APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR BOLD MAKERS 2026.
YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS TO APPLY.
APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON 6TH MAY.
BOLD MAKERS will support three theatre companies working across devising, site-specific work, and physical theatre. Each selected company will be paired with a specialist mentor to support the development of new work.
These mentors are
@toldbyanidiot
@inbedwithmybro
@danteordie
This award is designed to facilitate emerging theatre companies in the development of a new piece of work at an early stage of development. We are looking for all kinds of devising companies, perhaps those who make site specific work, physical theatre groups or those playing with form.
We have 2 set weeks of space available for companies. These are the 22nd -28th June and the 20th - 26th July. Please make sure you are free on BOTH these weeks before you apply.
N.B At this time we will not be accepting applications from solo artists.
The 3 final companies will receive:
* Sessions with a mentor who specialises in the relevant field.
* £1000 for each company.
* 2 weeks of rehearsal space with a sharing for all three companies at the end of the final week.
* Each sharing will be filmed by a videographer.
* A performance at BOLD later in the year.
Applications are now open for PROJEKT EMPOWER - our mentorship program for migrant theatre makers based in the UK.
We match 10 emerging migrant artists with the country’s most successful migrant theatre makers and empower them to become leading creative change makers of the future.
✨ This year's incredible mentors are:
Aline David
Amit Lahav
Gabby Wong
Inua Ellams
Joel Tan
Jordan Fein
Moi Tran
Myanna Buring
Nadi Kemp-Sayfi
Robin Belfield
Head over to our website for more information on the mentors and how to apply.
📍Deadline for applications is midnight 29th April 2026!
How does it work?
We will match 10 emerging artists with 10 of the UK’s most successful migrant theatre makers, and
guide them through a six-month period of one-to-one and group meetings, culminating in an
in-person celebration in London in November 2026 for the full cohort of 20 artists.
A CPD opportunity for teachers to embed drama and creativity into their teaching, through working with a Bristol-based theatre company, Travelling Light.
Want to shake up your physics lesson but need some inspiration? Join Travelling Light on an exploration of how to incorporate more Drama into your classroom. Find out how a team of artists and teachers used arts-based learning to refresh their existing curriculum, whilst supporting pupil oracy, emotional literacy and wellbeing.
Key aims of the session:
Slots available in Bristol (8th Dec), Weston-Super-Mare (9th Dec) or Bath (11th Dec).
Please note, this is for teachers only.
Experience a behind-the scenes tour and interactive sessions throughout the building, with expert advice on career pathways into theatre and live entertainment at one of Bristol's most iconic venues!
Book for either the 4th or 6th November.
This opportunity is part of the West of England Discover! Creative Careers takeover, in collaboration with: Get Into Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Beacon, St George’s, The Redgrave, Prime Theatre, The Egg Theatre and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Please note, this is for school groups only. Sign up and book via the Discover! Opportunity Finder.
We hope the Studio will be a home for playwrights of all levels of experience, helping us to connect and making a range of opportunities accessible in a joined-up, sustained writing package.
If you become a member of the Studio (it’s completely free!) you can access:
These pathways are tailored for emerging Directors, Choreographers, Musical Directors, Designers, Lighting Designers, Stage Managers, Wardrobe Assistants and Technicians aged 16 to 23 who are in training or recently graduated from Higher Education.
Applications are open for 2025. There is £25 application fee which gives access to preparatory online sessions, offering skill building and group mentorship. Following these sessions you will have the opportunity to apply for a specific role on a production.
We care fiercely about Artists and Creative Freelancers working in this sector and in supporting and advocating for the very best conditions for brilliant art to be created.
Our Artist Support work is central to the organisation and is what makes us unique.
- We provide expert, artist-led support that enables people to develop distinctive ideas and thriving careers.
- We support independence and resilience by cultivating peer support, connections, and networks.
- We working with and listening to organisations across the sector locally and nationally to understand and recognise challenges they are facing.
- We advocate and lobby on behalf of artists and freelancers in sector wide strategic conversations and ensure they are at the table too.
Support for refugees and asylum seekers...
In 2014, West Yorkshire Playhouse became the first ever Theatre of Sanctuary, a public statement and recognition of our commitment to being a place of safety, hospitality and support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
We work closely with refugee organisations and with volunteers from the refugee and asylum seeker community in Leeds to offer a range of creative and practical projects, and we extend a warm welcome to the Playhouse community.
We have a dedicated programme of work during Refugee Week consisting of seminars, performances and workshops and throughout the year we offer a number of tailored and bespoke projects.
We provide creative programmes and one-to-one support to help participants develop their skills & explore potential career opportunities. We offer a range of support options for those still in education through to the long-term unemployed.
Our Model:
Since our establishment, Immediate Theatre has been committed to providing first-time employment opportunities and support for young people who would otherwise face significant barriers to employment.
Our programmes offer regular 1-2-1 support as well as group workshops, which aim to develop key employability skills through creative activities.
Our music therapy sessions use sound to create a safe environment where students can explore their feelings and memories at their own pace. The therapy is tailored to them and their specific needs, and students can access it through one-to-one sessions or as part of a group.
Our specialist music therapist works closely with our occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy teams and with education facilitators to provide the best learning environment. Sessions take place at one of our three different sensory rooms, or at a number of other locations across the campus. The therapist and student, through improvisation, will create and develop a musical language of their own. The music therapist is a full member of BAMT and is registered with the HCPC.
A typical music therapy session:
May begin with a welcome song, which may develop into an improvisation
Focuses on pre-composed music or an improvised piece, and this is directed by the student’s choice of instrument and playing style
Ends with a closing song to signal the end of the session
