Come and get a real behind‑the‑scenes look at what it’s like to work backstage on an Emma Rice Company production. You’ll hear directly from our award‑winning technical team and get a sense of the skills and teamwork that go into bringing a show to life. Whether you’re curious about show calling, mixing sound, setting props, or touring, this workshop is a great way to find out more.
We’re looking for people at the start of their career. You don’t need experience in mixing or show calling, but you do need some experience backstage. You’ll be over the age of 18, will have had some training or some work backstage (including youth, community, or amateur productions) and you’ll be looking to take your next step into the theatre industry. We want to hear from emerging Stage Managers, Wardrobe, Sound, Lighting and AV Technicians, with an interest in touring. Or maybe you've got experience in film, TV or music production and are interested in expanding your skillset.
What’s included*:
(Subject to change*)
We encourage all participants to attend Malory Towers, either before or after the tech taster, to get the most out of the day.
9 places per workshop. Ages 18+
The Emma Rice Company is one of the UK’s leading ensemble theatre companies, and our production and backstage teams are vital, professional and playful part of the family. Our Training Programme runs workshops and courses to inspire the next generation of theatre makers.
At Emma Rice Company, we actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills, and stories to join us and influence our work. We know that people who are D/deaf disabled or neurodiverse, from the global majority and / or from a lower socio-economic background are under-represented in the theatre industry. Therefore, if someone identifies as having one or multiple of these protected characteristics, we are particularly interested in meeting them.
Please note as Emma Rice Company offers this workshop around the country, preference will be given to local people. We consider our taster as being an ideal way to connect with budding technical theatre specialists that we wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to meet.
Dates & Venues
Friday 8th May - Theatre Royal Bath
Wednesday 20th May - Brighton Festival
Friday 29th May - Leeds Playhouse
Friday 12th June - Manchester Home
Friday 29th June - Liverpool Playhouse
Friday 17th July - Yvonne Arnaud
Thursday 30th July - Alexandra Palace
Theatre Royal Bath - 10th April
Brighton Festival - 10th April
Leeds Playhouse - 16th May
Manchester Home - 30th April
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse - 5th May
Yvonne Arnaud - 4th June
Alexandra Palace - 17th June
Emma Rice Company Training Programme is offering a unique opportunity for theatre makers aged 18+. The theatre maker taster is a free, day-long workshop.
In this practical workshop members of our Malory Towers show team will introduce participants to the Emma Rice Company method. You will play games, learn songs and devise. You will experience first-hand how Emma Rice Company builds an ensemble and creates their critically acclaimed shows.
Actors, singers, musicians, dancers, directors, acrobats, clowns, and theatre-makers are all invited to apply. You don’t need loads of experience, but you do need to be a confident performer.
The Emma Rice Company is one of the UK’s leading ensemble theatre companies, and our performing ensemble is a vital, professional and playful part of the family. Our Training Programme runs workshops and courses to inspire the next generation of theatre makers.
At Emma Rice Company, we actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills, and stories to join us and influence our work. We know that people who are D/deaf disabled or neurodiverse, from the global majority and / or from a lower socio-economic background are under-represented in the theatre industry. Therefore, if someone identifies as having one or multiple of these protected characteristics, we are particularly interested in meeting them.
Please note as Emma Rice Company offers this workshop around the country, preference will be given to local artists. We consider our taster as being an ideal way to connect with regional artists that we wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to meet.
Dates & Venues
Friday 8th May - Theatre Royal Bath
Friday 15th May - Belgrade Theatre
Wednesday 20th May - Brighton Festival
Friday 29th May - Leeds Playhouse
Friday 12th June - Manchester Home
Wednesday 17th June - Liverpool Playhouse
Friday 17th July - Yvonne Arnaud
Thursday 30th July - Alexandra Palace
Theatre Royal Bath - 10th April
Belgrade Theatre - 10th April
Brighton Festival - 10th April
Leeds Playhouse - 16th May
Manchester Home - 30th April
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse - 5th May
Yvonne Arnaud - 4th June
Alexandra Palace - 17th June
Guildhall School announce 15 Easter 2026 short courses (6 of which are brand new!) for ages 18 and up. These include 4 drama courses, 2 new writing courses, and 1 new skills for the creative industry course.
Below is a selection of courses which may be of particular interest, with full course listings and links to the relevant web pages. The deadline to book for all Easter short courses is 5pm, Thursday 2 April 2026, or when the course reaches full capacity.
NEW COURSES:
Drama
Writing
Skills for creative industries
FULL LISTINGS:
Drama
Writing
Skills for creative industries
Easter Short Courses:
Drama Courses
IN-PERSON COURSES
Introduction to Screen Acting (Ages 18+) (in person)
Delivered in person from Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2026, 10am – 5pm
This two-day course will introduce participants to the techniques and skills required for acting in film and television. Learn key techniques including how to prepare for a scene, be present and how to connect with their scene partner, to give authentic and truthful performances. Taught by actor, director, screenwriter, acting coach and lecturer Ryan Laccohee (Maisie Raine, Coronation Street, A&E and Silent Witness), this course is for anyone aged 18 and over interested in acting for screen.
Audition Technique: Acting (Ages 17+) (in person)
Delivered in person from Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April 2026, 10am–5pm
This two-day course taught by Guildhall alumnus Ashley Zhangaza will give participants an insight and introduction into the tools they need to succeed. The course is for anyone aged 17 and over who has an interest in acting and would be interested in applying for Drama School or equivalent programme. During the course they will look at how to choose a speech and what to look for, practical exercises that can be used to unlock the speech and enhance understanding, discussion on the audition environment and techniques to encourage relaxation and readiness, tips and techniques to bring the speech to life. Participants will need to choose a Shakespeare speech and a modern speech that they connect with in advance of the course.
(NEW) Acting Intensive for (Ages 11–14) (in person)
Delivered in person fromTuesday 7 – Thursday 9 April 2026, 9.30am–5.30pm
This new three-day intensive acting course from anyone aged 11-14 years old, delves into modern industry practice, building upon traditional Stanislavsky-based methods. The course draws on aspects of Utah Hagen, Susan Batson and Meisner providing an efficient toolkit of tips to lift participants’ text from the page to the stage. Taught by Guildhall alumnus Aled Patrick, participants will explore a number of different scenes and monologues through the lens of various acting tools.
(NEW) Acting Intensive (Ages 15–17) (in person)
Delivered in person Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2026, 9.30am–5.30pm
This new three-day intensive acting course for anyone aged 15-17 years old delves into modern industry practice, building upon traditional Stanislavsky-based methods. The course draws on aspects of Utah Hagen, Susan Batson and Meisner providing an efficient toolkit of tips to lift your text from the page to the stage. Taught by Guildhall alumnus Aled Patrick, participants will gain a strong toolkit to unpack and analyse a variety of texts in preparation for performance and auditions.
Writing Courses
IN PERSON COURSES
(NEW) Creative Writing (Ages 14-17) (in person)
Easter Course: Delivered in person from Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2026, 10am – 4pm
In this new two-day course, participants will explore a range of literary texts including poetry and fiction, and will use artwork, photographs and songs to inspire their own creative writing. Participants will learn to draft and develop their own stories and explore the best ways to present, perform and publish them. Led by London writer Annie Hayter, this course is for anyone aged 14 to 17 with an interest in creative writing.
(NEW) Writing a Solo Show (Ages 18+) (in person)
Delivered in person from Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April 2026, 10am–5pm
The new course is a dynamic two-day course designed to help participants create a one-person performance from scratch. Whether they have a story, a character, or simply the desire to perform their own work, this intensive course will guide participants from idea to page — and ultimately to stage. The course is taught by award-winning writers and performers Maddie Rice and Tom Machell. Maddie Rice is known for her work on Fleabag (2016), Every Blank Ever (2018) and Handy (2019). Whilst Tom Machell is an award‑winning writer and performer from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose credits include the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Tom and Lauren are Going OOT! (2024) and the play Toast F**K (2024). As an actor Tom has recently appeared in Vera (ITV), Hullraisers (Channel 4) and Emmerdale (ITV).
Music Production in Logic Pro Intensive (Ages 14-17) (in person)
Delivered in person from Tuesday 7 – Friday 10 April 2026, 10am–5pm
This four-day course aimed at beginners aged 14 to 17 will introduce essential elements of Logic Pro, allowing you to get producing, composing and mixing. Covering sampling, synthesis, drum machines, MIDI instruments and audio mixing, the course taught David Corney will give participants the skills to realise your musical visions. Participants will be encouraged to be creative and produce their own tracks daily, with the aim of having a three-minute track by the end of the course.
Skills for creative industries
IN PERSON COURSES
(NEW) Creative Evaluation Methods: A Practical Masterclass (Ages 18+) (in person)
Delivered in person on Friday 10 April 2026, 10.30am–5pm
This new one-day in-person masterclass taught by Dr Maia Mackney explores innovative, creative, and arts-based approaches to evaluation and research. Through hands-on practice and collaborative co-design, participants will gain practical experience with creative methods and develop bespoke techniques tailored to their projects.
For facilitators, educators, and creative leaders who want to lead with impact, empathy, and embodied creativity.
Lead is a two-day residency designed for practitioners working in education, community and participatory arts. Rooted in Gecko’s physical theatre methodology, it offers practical tools and inspiration for leading dynamic, inclusive spaces that centre physical expression and emotional connection.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This programme is suitable for facilitators, teachers, and creative practitioners working in:
Participants must be comfortable with highly physical, collaborative work.
Gecko is committed to diversity, inclusion and equality within the arts and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Participants will explore:
WHAT WILL I GAIN?
WHEN IS IT?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
WHERE WILL IT TAKE PLACE?
ARE THERE ANY BURSARY PLACES AVAILABLE?
Gecko is committed to creating opportunities for those who are underrepresented in the arts, and we particularly welcome applications from artists from the global majority, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and d/Deaf, neurodivergent and disabled artists.
We will be offering a limited number of bursary places for this residency, which cover the participation fee. To apply for a bursary please complete this section of the application form to tell us a little about your background, circumstances and why receiving a bursary would enable you to take part in this opportunity.
Bursary places are intended for applicants who would otherwise not be able to take part for financial reasons. If you are able to participate without financial support, we kindly ask that you do not apply for a bursary. We do offer a finance plan to help spread the costs if this would better support your access.
Please note that participants will need to arrange their own travel and accommodation.
“This is the best my disability has been treated in any of the training I've done…it means so much to me that I had such a smooth and joyous time.” - Spring ‘23 Residency Participant
Taking place from Tuesday 7th April – Friday 10th April 2026, the programme runs daily from 10:00am until approximately 3:00pm and offers students aged 14–18 an engaging and practical insight into the many careers that exist behind the scenes in theatre.
This will be a fun and inspiring week hosted across various theatres in the West End. Across the four days, students will explore key areas of theatre-making including:
The programme provides hands-on workshops, industry insight, and the opportunity to meet professionals working across the creative industries.
As part of the experience, students will also have the opportunity to see Paddington The Musical on the Thursday afternoon, following their participation in the weeks sessions, offering a valuable chance to connect their learning with a live West End production.
This programme is ideal for students interested in Drama, Performing Arts, Design, Technical Theatre, or those curious about creative industry career pathways beyond performing.
Course fees start at £120.
This demanding and highly practical course will help you to develop and craft your audition skills.
The course is aimed at all experience levels, particularly those thinking about applying to drama school, but may also be of interest to those who want to explore a specific piece of performance text.
Course Content
This three-day course is designed to train and prepare you for acting auditions. Over the three days you will:
Please head to the opportunity link to read more about how to prepare and any materials you need to bring along to the course.
National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is delighted to announce FREE Folk & Jazz Discovery Days taking place across Wales this March, offering young musicians aged 14–22 the chance to find their sound!
Designed for musicians of Grade 4 and above, these one-day workshops provide a fun, inclusive and supportive environment to experience folk and jazz music with other musicians.
Produced by founding member of Welsh Folk group Calan, Angharad Jenkins, and led by experienced tutors, the Discovery Days will introduce participants to the foundations of folk and jazz through practical workshops, group playing and creative exploration, ending the day with an informal sharing to parents and carers.
National Youth Arts Wales would like to encourage musicians of all traditional music backgrounds to take part in the Discovery Days this March – whether your background is Welsh Folk, or any other world music tradition, these sessions will be fun for all!
You’ve written your story – congratulations! But what now? There’s a wealth of options for authors, as well as a huge array of information out there to pile through.
In this four week course, we’ll be walking you through the fundamentals of getting your writing published in a variety of different areas as well as some of the ways you can earn money from your fiction.
Week 1 – Getting Short Stories Published
Week 2 – Getting a Literary Agent
Week 3 – An Introduction to Self-Publishing
Week 4 – Making a Living as a Writer
Additional Information:
How to book:
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.
Stretch your creative muscles and split in groups, collaboratively (and friendly competitively) work on devising and adapting ideas from stimulus such as articles, published literature, sound and photography, culminating in a sharing at the end of the session. Led by Artistic Directors of StageBase, Eleanor Willis and Gabriela Chanova
Based in London; Moya Jane Studios E9 6ND
Session time from 7pm-9pm on November 4th
More sessions every Tuesday 7-9pm until the 9th of December and get all 6 sessions for £46 with the link below!
