Mortal Fools Youth Theatre is open to young people aged 5–19 years. We run weekly Youth Theatre groups, split by age in Ashington.
At Mortal Fools, we focus on supporting children and young people’s creativity, wellbeing, and self-belief, using the medium of drama. We believe youth theatre can be a brilliant a vehicle to help young people to build their confidence and skills, support their mental heath, and to make sense of the world around them.
There are no auditions, no drama experience necessary, and no fees (although donations are welcome!). All we ask for is a willingness to give things a go, passion for performing, and lots of curious creativity.
Step into the Creative Team’s shoes.
Over the course of the week, you’ll work closely with a professional Director, Choreographer and Musical Director to discover how a musical is brought from page to stage.
You’ll begin by exploring how a director analyses and interprets a script, before stepping into workshops led by a Musical Director and Choreographer to see how those early ideas evolve in the rehearsal room.
The week culminates in presenting your ideas to your course leader and peers. Whether you’re a future director, choreographer, designer or dramaturg, this course is your opportunity to build creative confidence, develop practical skills, and see how new work comes to life.
For aspiring writers, composers, and anyone curious about creating original musicals.
This workshop is designed for young people interested in writing for musical theatre - whether you’re a lyricist, composer, book writer, or just starting to explore how stories are told through song.
Throughout the course, you’ll work with professional musical theatre writers to gain a deeper understanding of how to craft a compelling narrative and seamlessly integrate book and score.
You’ll begin by developing your own ideas, supported through writing exercises and creative feedback. By the end of the week, you’ll have created original material that could form part of a pitch or treatment to share with directors and producers.
Alongside writing time, you’ll explore the realities of working as a theatre creative - from the structure of the industry to how new musicals are commissioned, produced and developed.
We’re thrilled to be running this course in partnership with Music Theatre International (MTI), supporting the next generation of musical theatre creators.
Aged 16 to 30? Want a career in theatre?
TheatreCraft is the ultimate hub for discovering and pursuing offstage roles in theatre.
Join us for TheatreCraft25 at the iconic Royal Opera House and venues across the West End on Monday 3 November 2025.
Registration is now open!
Here's what's in store:
This is your chance to explore a variety of theatre careers, connect one-on-one with industry professionals and employers, and network with like-minded peers.
Masterclass is offering a paid, three-month internship for an aspiring Theatre Technician, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This is a hands-on opportunity for those interested in electrics and / or carpentry to gain backstage experience in a professional theatre.
You’ll work full-time alongside experienced in-house electrical and carpentry teams, supported by Masterclass. During this 13-week placement, you’ll develop essential skills in lighting, rigging and carpentry, with the flexibility to focus on your interests.
This internship is for those at the start of their career or looking for a first step into theatre. Prior theatre experience is not required, but candidates must have basic skills in carpentry, electrics or sound, and a strong interest in theatre and live events.
Ideal candidates will:
Eligibility:
We’re pleased to announce that Arts and Homelessness International (AHI) in collaboration with One Roof ODAC will be starting regular scratch nights to be held at Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC). The first event will take place on Friday 12th September 2025.
A scratch night is an event where artists/creatives with lived experience of homelessness can show work that is still in progress. This might be a song, a poem, a fragment of a play, or a visual artwork that isn’t yet finished. It’s a space to try things out, to explore, and to begin conversations around work that’s still forming.
These scratch nights are open to artists/creatived with lived experience as well as AHI & One Roof ODAC communities with lived experience of homelessness, creating a safe and supportive environment for artists/creatives at different stages of their careers to share and discuss their work. Discussion will play a huge part in these events.
We are especially keen for creatives and artists with lived experience of homelessness to attend; whether as performers or audience members as your voices and perspectives are at the heart of this programme.
All conversations will be guided by the Critical Response Process developed by artist Liz Lerman. This is a kind and supportive structure for group discussion, enabling valuable feedback from the audience without overwhelming artists with harsh criticism or unhelpful praise. It’s about going deeper, helping artists learn more about their own work and the processes of others.
Each night will feature three or four artists. The work could take many forms—performance, visual sketches, ideas, a few lines of a poem or song lyrics. After each presentation, there’ll be a structured discussion, and then we’ll move on to the next artist.
The atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, with plenty of opportunities to socialise and enjoy refreshments.We hope this scratch nights will become a regular feature of our community calendar—an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and support each other, artistically and socially.
Are you creative, living in Scotland and aged 8-30? Apply now for up to £500 for your creative activity or project.
Creative Scotland are working with Moniack Mhor to offer funding to support and encourage creative projects and activities by young people aged 8-30 in Scotland who may have experience of isolation or marginalisation.
Creativity takes all shapes and forms, so whether you are a writer, knitter, musician, graphic artist, street artist, dancer, photographer, film maker or potter – basically anything at all as long as it is creative – we would love to hear from you and help to support your work
Applications are open now until 18th November. They are assessed once a month by a steering group of young people who also have experience of isolation and marginalisation, so you can apply any time.
Individuals can apply for up to £500. Groups can apply for £500 per person, up to a maximum of £2000
The Music and Sound Design programme is designed for musicians interested in composing music and designing sound for a wide range of contexts but with particular emphasis on film and theatre
Students will gain practical knowledge and experience of composing in the studio, composing for instrumental forces, song-writing and scoring for picture. Working alongside leading audio professionals students will also learn innovative methods of capturing, synthesising and manipulating sound, enabling the design of sonic environments to accompany picture, stage productions, radio and gaming.
Music and Sound Design highlights:
Paid Scholarship Opportunities with Halifax Choral Society
Thanks to generous sponsorship from VCEP Ltd, Halifax Choral Society is able to offer new choral scholarships in our 25/26 season.
Choral scholarships may suit young singers who are looking to develop their skills and techniques. There will be solo opportunities, for which you will receive coaching from the Artistic Director and Conductor, Anthony Gray. There may be opportunities to develop other skills such as conducting or coaching individual singers or small groups. There is no age limit for the scholarships but we imagine they will suit sixth form, undergraduate or postgraduate students.
Rehearsals take place between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on Monday evenings at The Carlton Centre, Harrison Road, Halifax. HX1 2AD. This is conveniently located in the Town Centre, a five-minute walk from Halifax Station.
We ask for attendance at the four main concerts each year, at the final two rehearsals directly preceding each concert, plus 50% of the remaining rehearsals. Scholars are given first consideration for all solos in concerts and, if appropriate, are remunerated on top of the regular termly fee.
Anthony Gray adds: “I ask that the scholars are a strong presence in their part, especially during the note-learning phase.
I have often asked the scholars to take sectionals alongside me, depending on their willingness/ability.
All the scholars are asked to contribute to their section’s ’Vocal MOTs’, our new version of re-auditions, in which myself and the relevant scholar provide feedback and help on aural skills, vocal technique etc. Vocal MOTs begin at 7pm on the relevant part’s weeks, and I always schedule these dependant on the scholars’ availability.”
If you are interested in joining us as a scholar and would like to ask any questions ahead of applying, please e-mail Anthony Gray, Artistic Director and Conductor.
There is no closing date. We will aim to audition and appoint any suitable candidates as soon as applications come in.
The student technician is an important part of the Enlightened team, assisting with daily warehouse tasks, helping prepare, run up, and test equipment, and building their own skills to be a more effective technical specialist
This role represents a shared investment; from the student in giving the time and energy to build their own skills, and from Enlightened in giving them the opportunity and training to do so.
This is a fixed term position for either 9 or 12 months starting in Summer 2025. We may ask for proof of your eligibility from your college or University prior to starting.
Enlightened is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and value diversity within our workforce. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are embedded in our day to day working practices with all of our customers, colleagues and partners through the promotion of equal opportunities. We would warmly welcome applications from those who are likely to be under-represented in the industry.
We are happy to make reasonable arrangements in order to help you apply for this role. If you need any assistance or for us to make any special provisions, please include this within your application.
