester for two terms (approximately two days per week), followed by a five-day residency at Mountview’s London campus during the summer term.

AWARD: A bursary of £5,342 plus a maintenance award of £2,348 (paid in termly instalments)

Deadline: Friday 26 June, 9am

More info and apply

KICK THE DOOR DOWN have opened their next round of submissions for stand alone scenes of 3 - 5 pages (max) and are looking for Writers and Actors.

The team champion bold new writing & exceptional emerging performers; building a community to nurture & platform fresh & fearless young voices.

In an industry full of closing doors this company is here to carve out space for artists to take risks & take up space.

No more waiting for the phone to ring or sitting twiddling thumbs — it’s time to take things into our own hands, our own pens, our own space. It’s time to Kick The Door Down…

You can email KICKTDD@gmail.com for any further information.

Deadline: 28 June

More info and apply

ArtsAdmin are now accepting applications as part of an open call for Diasporas Now Formula with Diaspora Now and as part of Whitechapel Gallery’s Backyard Biennial: East workshop, led by RIEKO and Lulu Wang.

This free creative workshop, for up to 25 artists, draws on holistic East Asian embodiment practices and offers participants the opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and co-create a performance. Diasporas Now Formula is part of Whitechapel Gallery’s Backyard Biennial: East programme and is aimed at artists from the Global Majority and/or based in East London, celebrating creative practice and cultural diversity in the area.

Workshop date: 1 August 2026, 2 – 4pm, Toynbee Studios

Deadline: 30 June at 12pm

More info and apply

An exciting networking event has been announced in London: ⁠STAMP Connects is an opportunity to tell venues and organisations what early and mid career artists think and need on 2nd July at Shoreditch Town Hall.

Are you an early or mid career artist wanting more info about how London theatre orgs can support you?⁠
⁠
Want to see panel discussions with a variety of theatres?⁠
⁠
Want to meet + chat with those theatre orgs and to gain an understanding of how those organisations and venues can support you and your work?
⁠
This year ticket holders can meet, chat and build relationships with a variety of London-based arts organisations and attend a keynote talk during the day. ⁠Organisations taking part in the marketplace this year include artsdepot, Camden People's Theatre, Cockpit, Fuel, Hackney Empire,King's Head Theatre, New Diorama Theatre, New Earth Theatre, Omnibus Theatre, Pleasance Theatre, Riverside Studios, Theatre Deli, Shoreditch Town Hall, with more to be added soon.
⁠
Date: Thurs 2 July, 3pm-7.30pm, entry just £3!⁠

More info and apply