A free introduction to playwriting course, led by nationally-renowned writer, Tom Wells, for first-time playwrights or those new to the idea of playwriting.
Learn how to write a play from scratch with the Middle Child Writers’ Group, an annual programme with a track record of turning aspiring theatre makers into commissioned playwrights.
You don’t need to have written anything before, you just need to have a few good stories to tell – funny stories, sad stories, tough stories, tender stories – stories we’re eager to see on Hull stages.
How it works
Selected writers take part in a series of five weekly workshops at our new theatre on Humber Street, focused around finding your voice as a playwright.
You will then begin work on a short scene, in your own time, which will receive feedback from Tom Wells and Middle Child literary manager, Matthew May.
These will then be performed in public by professional actors, script-in-hand, at Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival 2026.
Who can apply
This group is for first-time playwrights or those very new to playwriting.
It is open to any individual who is:
A writing group for working class people in Hull and East Yorkshire who want to explore politics, class and community through theatre.
You can be a seasoned writer or have never written anything before - just bring your unique experience and a few stories worth sharing.
How it works
Selected participants will join five weekly reading group sessions at Middle Child’s new Humber Street home, reading and discussing powerful plays by working class writers.
You’ll then take part in five writing workshops, led by five of the country’s leading working class playwrights, offering tools and tips towards developing your own short plays.
The reading group will be facilitated by Middle Child literary manager Matthew May and artistic director Paul Smith, while the writing workshops will be delivered by different writers and hosted together by working class theatre-maker, Rabbey.
Participants will then work on a short scene, with the support of Matthew May, to be performed by professional actors as part of Fresh Ink 2026, our annual playwriting festival in Hull.
Who can apply?
This group is for working class writers of any experience level who wish to explore writing about class.
It is open to any individual who:
A free introduction to playwriting programme for 16–25 year olds from Hull and East Yorkshire.
Thanks to support from the I Am Fund, Middle Child is able to launch No Dress Code: a new programme to increase access to theatre for 16–25 year olds in our region.
This includes a free introduction to playwriting short course, taking place across the February half-term break, led by renowned playwright Lydia Marchant (Mumsy, Eastenders, British Scandal).
Over the course of four days, Lydia will share her writing expertise through practical sessions to learn new playwriting skills, find your voice and write your first ever play, to be performed by professional actors.
These pieces will then be featured at Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival 2026, amongst our wider programme of new plays.
Who can apply?
This free programme is open to any 16–25 year old with a HU postcode.
This course is a perfect introduction to professional playwriting for young people with an interest in theatre, and how plays are made, from first idea to final performance.
Clean Break’s Creative Facilitation training focuses on using theatre practices to safely bring creativity into women only groups and spaces.
Participants will gain the tools they need to deliver theatre workshops with people who have experienced trauma, or to bring creative interventions to their group work or 1-to-1 sessions with clients.
Clean Break’s Creative Facilitation training focuses on using theatre practices to safely bring creativity into women only groups and spaces.
Participants will gain the tools they need to deliver theatre workshops with people who have experienced trauma, or to bring creative interventions to their group work or 1-to-1 sessions with clients.
This one-day training is for anyone who works with, or is interested in working with people in challenging or vulnerable circumstances, and wants to safely bring creativity into their practice. You could be a groupworker, facilitator, theatre maker, or frontline practitioner of any kind.
Through a mixture of interactive exercises, group work and discussion, our Creative Facilitation training provides participants with the space to build their confidence as facilitators and develop a rich toolkit to improve their practice. This session covers:
For over four decades, Clean Break has been working creatively with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system or who are at risk of entering it. The only organisation of its kind, we use tools from the world of theatre to help women build confidence, self-esteem and gain new skills.
Our work in the theatre, criminal justice and women’s sectors gives us a valuable and unique perspective on the power creativity holds to change lives, when practiced safely by trained facilitators.
Creating equitable access to the industry is a core Donmar value. CATALYST is a professional development programme for those who have been historically underrepresented at the Donmar and within the sector. We are interested in supporting artists who identify as being a part of the global majority, trans, non-binary, D/deaf or disabled, neurodivergent or from a lower socio-economic background. The programme provides key professional development for these artists to catapult their careers to the next level, preparing them to thrive and lead in the theatre sector.
About the role:
As a part of the Donmar’s CATALYST professional development training programme, the role is an opportunity for outstanding, early-career artists to receive bespoke training, both practical and observational, by assisting the Designer to realise the lighting design for a Donmar production. The goal is to gain insight into a high-level production process while developing and strengthening your skills and artistic voice.
Responsibilities:
Fixed Term Freelance Contract, approximately 23 days between 15 December 2025 - 26 February 2026 at £135 per day
Key Dates:
Working hours: Flexible–dates and hours to be mutually agreed with the Lighting Designer and Head of Inclusion and Skills
Travel and accommodation bursaries are available for candidates based outside of London
Creating equitable access to the industry is a core Donmar value. CATALYST is a professional development programme for those who have been historically underrepresented at the Donmar and within the sector. We are interested in supporting artists who identify as being a part of the global majority, trans, non-binary, D/deaf or disabled, neurodivergent or from a lower socio-economic background. The programme provides key professional development for these artists to catapult their careers to the next level, preparing them to thrive and lead in the theatre sector.
About the role:
As a part of the Donmar’s CATALYST professional development training programme, the role is an opportunity for outstanding, early-career artists to receive bespoke training, both practical and observational, by assisting the Designer to realise the set design for a Donmar production. The goal is to gain insight into a high-level production process while developing and strengthening your skills and artistic voice.
For this specific production, you will be working closely with the designer and director through a collaborative, evolving creative process within the rehearsal room.
Responsibilities:
Fixed Term Freelance Contract, 25-30 days between 15 December 2025- 26 February 2026 at £135 per day.
Key Dates:
Working hours: Flexible–dates and hours to be mutually agreed with the Set & Costume Designer and Head of Inclusion and Skills
Seed funded performance opportunity for artists of any discipline, at no cost to the artist with 100% of Box Office split in your favour!
Do you have an idea or work-in-progress that would benefit from £200 seed funding, production support and 2 free performances with 100% of the box office split going to you? Now's your chance to take part in our early-career development programme to receive the live feedback you need to take your project to the next level...
We are now calling out for artists to take part in our Summer season of SHIFT+SPACE, running from 13th February until the 18th April 2026. SHIFT+SPACE is a free performance opportunity in our central London venue, with 100% of Box Office retained by artists, plus seed funding, in-kind rehearsal space and marketing support, all of which is designed to encourage artists to get live audience feedback at an early stage of creating new work.
We are particularly keen to hear from companies that are led by Black, Asian, and/or Global Majority artists, Disabled or Deaf artists, Working Class artists, and/or trans artists.
Previous SHIFT + SPACE artists include theatrical new writing readings, drag/character comedy, shadow puppetry, dance and performance art, sound installations and more! What makes our programming different from other work-in-progress festivals is our unique feedback model - where you receive feedback on your first showing and you are encouraged to use your second showing to try out a shifted version the following day.
Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Backstage Roadshow will take a series of FREE backstage skills workshops directly into UK state schools, introducing children and young people to the variety of creative pathways and career opportunities that exist within theatre, live events, television and film.
Led by industry professionals and designed by the School’s Production Arts staff, the Backstage Roadshow will take professional equipment into schools to provide a crucial insight into one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors and inspire young people to train and work in the creative industries.
Our team will also be offering full technical support to two primary school productions each year, bringing our lighting, sound, and stage management equipment, along with staff to help run your show.
How it works
The Backstage Roadshow will run for the Academic Years of 2024/25 and 2025/26, with support offered for one Primary School production in December and one in June or July.
What do we bring to your school?
For workshops, please complete your expression of interest via this form.
Shortlisted schools will be contacted for an online meeting to discuss the options, prior to a site-visit being arranged ahead of any firm offer for the Backstage Roadshow to visit.
Primary schools, please register here.
We are currently recruiting for a Technical Theatre Apprentice to join our Technical & Production department on a full-time 24 month contract.
Glyndebourne Opera House is delighted to be launching a number of apprenticeships in backstage areas from January 2026 onwards. If you are looking for a practical route into the creative industries, working with industry experts at an internationally recognised Opera House then we may have the right opportunity for you.
An apprenticeship is a hands-on, paid, working role, learning all the skills required to work within an Opera or Theatre environment, fully equipping you to enter the industry after the fixed 2-year term. You will receive a nationally recognised (Creative Industries Production Technician) Level 3 apprenticeship qualification, along with working with some of the most eminent industry professionals in the country on world class Opera productions. You will be given 1 day per week to study and/or attend college, either remotely or in person.
Job Purpose
To learn and apply the skills of a multi-skilled technician, working in Lighting, Sound and Stage whilst studying the Level 3 Creative Industries Production Technician (Creative Venue Technician) Apprenticeship Standard in collaboration with Chichester College.
An Apprenticeship is an entry level paid employment position where you learn the required skills on the job from our professional team. You will be given 1 day per week to study and/or attend college, either remotely or in person.
The Assistant Production Manager is a Masters equivalent apprenticeship (Level 7 Creative Industries Production Management Apprenticeship) aimed at individuals who have already been working professionally in Theatre, Opera or Live events in a technical area for some time and who now want to move their career into Production Management.
As an Assistant Production Manager you will work alongside some of the most eminent industry professionals in the country, and with international creative teams, on world class Opera productions at Glyndebourne. This is a full time onsite role involving working some evenings and weekends when we are in production. You will be given 1 day a week to attend lectures, usually online, or to complete your coursework and portfolio for the final assessment. After the 2 year fixed term role you will be qualified and equipped to move into a career in Production or Technical Management.
Please note that this role is not suitable for recent graduates from Production and Stage Management degree courses.
Job Purpose
To assist the Production Managers in the technical delivery of shows and events, and to learn and apply the skills of a Production Manager, including technical realisation of creative concepts, management of onstage work, procurement, budget management and team collaboration, whilst studying a higher apprenticeship qualification with Chichester College.
This is a CPD opportunity for an existing professional in technical production to move into a production Management role, or a recent graduate who has the required experience. The role is for a fixed term of 24 months.
