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 is aimed at Midlands theatre creatives (aged 18+) and offers –
Some examples of what artists have used Playspace for (you don’t need to necessarily fit neatly into one of these!) –
If you have any questions, please get in touch with the team at creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com.
Deadline: Sunday 23 September
Click the Opportunity Info link below to apply for September, October & November slots.
Ignition is Frantic Assembly's FREE nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16 - 24. AND YOU ARE INVITED!
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, and we particularly look for young people who have little or no previous involvement with theatre or the arts.
Throughout September and October, we 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. Ignition tells them they can be part of it and that their voice is not only welcome, but needed. The programme culminates in five days of training and devising with Frantic, in London, producing original shows for a public audience.
WHAT IS A TRIAL?
A workshop to further understand and explore Frantic’s distinct approach to devising theatre.
WHAT IS THE INTENSIVE?
Selected from the trials, 24 participants will join each other for a week in London. Guided by Frantic Assembly, they will create two original performances for a public audience.
All aspects of the Intensive (travel to London, accommodation, and food) are paid for by Frantic Assembly, thereby removing financial barriers to participation.
For those that take part in the Ignition intensive, we offer a year-round access programme that continues to develop, mentor, and signpost training and career opportunities with Frantic Assembly and their partners, throughout the UK.
Sign-ups open Mon 10 Aug 2026, 9am and close Thurs 10 Sep 2026, 9pm
Young Creatives is a friendly place for people ages 13 – 17 to explore all things ‘behind the scenes’ at a theatre! This is an opportunity to try new things, make new friends, and see shows together.
Workshops are entry-level and will be a mix of creative and social sessions with fun crafts, games and activities. There will also be workshops in some of the following areas:
The Northern Stage team and guest artists will give you a basic introduction to each of these areas, with an opportunity to try an activity in each discipline.
Applications are open throughout the term but may close if spaces are filled.
Fire up your imaginations and discover the world of performance and theatre-making with Theatre Royal Plymouth's Creative Explorers.
During the term, young people will explore new skills and develop their knowledge by engaging with a variety of theatrical conventions, this may include storytelling, devising from stimulus and performance opportunities.
Sessions will begin weekly from 26 Sep – 18 Dec with a break for half term (26 Oct – 01 Nov).
Running time: 90 minutes, 10.30am – 12pm or 12:30pm – 2pm
Cost: £80, bursary places available.
Steve Wilson of Live & Local will lead a workshop about rural touring, a sector that has been around since the days of Shakespeare. Steve will take you through rural touring and the work of Live & Local and will explore how to get your work on both theirs and other schemes.
Topics will include subject material, marketing, pricing and the local and national rural touring picture. There will also be a practical element of the workshop with attendees exploring ideas and themes in a friendly group environment.
Date: Tuesday 1 September
Time: 6pm-9pm
Steve Wilson has been working professionally in the arts for over 25 years and as well as working in rural touring has also been an arts funder, a writer, director and producer. He also performs too! He is also a director of Crave Arts, a professional arts company based in Worcester. As well as doing theatre work, he supports Spurs (which has aged him), plays badminton (which ages his knees) and likes to tell jokes (which ages everyone else).
OpenView Education is a dynamic Theatre in Education Company. Our mission is to empower students to lead successful, happy lives.
Since 2018, OpenView Education has grown to work with over 100,000 students a year, delivering drama-led PSHE workshops that schools ask us back for, year after year.
That growth isn't slowing down, and we're looking for self-employed facilitators and performers to work with us.
“They are the best company. Honestly I'm saying this from the bottom of my heart. They're such an incredible company.” - OpenView Education Facilitator
As a company we are proud to have an excellent relationship with our facilitators, working in a collaborative way and setting them up to succeed.
“I feel like I've really improved my puppetry skills because I'm doing it all the time.” - OpenView Education Facilitator
Every booking is different, and the above structure is an example. But one thing's for sure - you’ll always feel well prepared, supported and ready to empower your students!
We are seeking reliable facilitators that are happy to work independently. Although you will work independently in the role, we are always available to support you.
We are particularly interested in hearing from actors and facilitators in the following areas:
Every person we work with is important and valued. Our goal is to create a diverse and inclusive working environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
We encourage applications from all backgrounds, which reflect the diverse communities of young people and schools we serve.
It's time to get excited about your next project - apply today.
For this role, we are looking for facilitators with availability during the following weeks:
You don't need to be available for all of these dates and work can be allocated around other projects that you may already have in place.
Most bookings are full days.
Plus travel contributions.
Zoom Audition:
This will be a first round group interview on Zoom. It will last approximately 20 minutes.
In-Person Group Audition:
The second round will be an in person group audition at a London Location.
This will be an activities based audition, you will also perform an excerpt from two of our Workshops.
This round will last approximately three hours.
We aim to make our in-person auditions supportive, interactive and fun - we’re sure you’ll enjoy the day.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage applying as ealy as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Illuminate Drama Teacher CPD Day is back for its fifth year on the South Coast!
Join us in person for a full day of inspiring workshops, featuring exciting opportunities to meet and talk with theatre education specialists, industry professionals, and fellow drama teachers.
This year we will have three workshops throughout the day that will each take a deep dive into different practices over the course of two hours. You will get to partake in all the following workshops:
Workshops will take place across both of our venues: Mayflower Theatre and Mayflower Studios.
There will also be the exclusive opportunity to see Blood Brothers at Mayflower Theatre for an additional £20 to round off a theatrical and inspiring day!
Please note spaces are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis. Payment must be made before Friday 19 December 2026 otherwise your place will be released.
Week 1 of Summer:
Jersey Week 1 (8-21years): Tuesday 21st July - Sunday 26th 2026
Week 2 of Summer:
Jersey Week 2 (8-21years): Tuesday 28th - Sunday 2nd August 2026
Brighton Week 1 (Year 3-13): Tuesday 28th - Sunday 2nd August 2026
Brighton Weeny Week 1 (Reception to Year 12): Wednesday 29th July - Sunday 2nd August 2026
Week 3 of Summer:
Brighton Week 2 (Year 3-13): Tuesday 4th August - Sunday 9th August 2026
Brighton Weeny Week 2 (Reception- Year 2): Wednesday 5th August - Sunday 9th August 2026
Birmingham (Year 3- Year 13): Tuesday 4th August - Saturday 8th August 2026
Birmingham Weeny (Reception- Year 12): Wednesday 5th August - Saturday 8th August 2026
Week 4 of Summer:
Watford Summer School (7- 18years): Monday 10th August - Friday 14th August 2026
Watford Weeny Summer School (4-6years): Tuesday 11th August - Friday 14th August 2026
Week 5 of summer:
Saffron Walden (Year 3- 11): Monday 17th August - Saturday 21st August 2026
A three-day introductory course for cis and trans women and non-binary individuals aged 18+, offering practical backstage training for those interested in starting a career in technical theatre.
Participants gain hands-on experience across core technical areas, including stage work, hemp flying, knots, lighting, and sound setup and operation. The course also explores entry routes into backstage roles, including apprenticeships and casual technician positions.
Designed for those with an interest in technical theatre, including people with some prior amateur or professional experience, the course focuses on building practical skills and confidence in a live production environment.
A limited number of subsidised places are available to improve access, with support offered for those facing financial barriers. Participants can apply for a £75 subsidised place or contact the team directly if cost is a barrier.
Cost: £150
Dates: 21 - 23 August
Free training opportunity for South West based performing arts practitioners
Over the past couple of years we have been working with brilliant artists and companies to provide quality training for creative practitioners in the South West.
Next up we are joined by Open Theatre – a physical theatre company who specialise in working with young people with learning disabilities.
This training session will involve a practical exploration of the key elements of their unique non-verbal physical theatre practice developed over the last 25 years. The practice is used as both a theatre-making process, developing performance work on the borderlines of theatre, dance and mime, and as an educational tool with special schools that supports young people with learning disabilities to discover their capabilities.
This session is perfect for artists and practitioners who want to extend and adapt their practice to be more inclusive of young people with learning disabilities and to enrich and extend the ways in which we create theatre, opening up new ways of creating and discovering capabilities for all.
The session will be practical – sometimes challenging – asking us all to connect in unfamiliar ways, but above all are great fun! The atmosphere created by the practice is authentic, playful, and joyful – within a space that feels free, safe, non-judgemental, and alive with possibility.
The session is FREE but booking is essential as there are only 12 places available.
Travel bursaries for South West practitioners are available through application, contact Charlene@strikealight.org.uk
