This year's Optimist Summer 2025 course is suitable for emerging producers, artists, and creative practitioners who are hoping to develop their skills as professional producers, or as a producer of their own work, in the subsidised arts sector.
Drawing on China Plate’s extensive experience and real examples in theatre producing, The Optimists provides knowledge and insight on the practicalities of making, funding, touring, and promoting your work.
The Optimists course is led by China Plate, with the support of guest industry experts and speakers.
The course is open to participants nationwide, and those working across different art forms (e.g., dance, live art, spoken word, etc.) but has a particular focus on producing and touring live work in the theatre industry.
Sessions: 10 in-person sessions taking place over 7 weeks
Dates: Between Saturday 14 June and Saturday 2 August 2025
Location: Venues across the West Midlands
Spaces: For up to 20 participants
Costs:
Bursaries are available, covering the full cost of the course, to those who have faced prejudice, discrimination and/or cultural barriers due to factors including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
Deadline for applications is 12pm (midday) on Friday 23 May
Please visit our website for more information about the course, including application guidelines and details on how to apply. Accessible formats are available, including BSL & captioned and audio introductions about the course, alongside large print formats.
If you have any questions, please contact our Training & Development Producer, Kristina through the email address shared below.
Starting now, Tanio's Open Mic Night is moving to the first Wednesday of every month!
Join us for a fully accessible, LGBTQ+, and neuro-diverse friendly event. Come along and play us a song or watch some great performers!
Upcoming Dates:
Time: 6:30pm - 9pm
Location: Tanio HQ, Bettws, Bridgend CF32 8SU
Free entry for ages
A series of workshops for anyone aged 16 to 21, equipping participants with the skills to collaborate, create and perform both as individuals and a part of an ensemble.
Rooted in the Burnt Orange ensemble philosophy and inspired by Open World Facilitation, Makers' sessions are responsive and reactive, adapting to suit the needs, interests and passions of participants. Each session you will have the opportunity to explore performing, scripted work, writing, devising, directing and any other role that may be of interest.
We will host a showcase at the end of term to celebrate the work created by participants.
Sessions are hosted on May 4, May 18 and June 1
If the cost would be a barrier to participation, contact the Burnt Orange team through the email address shared below for a free bursary place.
A free, four-day intensive theatre-making experience designed for actors, writers, and directors who are ready to push their creative boundaries.
Guided by our core team, you'll be placed into small interdisciplinary teams including a writer, director and up to 5 actors, taking ownership of the creative process. You will explore different styles and techniques, generate material and refine your work through rehearsal, development and collaboration.
Over four days you'll build a brand new piece of theatre, take part in workshops hosted by external practitioners, and develop your personal toolkit.
Masterclass is a fast-paced, high-energy experience, offering professional development, creative risk-taking, and an exciting opportunity to meet and collaborate with like-minded artists.
The course will take place on May 27-30, from 10am-4pm in Hammersmith.
Join us for a fantastic evening filled with joy, birthday drinks, fun games and mingling at EXTERIOR: StageBase's First Birthday Party!
Whether you're an actor, crew member, or theatre enthusiast, this is your chance to celebrate this milestone with us and mates who share your love for the stage. Whether you were here for our first steps or are about to join us for our next, we'd love to see you there!
Date: May 19 2025, Monday
Time: 7pm - 11:30pm
Venue: Barrio, 141-143 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JE
Tickets: PWYW*
*If the cost is a barrier to your attendance, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to accommodate that. If you need to enquire about a refund, get in touch.
** Entry fee is solely used to cover the venue cost and all remaining money will be invested in our next development programme.
BBC Contains Strong Language are looking for the best emerging spoken word talent in the UK
Contains Strong Language, the BBC’s festival of poetry and performance, are looking to find the best emerging spoken word performers in the UK. Whatever your influences – lyricism, rap or hip hop – we want to know about you!
If you’re a spoken word artist, a rapper, an MC, poet or performer, and aged between 18 and 30 – Words First is for you.
Words First is a talent development scheme which will enhance your spoken word skills and confidence onstage. Selected artists will be given the chance to develop their work with established artists in workshops run by Apples and Snakes and Young Identity. Following this, shortlisted participants will be invited to take part in a recorded performance at the Contains Strong Language Festival in Bradford this September in front of a live audience.
Are you an aspiring musician looking to start creating and performing your own music? Do you want to learn how to produce tracks, rehearse with others, and grow your confidence as a performer?
This course is the perfect starting point to help you explore your musical creativity, gain essential industry knowledge, and develop your skills in music performance and production.
This hands-on, practical course helps you build a portfolio of original music and live performance work. You’ll learn how to take control of your music, from developing song ideas to recording and performing them. You’ll also collaborate with others, gain feedback on your work, and begin to understand how the music industry operates. We’ll guide you through key aspects of artist development, help you understand your creative rights, and teach you how to present yourself professionally in both live and recorded settings.
Take Art is offering a unique and rewarding career development opportunity for an emerging creative professional with a passion for working with very young children
You'll be part of the inspiring Little People Big Ideas project - a national programme championing the creativity of 2-4-year-olds. Based in person across West Dorset and South/West Somerset, this role involves travel to rural settings and includes shadowing, mentoring, and hands-on training with experienced early years creative practitioners.
You'll gain practical skills in planning and delivering creative sessions, build confidence in working with both children and adults, and deepen your understanding of child-centred practice and early years education working alongside two experienced Take Art early years creative practitioners. This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to expand their existing early years or creative practice, or for anyone curious about a new career pathway in the arts or education sectors. You'll also have free access to relevant Take Art CPD sessions throughout the contract. If you're motivated, curious, and eager to learn in a supportive, creative environment-this could be the perfect next step for you.
The Royal Ballet and Opera continues to lead the way in opera, ballet, music and dance both live on stage and through multiple digital platforms, from live streaming to worldwide cinema screenings. We want to encourage fresh, passionate new talent into the building and our apprenticeship scheme plays a big part in that!
This year we are offering an Apprenticeship in Props Carpentry. The role is for a fixed-term contract for 2 years, full-time (42.5 hours per week) and based at the Royal Ballet and Opera's Home, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.
The apprenticeship will be split between the RBO and the Building Crafts College, Stratford. You will study for a Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Standard.
You will earn National Living Wage which will increase by 2.5% after successfully completing the first year. Apprentices are expected to use this to pay for their own travel to work and college. College fees will also be paid by the Royal Ballet and Opera.
We are excited to announce that we'll be running 5 nationwide design drop-in sessions throughout May to kick off the 2025 Linbury Prize programme.
The sessions are free the attend and open to anyone interested in a career in stage design. They are an opportunity to discuss the process of applying to the Linbury Prize, compiling a portfolio, and more general design career advice.
