SPRINGBOARD is the Lyric's year-long, free, part-time actor training programme for performers who are ready to take their next steps into the theatre industry. We are now looking for our next cohort of 10 talented and ambitious performers aged 18 to 25 who live in *West London, have little to no formal drama training, and are currently underrepresented in theatre.

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Applications are now open for 2027!

Our 2027 cohort will train with us from January to November 2027. Trainees will be enrolled, receiving a bursary of £200 per month during term time that will support them while they take part in a wide range of development initiatives, which include:

• Free professional headshots and showreels
• Weekly actor training
• Performance opportunities, including an original Studio production and Studio Industry showcase
• Professional workshops and masterclasses with directors, casting professionals, playwrights, performers, and other theatre-makers
• Artist development mentoring to help you identify and work towards your aims
• Opportunities to observe rehearsals for every Lyric Main House production, including masterclasses with the directors of our 2027–28 season
• Free and discounted theatre tickets across London
• Invitations to Lyric press nights throughout the 2027–28 season
• Support and advice around union membership, freelance tax, professional networking and working in the industry
• The opportunity to access a TfL 18+ Student Oyster card
• Eligibility for discounted Graduate membership of Spotlight
• Free rehearsal, self-tape, writing and meeting space at the Lyric during and for 1 year after the programme
• Direct employment opportunities with the Lyric during and after the course

Auditions will take place:

• First round: Monday 7 December, a slot between 10:00 – 18:00 (group audition, exercises and sight reading)
• Second round: Friday 11 December, a slot between 10:00 – 18:00 (individual monologue recall & informal interview)

We’re looking for people who:

• Are underrepresented in theatre, particularly those who are a part of the Global Majority, neurodiverse, d/Deaf, Disabled, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, those from low-income households and working-class backgrounds, or who are care-experienced or care-affected
• Are passionate about acting, performing, and entering the industry professionally
• Who have excellent organisational and communication skills
• Are excited by the opportunity to work with industry professionals

Deadline to apply: Monday 30 November 2026, midday

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For more information and to apply, click the Opportunity Info link below!

This four-year course is our very popular BA (Hons) Performance in Musical Theatre course, with an additional integrated foundation year. It’s the perfect route to help you develop the skills and self-confidence needed before you embark on Year 1 of your degree course. The foundation year, designed over 3 terms, enables students to achieve their potential as an actor at the start of their journey.

Summary:

• Explore acting, improvisation, acting through song, ensemble singing, and voice.
• Build confidence and versatility and a musical theatre foundation.
• Develop your dance skills across the three core musical theatre styles: Ballet, Jazz, and Tap.
• Build strength, stamina, and flexibility through Fitness & Wellbeing classes.
• Apply your training through rehearsals and a fully staged public performance.
• Gain valuable rehearsal and live performance experience.
• Develop research skills that support your practical training
• Prepare for auditions through one-to-one guidance and professional advice

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BA (Hons) Performance in Musical Theatre With Foundation Year is validated by De Montfort University.

You MUST apply for this course through both our Audition System and also through UCAS.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

This is our four year BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course, with an additional integrated foundation year. It’s the perfect route to help you develop the skills and self-confidence needed before you embark on Year 1 of your degree course. The foundation year, designed over 3 terms, enables students to achieve their potential as an actor at the start of their journey.

Summary:

• Build strong acting techniques through practical workshops and performance classes.
• Explore a range of dramatic texts through monologue and scene work.
• Improve articulation, projection, and vocal versatility
• Explore movement techniques and basic choreography to support a range of performance styles.
• Apply your training through rehearsals and a fully staged public performance.
• Reflect on, analyse, and evaluate your own creative work and performance.

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BA (Hons) Acting For Stage And Screen With Foundation Year is validated by De Montfort University.

You MUST apply for this course through both our Audition System and also through UCAS.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

On our BA (Hons) Singing and Acting course you will train as a confident, versatile singing actor through practical, industry-focused training in singing, acting, voice, and movement. You’ll develop your individual performance style while refining the technical, creative, and professional skills needed for a career on stage and beyond. Through collaborative projects and public performances, you’ll gain the experience and confidence to make the transition from training to the industry.

Summary:

• Learn to blend technical vocal control with powerful storytelling and emotional expression to create commanding performances.
• Develop an understanding of acting to create flexible, truthful and engaging character work.
• Develop strength and control through expert-led practical movement and vocal training to have the stamina for 8 show weeks
• See how your training in singing, acting, and movement comes together in a live project setting.
• Experience immersive, promenade, and traverse theatre to build your adaptability
• Identify your unique strengths and create a strategic plan to enter the industry with purpose
• Learn to navigate the industry and how to present yourself to agents and casting directors.

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BA (Hons) Singing and Acting is validated by De Montfort University.

You MUST apply for this course through both our Audition System and also through UCAS.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Train as a versatile actor for stage and screen through practical, industry-focused learning on our BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course. You’ll develop your acting, voice, movement, and performance skills while exploring a range of techniques, collaborating on productions, and working with experienced industry professionals. Alongside public performances and screen projects, you’ll build your confidence, creativity, and the professional skills needed for your career as an Actor.

Summary:

• Discover and develop your own unique acting style for stage, screen, film, and TV.
• Develop your vocal and physical skills as a versatile performer.
• Learn how to use your voice and body as powerful performance tools.
• Explore acting theories, performance history, and different genres to deepen your understanding of the craft.
• Work with professional directors to rehearse and perform live productions.
• Gain hands-on experience of film production, working with a creative team from rehearsal to screen.

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BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen is validated by De Montfort University.

You MUST apply for this course through both our Audition System and also through UCAS.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Our BA (Hons) Performance in Musical Theatre combines intensive practical training with professional performance opportunities to prepare you for a career in the performing arts. You’ll develop as a versatile performer through expert tuition in singing, acting, and dance while building the confidence, creativity, and collaborative skills required to succeed across today’s musical theatre industry.

Summary:

• Build a versatile, industry-ready voice through extensive work across musical theatre styles, developing vocal technique, interpretation and expressive performance.
• Develop industry-ready dance skills across Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Urban Jazz, Street, Double Work and Musical Theatre Choreography.
• Bring text to life through monologues, prose, poetry, improvisation and creative play, while developing imagination, spontaneity and vocal expression.
• Understand where musical theatre comes from — exploring its genres, styles, practitioners and performance from jazz and the Golden Age of Broadway to today.
• Experience life as a company, building ensemble skills, stamina, discipline, stagecraft and rehearsal practices.
• Perform for live audiences, developing characters, responding creatively under pressure and putting your training into practice through public performances and projects.

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BA (Hons) Performance in Musical Theatre is validated by De Montfort University.

You MUST apply for this course through both our Audition System and also through UCAS.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Emma Rice Company Training Programme is offering a unique opportunity for theatre makers aged 18+. The theatre maker taster is a free, four hour workshop. Apply now!

In this practical workshop members of our Tristan & Yseult 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.

Key information:

• Date: Friday 5 February 2027
• Time: 1pm - 5pm
• Venue: ADC Theatre
• Cost: FREE

For more information and to apply, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Come and get a real behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work backstage on an Emma Rice Company production. Apply now!

You’ll hear directly from Emma Rice Company's 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.

What’s included*:

• A backstage tour of Tristan & Yseult
• Learning to show call a section of the show with the Deputy Stage Manager
• Learning to mix a section of the show with the Sound department
• Setting props with the Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager

(Subject to change*)

We encourage all participants to attend Tristan & Yseult, either before or after the tech taster, to get the most out of the day.

Key information:

• Date: Wednesday 3 February 2027
• Time: 12:30pm - 4pm
• Location: The Arts Theatre
• Cost: FREE

For more information and to apply, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Calling all emerging theatre makers, students, creative facilitators, and actors!

Discover the power of African storytelling and the universal power of personal stories in this dynamic, hands-on workshop led by award-winning producer and writer Lydia Idakula.

In this workshop, you will explore how personal experiences, history, culture and imagination can be transformed into compelling stories. Through conversation, creative exercises, film, writing and group discussion, you’ll explore themes of identity, belonging, memory and imagination, uncover the themes that matter most to you and begin developing your own original story idea.

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, performer, theatre-maker, or simply someone with a story to tell, this workshop offers practical tools for finding your authentic voice while introducing you to the richness and diversity of African storytelling traditions. No previous writing experience is required – just curiosity, creativity and a willingness to explore.

Expect an inspiring, welcoming and interactive session where you’ll connect with other creatives, share ideas in a supportive environment and leave with fresh inspiration for your own creative journey.

Come ready to write, reflect, create, and discover that every great story begins with the courage to tell it.

Key information:

• Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026
• Time: 1:30pm - 5:30pm (with a break)
• Location: ADC Theatre
• Cost: FREE

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Calling all emerging theatre makers, students, creative facilitators, and actors!

Join us for an exciting workshop led by Nicky Cox, a freelance director, facilitator, and Associate Learning Practitioner at the Royal Shakespeare Company. This practical session will explore how to approach Shakespeare’s texts with playfulness, energy, and confidence.

Nicky brings over 30 years of experience as an actor, director, and facilitator. Her career spans everything from regional school tours and open-air theatre to the West End and UK tours with the National Theatre and the RSC. Passionate about classical texts, she loves sharing her wealth of industry knowledge with fellow artists.

What you'll explore:

This workshop focuses on preparing for and sustaining the demands of rehearsing and performing rigorous classical texts. Working dynamically with Shakespeare's language, you will break down the vital connection between voice, breath, and movement. Discover how these elements combine to support complex characters and narrative expression.

Through an embodied, active, and supportive approach, you will gain practical tools to tackle the unique challenges of Shakespearean text in a low-stakes, creative environment.

Key information:

• Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
• Time: 1:30pm - 5:30pm (with a break)
• Location: ADC Theatre
• Cost: FREE

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!