Ignition is Frantic Assembly's FREE nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16 - 24. AND YOU ARE INVITED!
Working with 13 regional partners, Ignition sets out to find people with the potential to work in the Arts, opening doors and making them feel their presence is welcome.
No experience is necessary, and we particularly look for young people who have little or no previous involvement with theatre or the arts.
Throughout September and October, we travel across the UK to deliver Trial workshops. Visiting theatre and non-theatre spaces, these workshops are created for young people with little or no experience of theatre, who face barriers accessing the Arts, and may never have considered a pathway in the industry possible. Ignition tells them they can be part of it and that their voice is not only welcome, but needed. The programme culminates in five days of training and devising with Frantic, in London, producing original shows for a public audience.
WHAT IS A TRIAL?
A workshop to further understand and explore Frantic’s distinct approach to devising theatre.
WHAT IS THE INTENSIVE?
Selected from the trials, 24 participants will join each other for a week in London. Guided by Frantic Assembly, they will create two original performances for a public audience.
All aspects of the Intensive (travel to London, accommodation, and food) are paid for by Frantic Assembly, thereby removing financial barriers to participation.
For those that take part in the Ignition intensive, we offer a year-round access programme that continues to develop, mentor, and signpost training and career opportunities with Frantic Assembly and their partners, throughout the UK.
Sign-ups open Mon 10 Aug 2026, 9am and close Thurs 10 Sep 2026, 9pm
The Trainee Youth Theatre Assistant position is a great opportunity for an individual looking to gain facilitator experience working with a professional theatre Creative Learning team.
The applicant will be assisted by the broader team to develop a broad range of skills that will help to support a further career as Youth Theatre Leader, Director or those wanting to work with young people and communities.
Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds are looking to recruit 2x Trainee Youth Theatre Assistant Leaders (for applicants aged 16-18).
Deadline: Midday Monday 17 August 2026
Interviews will take place on 24 August 2026 at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Applications can also be submitted by audio or video format.
The Scratch Night will take place at Etcetera Theatre, Camden on 27th October, from 7 to 8pm. We'll be selecting five scripts to be performed on the night, and all selected writers will receive a £50 participation fee.
If you've got a spooky story or script you'd love to see performed on stage, we'd love to read it.
Find out more and submit on the link below!
Submissions close: 23rd August
Workshop for aspiring or emerging playwrights: How we adapted 80 Days for a 4-hander Actor-Muso Open-Air tour across the UK.
In this hour-long workshop, Award-Winning playwright Chris Fung will guide participants through the central processes that guided his crafting of Alfresco Actors' Open Air touring script for their production of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. Suitable for aspiring or emerging writers interested in adapting classics for the stage or for plays with song.
If you have any access requirements for attending the workshop then please email gabbie@gabriellasills.com.
When? Wednesday 12th August 2026, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where? Actors' Church, WC2E 9ED
Cameron Mackintosh Ltd are looking for an enthusiastic and creative individual to undertake a Wigs, Hair, Make Up and Prosthetics Technician Apprenticeship on a full-time 27-month contract, in collaboration with Chichester College.
You will work directly alongside world-class wigs, hair, and make-up professionals on iconic West End and industry-leading regional productions, working towards a nationally recognised Level 3 apprenticeship. This program balances real-world production work with structured vocational learning, with 1 day per week to study and/or attend college, as well as spending 2 weeks of residential learning at Northbrook College in Worthing.
The Apprenticeship will begin in October 2026.
Young Creatives is a friendly place for people ages 13 – 17 to explore all things ‘behind the scenes’ at a theatre! This is an opportunity to try new things, make new friends, and see shows together.
Workshops are entry-level and will be a mix of creative and social sessions with fun crafts, games and activities. There will also be workshops in some of the following areas:
The Northern Stage team and guest artists will give you a basic introduction to each of these areas, with an opportunity to try an activity in each discipline.
Applications are open throughout the term but may close if spaces are filled.
Riverside Writers is a six-session development programme designed for emerging playwrights looking to develop a brand-new script with expert guidance from award-winning playwright and facilitator Nadine Gray.
We're looking for 12 new writers, particularly those from communities underrepresented in theatre.
You'll receive:
-Monthly workshops
-One-to-one mentoring
-A public showcase of your work
-Industry connections and ongoing support
Programme starts: September 2026
Dates:
Showcase dates:
Young Technicians is aimed at young people aged 15-19-years-old who are interested in getting to grips with lighting, sound and stage management in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. The course runs over a twelve-week period in the Autumn here at Lighthouse Poole.
Led by James Smith, Technical Manager of Lighthouse Poole and Production Designer & Technical Director of our pantomime, you will be given the chance to see what goes on behind the scenes of this year’s show, Jack and the Beanstalk, working alongside all technical departments during the run-up to opening night.
You will have the opportunity to take part in masterclasses led by industry-leading professionals with hands on sessions covering all elements required to deliver world class live entertainment.
Takes place November 2026 - February 2027
From the buzz of show days to the behind-the-scenes magic: gain hands-on experience across a wide range of technical activities both on and off stage.
ABOUT US:
With a mission to enrich the cultural life of our region, Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the most popular theatre complexes in the UK. Varied productions in our 1,850-seat auditorium (dating from 1899), and in our 200-seat Patrick Studio ensure we play a key role in the region’s world-class cultural scene. With c.400 live performances annually in our main house, we present nothing but the best in touring musical theatre, ballet, dance, opera, pantomime, drama, and comedy. Our Patrick Studio welcomes a range of smaller-scale productions and is an important base for dance and for the development of new artistic work.
Our Tech Team is welcoming, inclusive, and committed to passing on knowledge and skills, willing to teach and train. Plus, we get to work on some of the largest UK touring shows. This year we had 2 of our amazing apprentices graduate, and both are now working in Technical Theatre roles.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
As an apprentice in the vibrant world of theatre, the post-holder will play an active role in supporting the technical team to deliver high-quality theatre productions. From the buzz of show days to the behind-the-scenes magic, they will gain hands-on experience across a wide range of technical activities both on and off stage, including get-ins and get-outs, show running, equipment maintenance, and general backstage operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to learn the full scope of technical theatre while contributing to the smooth and successful running of live performances.
ABOUT YOU:
We are looking for someone with a real passion and interest in technical theatre. Previous experience would be useful, but it's more important that you are proactive, motivated, and eager to learn.
You must be over 18 (or will be by 21 September) and have passed GCSE English and Maths. You cannot have a degree-level qualification as a Creative Venue Technician or in Technical Theatre, but an adjacent subject such as Music Production would be fine.
You must also have:
Recognising under-representation in our workforce of the global majority, and people with disabilities, we particularly welcome applicants from those backgrounds.
OUR APPRENTICES:
Birmingham Hippodrome are very proud of our apprenticeships tradition, particularly in our Technical department, and won an Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award in 2025. Our previous Technical Apprentices have:
Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival is an annual theatre festival supporting the creation and development of new plays in Hull. The focus is on performing early versions of new ideas to audiences and gathering their feedback to support the next stage of their development.
Middle Child are looking to commission writers with a variety of experiences, who have a meaningful connection to the city of Hull and can demonstrate why their work makes sense as part of a festival that develops grassroots work in the city.
There are different-sized commissions available, from ten-minute monologues, all the way up to a complete 70-minute play.
What you write about is up to you, but we’re looking for stories that speak to contemporary Hull. They don’t need to be set here, or about here, but they do need to say something to the people that live here.
