Extant is delighted to be offering a Thinker-in-Residence (Internship) as part of the Get Set Progress scheme.

Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences, placing visually impaired people at the centre of all it does: from the productions we create, to the artists we support, to the audiences we perform to and the participants we work with. Extant is an award-winning company and are funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation as well as several trusts and foundations.

Since our inception in 1997 we have produced 8 ground-breaking national/international theatre productions led by visually impaired artists, including pioneering work on 3 site-specific and multi-sensory productions. We have developed 11 visually impaired-led Associate Artist productions since 2016, and our pioneering Pathways programme was the first programme in the UK to support emerging visually impaired artists. We have supported the career development of over 250 visually impaired artists, and our ongoing programme of training, participation and access consultancy provides a 360 approach of interlinked activity for visually impaired participants, audiences and artists.

As an Education and Community Intern, you will support with the administration and delivery of our Take the Lead programme.

Take the Lead is a free employability programme from The Old Vic for students in years 11–13 that uses theatre techniques and creative workshops to build on five core skills: communication, self-management, self-belief, teamwork and problem-solving.

Are you a female or non-binary identifying creative aged 20-25? Ever struggled to have your voice heard? Would you like to harness your voice as an instrument and empower yourself as an artist?

In this practical voice workshop, we’ll be exploring the impact of vocal technique and agency in Suzie Miller’s brand-new play: Inter Alia.

This masterclass is free to take part in. No prior experience is necessary, just an interest in voice work; so come ready to use your voice.

As part of the event, you will receive a free ticket to see the production on the same evening.

ZooNation is offering a paid placement opportunity on our upcoming production Ebony Scrooge, at Sadler’s Wells East, as a part of our Behind The Scenes Initiative. The initiative aims to support Black and Global Majority talent in creative and backstage theatre roles, who are currently underrepresented in the sector. 

For Ebony Scrooge the placement offered is within the Costume team, learning from and supporting our Costume Designer and Costume Supervisor. 

The placement will take place across 15 sessions, which may vary between full days and split days. Within this placement, you will receive hands on experience of working on a main stage production with ZooNation. 

In order to apply please send a letter (max 1 A4) OR a short video or audio submission (max 1 minute) explaining why you are interested in this programme. Please include details of any relevant experience or transferrable skills you have to date. 

Successful applicants will be invited to a Zoom chat with members of the team, where we can get to know you better and discuss the role in more detail. After this time, one applicant will be invited to join the programme. 

Application deadline 25  July at 5pm

Want to learn how a multi-artform venue develops, supports, and delivers its artistic programme while growing and engaging its audiences? This 6-month placement offers a meaningful and enriching introduction to arts administration, audience development, and creative producing on a part-time basis.

The Audience and Artist Engagement Placement will support Shoreditch Town Hall’s cultural programme, marketing campaigns and live events through a variety of administrative, producing, and communications tasks. The role will rotate across departments and is designed to offer broad insight into how creative projects are delivered, communicated and experienced in a professional arts venue.

The trainee will rotate across key teams (marketing, cultural programme, events, and operations) and undertake tasks that range from project coordination and artist support to content creation and audience engagement. They will attend team meetings, help coordinate artist initiatives such as our rehearsal space schemes, and contribute to audience development campaigns and blog content. This placement aims to equip the trainee with practical skills, confidence, and clarity about career pathways in the arts, particularly arts marketing, cultural programming and events.

An uproariously inaccurate portrayal of a party amidst the smallpox epidemic in 1810 England

The show is a mix of scripted and improvised dramedy that explores what happens when a group of young people in the regency era decide to get together for a night of debaucherous fun. However, their night of fun quickly spirals into a night of gossip and shortly after a night of full-on chaos, courtesy of a government-enforced quarantine in response to a smallpox epidemic. Let’s see if these young people can get a grip!

Dates: 11 - 24 August

Time: 12:35 - 13:20

Age Suitability: 14+

For three days every month, Playspace allows a different artist or team access to space at Birmingham Hippodrome to explore an idea with no pressure to create a piece of work.

Playspace is aimed at West Midlands theatre creatives and offers:

Some examples of what artists have used Playspace for (you don’t need to necessarily fit neatly into one of these!):

 Applications are now open for the below slots:

Application Deadline: Sunday 27 July, 12pm

This dynamic and intensive course takes place across four terms in a full calendar year. It is designed for those aged 21 and over who can discover and realise their potential as a creative artist over a year of training. You will be taught in group classes, developing your professionalism, collaboration and technical skill through ensemble learning and individual tutorials.

We expect you to be bold and fearless in your willingness to understand yourself and be prepared to be open and curious whilst experimenting with new methods of working. Throughout your training you will have opportunities to collaborate with leading directors, writers and producers.

The year culminates in London where you will perform in London venues to the public and to an invited industry audience. On completion of the course, you will be awarded Equity membership.

Graduates of this course include Tanya Reynolds, Babou Ceesay, Jude Owusu, Claire Foy and Richard Gadd.

Are you a current or aspiring disabled backstage or offstage worker? We want to hear from you! 

Cue Backstage is BOP’s new three-year development project aiming to develop talent, create opportunities and employment. 

As part of Cue Backstage, we are looking for current and aspiring disabled backstage or offstage workers to get involved. There will be lots of opportunities over the next three years, but right now we are looking to speak to disabled people who would be interested in being involved in a steering group for the whole project. This will likely involve attending four paid meetings a year, which will be online or hybrid.  At these meetings, you would give feedback and input on the project and its plans. Being part of the steering group would not stop you from taking part in further aspects of the project you may be interested in.

The programme will take place over three Saturday’s in June 2025, curated by Emma Jones, one of Scotland’s leading Lighting Designers. The workshops will be facilitated by Lighting Designers who will share their own stories and experience. There will also be time to ask questions and engage in discussions with the presenters, to seek advice and learn from their journeys and experiences in the industry. 

Participants developed an understanding of professional processes and potential career paths while building practical skills and increasing confidence. 

The programme sessions take place on:

Read me aloud