Hackney Empire are looking for young musicians aged 17 to 30 to take part in their Trainee Musical Director programme designed to demystify the role of the Musical Director (MD).
What you’ll gain:
They are looking for people who are:
Observing Jack and the Beanstalk:
Their 2026 pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Sun 22 Nov – Thu 31 Dec and during this time, you will watch at least one preview performance to observe the Musical Director. A date will be mutually agreed in advance.
Deadline: 9am, Monday 3 August
Work In Theatre is an opportunity to explore, hear more about and take part in workshops about the hidden areas of theatre that people often do not know exist.
This hands-on work experience course for young people aged 14 – 17yrs offers workshops, talks and practical activities in:
Dates: Mon 27 – Fri 31 July
Time: 10.30am – 4pm each day
There are a limited number of subsidised places to improve equal access to the industry for those who are disadvantaged by their socio-economic background, additional needs, Black, Asian & ethnic backgrounds and those in care or previously in care. Please email jackiealexander@atgentertainment.com to apply.
Young Directors is a 10-week introduction to directing live performance course for young people aged 13-17, hosted by Northern Stage.
The sessions consist of a series of interactive workshops, masterclasses with industry professionals, and opportunities to see shows at Northern Stage.
Young Directors will learn all about the essentials of directing live performance – from learning how to work with actors to exploring scripts and discovering the kind of theatre you’d like to create. No previous experience needed – just bring along your desire to discover more about different ways to make theatre!
Deadline to apply: Sunday 16 August
The cost of the course varies depending on your circumstances. Northern Stage have created a payment scale (see below) to help you identify which fee is appropriate for you. Fees cover the cost of the 10 sessions as well as tickets to selected performances at Northern Stage as part of the programme.
Fees are required to be paid in advance of starting the course and more information about how to do this will follow if you are successfully selected to take part.
Standard fee: £150 (If you have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Discounted fee: £90 (If you do not have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Bursary places: FREE*
*Bursary places are limited and bursary applications from young people from a low-socioeconomic background, from the global majority or with a disability will be prioritised, in line with Northern Stage’s strategic priorities. As part of a bursary place, we can also support with the cost of travelling to and from sessions.
Young Designers is a 10-week course for young people aged 13-17, hosted by Northern Stage.
Explore how designers bring theatre to life in their weekly introductory masterclasses! Guided by industry professionals, you’ll get hands-on experience in costume design, hair and make-up design, and work with elements of technical theatre.
This course will focus on design for live performance, and you’ll learn skills applicable to theatre, film, TV, live music, and other visual art forms. Sessions are led by the experienced Northern Stage team, and you’ll work alongside guest artists and creatives working professionally in the region.
Understand the principles of designing and sourcing costumes for performance. Develop costume ideas, create mood boards, observe demonstrations, experiment with different design techniques, build your own costumes, try your hand at special effects makeup. You’ll work towards a mini exhibition at the end of the course to showcase your skills. No previous experience needed – just bring along your enthusiasm for creating!
Deadline to apply: Sunday 16 August
The cost of the course varies depending on your circumstances. Northern Stage have created a payment scale (see below) to help you identify which fee is appropriate for you. Fees cover the cost of the 10 sessions as well as tickets to selected performances at Northern Stage as part of the programme.
Fees are required to be paid in advance of starting the course and more information about how to do this will follow if you are successfully selected to take part.
Standard fee: £150 (If you have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Discounted fee: £90 (If you do not have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Bursary places: FREE*
*Bursary places are limited and bursary applications from young people from a low-socioeconomic background, from the global majority or with a disability will be prioritised, in line with Northern Stage’s strategic priorities. As part of a bursary place, we can also support with the cost of travelling to and from sessions.
Young Designers is a 10-week course for young people aged 13-17, hosted by Northern Stage.
Explore how designers bring theatre to life in their weekly introductory masterclasses! Guided by industry professionals, you’ll get hands-on experience in stage and scenic design, costume design, and work with elements of technical theatre.
This course will focus on design for live performance, and you’ll learn skills applicable to theatre, film, TV, live music, and other visual art forms. Sessions are led by the experienced Northern Stage team, and you’ll work alongside guest artists and creatives working professionally in the region.
Learn the principles of building a world for a performance. Develop set ideas, create mood boards, build model boxes, try scenic painting and make props. You’ll work towards a mini exhibition at the end of the course to showcase your skills. No previous experience needed – just bring along your enthusiasm for creating!
Deadline to apply: Sunday 16 August
The cost of the course varies depending on your circumstances. Northern Stage have created a payment scale (see below) to help you identify which fee is appropriate for you. Fees cover the cost of the 10 sessions as well as tickets to selected performances at Northern Stage as part of the programme.
Fees are required to be paid in advance of starting the course and more information about how to do this will follow if you are successfully selected to take part.
Standard fee: £150 (If you have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Discounted fee: £90 (If you do not have the means to pay for the full value of the course)
Bursary places: FREE*
*Bursary places are limited and bursary applications from young people from a low-socioeconomic background, from the global majority or with a disability will be prioritised, in line with Northern Stage’s strategic priorities. As part of a bursary place, we can also support with the cost of travelling to and from sessions.
Now’s your opportunity to take your first steps into the captivating world of theatre!
Interested in exploring a career in technology and digital innovation?
LW Theatre are excited to launch a NEW Work Experience Programme with their Technology Team this summer, giving young people the chance to gain valuable insight into the technology that helps keep our theatres and business running behind the scenes.
Whether you're interested in IT support, systems, digital solutions, or technology careers more broadly, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from industry professionals and discover where a career in tech could take you.
Please note that all placements are limited to those aged 16 and over.
Deadline for applications: 9am, Friday 17 July
Interviews: week commencing 20 July
Work Experience placement: 17 - 21 August
Successful students will be given an allowance to cover food and travel costs within the M25 for the duration of their work experience; we don’t want there to be any barriers to participation. If you are successful and need additional financial support to participate, we will review this on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions about the opportunity, application, or allowances, please email outreach@lwtheatres.co.uk
Inclusion
At LW Theatres, they pride themselves on being a family of individuals and actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences and skill sets – it’s one of their core values and they believe celebrating our differences is key to success.
At the heart of their Company is a culture of inclusion where everyone feels seen and heard and can be themselves at work. Regardless of your background, and even if you have not worked in theatre before, all they ask is that you have the skills and experience required and the desire to succeed.
We have a limited number of £7 tickets available for The Final Exam: Gao Kao at the Bridewell Theatre, London.
Tickets are available from 23 - 24 August at various times.
What if the most important exam of your life became a battle you had to physically fight?
On the day of the Gaokao — China’s high-stakes university entrance examination — a student enters the exam hall expecting to prove her future. Instead, she finds herself fighting against her own examiners, each representing a different subject and a different definition of success.
Through physical theatre, stage combat, multimedia projection and storytelling, The Final Exam: Gao Kao explores the pressure to achieve, the expectations placed on young people, and the struggle to discover your own voice in a world full of “correct answers”.
Inspired by the experiences of students navigating intense educational systems, this powerful new production asks: When everything you have been taught tells you what to become, how do you decide who you really are?
A bold and emotional theatrical journey about ambition, identity and the courage to question.
Age Guidance: 12+
Running Time: 75 mins, 60 mins
Content/Production Warnings: This show contains depictions of suicide, stage combat with simulated physical violence, intense academic pressure.
Fancy trying improv comedy and seeing what it’s all about? Want to play and explore with a friendly group of beginners? Our one-day Intro to Improv Lab is for you.
Our Intro to Improv one-day intensive is a supportive environment introducing you to the basics of improv comedy through games and exercises. Whether you’re a stand-up comedian or an actor looking to branch out, or if you’re completely new to all of it – you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
You will be working with exciting industry professional Charlie Vero-Martin to playfully discover the art of improv, as well as developing skills to build your comedy practice. Charlie is an improviser, comedian, actor and writer with over 18 years of experience. You might recognise her from one of many sell-out and award-winning Edinburgh Fringe shows, or you might know her as a finalist in the Funny Women Stage Award and Leicester Square Theatre Sketch-Off. She writes comedy for BBC and Hat Trick Productions, and has taught improv and character comedy at Hoopla Impro, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and independently. Experienced with clowning, movement and character work, Charlie will lead you through the process of discovering your inner improviser and playing with the group.
Don’t be shy – join us for a day of improv comedy joy.
Course structure
We ask that participants commit to attending the full day.
Applications & Fees
There are 16 places available for this one-day intensive (we keep the numbers low because we want to make sure everyone gets plenty of time in the workshop). The application process is quick and easy – it should take 20 minutes tops. Just go to this form and let us know a bit about yourself and why you want to do the Lab. That’s it!
The fee is £25, with partial and full bursaries available to those on Universal Credit and other welfare benefits. If you are not eligible for a bursary but cost is a barrier to participating, contact us at engagement@sohotheatre.com and we can discuss payment options
York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre exists to provide opportunities for young people aged 5 – 19 yrs from our community to participate in weekly drama sessions with the aim of improving confidence, developing performance skills, working as part of a team and enabling participants to live creative lives. Our programme works across the week at the theatre and across community settings and we’d love for you to come join us.
Winner of the Little Viking’s Best Drama Class for five years running (2018 – 2022), it’s no surprise that our Youth Theatre is hugely popular with York families.
Our Youth Theatre takes place in venues across our beautiful city, including:
You can select any of the following fee bands online when you making your booking:
Sibling discount: If you have more than one child in Youth Theatre, there is a sibling discount of £5 off each young person, which can be applied to any of the 3 fee bands. Use discount code: YOUTHSIB5
If you have selected the lower priced bands we will ask to see some evidence of your situation after you have made your booking, to ensure the system is fair for everyone.
Autumn 2026 Sessions
Priority booking for current members opens on 23 June at 1pm.
Public booking for new members for our Autumn Term opens on 30 June at 1pm.
Places can be booked online via our website, in person at the Box Office, or over the phone. All places are offered on a first come, first served basis, so we recommend booking as early as possible to secure your preferred class.
Our Autumn Term runs for 10 weeks from the week commencing 21 September (11 weeks for production term groups), with no sessions taking place during the half-term break (Wc/26 of October).
Mon 21 Sep - Wed 23 Sep
Interested in learning carpentry skills and techniques? Do you want to get hands-on experience in carpentry this summer? Aged between 16-19? Apply now for our free carpentry course.
In this free, three-day course you will:
We are committed to diversity and access by prioritising engaging young people that we recognise are currently underrepresented in technical theatre:
