Each week will have a unique theme designed to inspire and challenge young people through Performing Arts (drama, dance, and singing) and Creative Arts (art, crafts, drawing painting, puppetry and more). This journey will encourage them to explore and express their opinions, thoughts, and emotions while delving into various aspects of the world around them. Whether through acting, dance, music, or visual arts, they will be invited to interrogate and interpret a specific societal issue, cultural topic, or local and personal experience, using their creative talents as a tool for deeper understanding. During the course of the 3 week summer school, participants will be asked to engage with questions such as:
Through this process, they will not only hone their artistic skills but also gain a more profound connection to the world, questioning and reshaping the narratives that shape their lives and communities.
The week culminates in an exciting performance, where everyone can showcase the incredible work they’ve created. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to grow their confidence, make new friends, and be part of an amazing collective effort.
Book before the 17th April 2026 to receive £20 off per week
Script in hand performances of work from writers based across Dorset. Our regular evenings of 3-4 extracts from scripts currently in development, performed for the first time in our Sherling Studio.
You can expect drama, comedy, experimentation, suspense, emotion and invention – though not necessarily all in the same script.
After the pieces have been performed, there is an opportunity to give feedback to the writers and have a drink. Presented in association with Dorset Scriptwriters. Lighthouse are always on the hunt for new material. If you have a piece that you would like to put forward, please get in touch.
Context: Selina Thompson Ltd turns 10 this year and we want to celebrate a decade of art making, writing, being at stuff and our obsession with Birmingham. To do this we are hosting a party! Food! Booze! Bouncy Castles! Party Bags! And of course – performance.
The Party: The party will take place on Friday 11th September, at The Edge, Birmingham. There will be a small stage, some basic tech including access to a project, simple lighting and a sound system. There are also smaller spaces and an outdoor courtyard. Pre-visits can be arranged if useful for artists, but they are not expected. The party will take place from early evening, the STL will plan the programme responsively to the commissioned works. Commissioned artists will be expected to stay for the duration of the event.
Task: To make a ‘party piece’ that responds to one of the following five works from the Selina Thompson archive:
When we say a party piece, we either mean:
Some parameters:
The only programme of its kind in the UK, our courses are designed for those with an interest in developing their performance skills and engagement with live theatre.
Initially a week-long acting summer school based in London, the Academy has grown over its 16 years to encompass a range of disciplines and locations. New Earth Academy plays a key role in addressing the under representation of ESEA artists on UK stages and screens as well as behind the scenes by providing a safe and supportive environment to gain access to professional training, develop new skills, join creative networks and engage with industry professionals.
In 2026 our courses will take place in London, Manchester, Liverpool and York and include training in Performing, Theatre Making and Producing and Playwriting. Please click on the links below for more information about each individual course.
If you have any questions about the programme, please read the FAQ below. If you require the documents to be in a different format or need any adjustments made in order to apply, please get in touch with us by emailing academy@newearththeatre.org.uk
New Earth Academy is delivered in partnership with The Lowry, our Strategic Partner, and Factory International/Aviva Studios, alongside HOME, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and York Theatre Royal. The programme is further supported by Horizons Collective, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Acting, Birmingham Hippodrome and Arts Council England.
There are a range of opportunities taking place across the UK listed below. Please head to the opportunity link to sign-up to the respective events.
New Earth Theatre Makers Academy - Greater Manchester - Monday 29 June – Friday 3 July
New Earth Theatre Makers Academy - York - Monday 6th July – Friday 10 July
Performing Shakespeare Academy - Monday 27th – Friday 31st July
Performers Academy - London - Monday 14th to Friday 18th July
Performers Academy Plus - London - Monday 20th July – Friday 24th July and Monday 27th – Friday 31st July
Theatre Makers Academy Plus - Greater Manchester and the North West
September 2025 to February 2026
Key Dates: (Applicants must be available to attend all below dates)
Weekend Residential 20th & 21st September 2025 at HOME
Masterclass 1 - Mon 20th October
Masterclass 2 - Mon 10th November
Masterclass 3 - Mon 8th December
Masterclass 4 - Weds 14th Jan
New Earth Academy Programmes in Salford & Greater Manchester are supported by Lowry, HOME and Factory International.
The Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 will uncover the most exciting new plays about the climate crisis, and support them to find their audiences.
We believe that playwrights have a vital role to play in the conversation around the climate. Theatre is a space for animating audiences, forming communities, and experimenting with form; a space for processing the past, articulating the present, and imagining the future. In order to surface the breadth and diversity of new stories about this planetary moment, the Climate Playwriting Prize is an open invitation to playwrights to respond creatively to this subject matter. Regional and touring theatre is playing a vital role in engaging audiences, and we are partnering with organisations all around the country to deliver workshops to writers, unlocking how they might want to tell their climate story.
This moment is marked by rising temperatures, escalating impacts of change on communities and ecosystems, but also by the potential for us to transform society for a flourishing, equitable future for all life. The need for new stories that help audiences grapple with the realities and possibilities of this crisis has never been clearer
In order to surface the breadth and diversity of new stories about this planetary moment, the Climate Playwriting Prize is an open invitation to playwrights to respond creatively to this subject matter. We are partnering with organisations all around the country to deliver workshops to writers, unlocking how they might want to tell their climate story.
The winning playwright will receive:
The Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 is funded by Climate Spring
Applications open in June 2026 with the deadline in September.
Head over to the opportunity page to read all about what is expected and any requirements.
Primary Play Your Part is a project providing newly commissioned playscripts to primary schools. The brand-new playscripts are written specifically for primary-aged students to perform. Along with a range of supporting online resources and CPD sessions, the project aims to guide primary schools through the process of creating their own in-school productions.
As part of the project, schools will receive:
We will be holding in-person CPD workshops at The Old Vic and online drop-in sessions to support teachers with their productions. A link to sign up to these will be shared once applications are complete.
In-person CPD workshops
Mon 23 Mar, 4.30–6.30pm: how to direct large casts of young actors
Wed 22 Apr, 4.30–6.30pm: how to sustainably design your show
These two-hour workshops will be led by industry professionals and will support schools and teachers to put on a successful show in their school.
Online drop-in sessions
Wed 25 Mar, 4.30–5.30pm: session one
Thu 23 Apr, 4.30–5.30pm: session two
These one-hour drop-in sessions will be led by The Old Vic’s Education Manager, offering help and support to schools and teachers on the programme.
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.
The Bruiser Ambassadors is a youth steering group. Members meet regularly to help develop Bruiser’s education and community engagement programme. The group is open to young people living in Northern Ireland aged 16+
The theme for our summer programme this year is Books and Story Telling!
We will take inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s sparkling comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. Participants will be encouraged to explore the play’s themes of mistaken identity, love, and social conventions, and use these ideas to create their own performances.
Through lively workshops and creative exploration, they will devise unique theatre pieces that capture Wilde's wit and charm, bringing his timeless satire to life on stage.
Taught by a team of professional facilitators, this course is perfect for those studying Drama/Performing arts for GCSE and A level.
At the end of the week, family and friends will have the opportunity to join us for a sharing of their work, showcased in the Naughton Theatre.
Dates: Monday 18 – Saturday 23 August
