We are looking for Stage Management Placements to join our team for the Spring 2026 season rehearsal period.
This opportunity will see you spend over five weeks with the Stage Management team, largely based in rehearsals, observing and contributing to the day-to-day running of the rehearsal process. You will also experience the technical rehearsal process for two new operas at the Hackney Empire, and you will be invited to attend the opening night performances at the Sheffield Lyceum, with travel and overnight accommodation paid for by English Touring Opera.
Key Dates:
Salary:
About English Touring Opera:
For over 40 years, English Touring Opera (ETO) has held a unique place in the opera industry as the only mid-scale touring company offering regional venues and thousands of audience members outstanding live productions and impactful learning and participation projects, with the largest geographical reach of any UK company, from Devon to Durham and Canterbury to Chester.
At the heart of our ethos is making exceptional artistic experiences available and accessible to everyone, through a commitment to touring ambitious programmes of high-quality, innovative opera productions that engage and inspire over 33,000 people every year. Central to ETO’s programming is our award-winning Learning and Participation Programme, which annually works with over 8,000 children and adults nationwide in schools, workshops, and community projects.
To apply:
We are looking for a Lighting Placement to join our production team for our Spring 2026 tour.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is eager to learn and gain practical skills in lighting, stage electrical work, and touring productions. You’ll work closely with our Head of Lighting, Production Electricians, and wider production team, gaining first-hand experience in a professional touring environment.
Key dates:
Salary:
About English Touring Opera:
For over 40 years, English Touring Opera (ETO) has held a unique place in the opera industry as the only mid-scale touring company offering regional venues and thousands of audience members outstanding live productions and impactful learning and participation projects, with the largest geographical reach of any UK company, from Devon to Durham and Canterbury to Chester.
At the heart of our ethos is making exceptional artistic experiences available and accessible to everyone, through a commitment to touring ambitious programmes of high-quality, innovative opera productions that engage and inspire over 33,000 people every year. Central to ETO’s programming is our award-winning Learning and Participation Programme, which annually works with over 8,000 children and adults nationwide in schools, workshops, and community projects.
To apply:
Pentabus run an annual, six month scriptwriting course for young writers aged 18 – 30 who are based in Shropshire, Wales and the West Midlands.
Through a series of in-person and online workshops, young writers are guided and supported by experienced scriptwriters and a professional director to develop a new short script. Learning and working collaboratively throughout the course, these scripts are brought to life with help from a professional creative team and ultimately performed by professional actors as part of our annual Young Writers Festival in July.
No previous experience of playwriting is necessary as this programme is aimed at young people who may not even know they’re writers yet, as well as those who have some experience of writing.
Throughout the course you will:
What is the time commitment?
There are a mixture of in-person and online sessions, spread out across 6 months.
Write Night is a series of monthly sessions for anyone interested in writing for the stage.
Sessions are on the first Thursday evening of every month, run by Soho Theatre’s own iconic Bombay-born, London-based Creative Associate Pooja Sivaraman (Clean Break, Theatre503, Coney) and award winning Walthamstow playwright Sonali Bhattacharyya (Bristol Old Vic, Young Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, BBC)
Whether you’re a total beginner or a more experienced writer, Write Night is open to everyone!
Each session will be organised around a theme and you can book them as standalone sessions, or you can book the whole lot! Totally up to you.
Sessions:
Thu 5 Jun 7pm: Idea Machine
A workshop designed to inspire new ideas and generate new material for first-time writers or anyone in the depths of writers’ block.Thu Dec 04 7pm: Rap, Rhyme and Musical Theatre
A workshop all about how to write lyrics and rhyme for musicals and gig theatre.Thu Jan 08, 7pm: Adaptation
A workshop all about adapting existing materials into a new play, from novels and films to documentary and verbatimThu Feb 05, 7pm: Structure & Hope
A workshop all about structure, how to get to the end of your draft, and writing from a place of hope.Thu Mar 05, 7pm: Writing is Rewriting
A workshop on the redrafting process and how to crack pivotal scenes.
FUSE International is a festival that offers an eclectic programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, spoken word, circus and more...
The next FUSE International will take place from 26 June – 5 July 2026. Thank you to everyone who took part in FUSE 2025!
FUSE International is an international celebration of live performance and creativity. Our programme is packed with inspiring, funny and thought-provoking shows that bring us together through live performance. With theatre, dance, comedy, cabaret, visual arts and more – there is something for everyone, and it’s all created by young and emerging artists from around the world.
The festival replaces the International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) which has taken place each summer since 2009. Over 80 events across film, music, theatre, visual arts and more take place over the ten days of the festival which is curated and presented by charity Creative Youth.
The Rep's acclaimed artist development programme, Foundry, is back - with a bold new focus!
You asked, we listened – and have reimagined Foundry in a way that provides deeper support for writers in the region, putting the craft of playwrighting at the heart of a new generation of writers ready to make their mark.
This year, we are placing writers centre stage. Over 12 months, Foundry will champion, nurture and support three emerging playwrights from the West Midlands – artists with distinctive voices that are underrepresented in the industry, whose stories need the space and time to grow.
Whether it’s shaping your first full-length play or refining your process, Foundry is here to help you sharpen your craft and write with confidence.
In addition, Foundry will provide a unique deep dive into what it really takes to bring your work from idea to page and prepare for the stage. The three selected writers will gain inside access to the Rep – the largest producing theatre in the West Midlands – and learn about the producing process, as well as how they can shape their stories for regional audiences and beyond.
You will work closely with the Rep’s artistic team, receiving one-to-one dramaturgical support, practical writing workshops, and dedicated time to explore, develop, and write. At the end of the Foundry process, there will be a rehearsed reading of your work, as well as guidance on writing a funding application if you wish to take your work further after the 12 months.
Foundry is designed not only to support you with writing a script but also to help equip you, the writer, with the tools and knowledge to navigate the theatre sector. You will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Rep-produced productions, gaining insight into how work is developed, as well as access to workshops across various departments, including marketing, producing, creative learning, artistic, and more. Industry masterclasses will provide you with practical advice on navigating the sector, pitching your work with confidence and clarity, and how to build and shape a career that is sustainable.
As a Foundry Artist, you will receive:
Are you passionate about creating characters, worlds and scenes? Do you have a big idea for a theatre script but don’t know how to go about it? Would you like guidance on script writing and storytelling from leading industry professionals?
Script School is a 3-month theatre writing programme for young people aged 19-30* in London who are unemployed or underemployed, and not in education, and do not have a GCSE, A Level or foundation/degree in Drama and performing arts.
Script School is a Level 2, 3-month theatre writing course, run by National Youth Theatre in partnership with UCG (United Colleges Group). Participants work to gain an OCN London Region Level 2 Extended Certificate in Theatre Writing and Storytelling.
Places are available to both NYT members and non-members.
If you have experienced physical, systemic, or attitudinal barriers to accessing the arts, you can extend your opportunity to take part in NYT opportunities including Script School
Examples of people who may have faced barriers to accessing the arts include disabled people, care leavers, young carers, asylum seekers/refugees, people with experience of homelessness, people with experience of the criminal justice system.
NYT has a broad understanding of disability which includes those who are: neurodiverse, chronically ill, have a learning disability, a mental health condition or who are at higher risk from COVID. You might not have thought of yourself as disabled before, but if you experience barriers because of how your body or mind works, you can apply for a membership extension.
The Course will run from the week commencing 23rd February 2026 until the week ending 29th May 2026.
Lessons will be every Monday and Tuesday in person at National Youth Theatre. The hours for these lessons will be 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. There will also be a shorter online Zoom session that will be every Thursday from 5:30 PM-7PM.
Applications for SYC 2026 are now open!
Storyhouse Young Company (SYC) is a FREE acting training programme for 18–25-year-olds who are interested in performing.
SYC is a 2-phased programme offering 16 weekly training sessions of practical workshop and masterclasses with professional artists. Followed by an intensive 4 week rehearsal and production period with a leading professional director.
SYC is designed to give you the opportunity to develop your theatre and performance skills. You will be supported by a team of professional artists with a wealth of experience in the industry to make a show to be presented in our theatre spaces.
When do sessions happen?
The programme will start in January 2026 with weekly training sessions every Tuesday evening. The 4-Week Rehearsal phase will begin in May with rehearsals happening every night (Monday-Friday).
Do I need to have experience?
You do not need to have experience to apply. SYC is a training programme and an opportunity to gain performance skills and experience.
How many people do you recruit to SYC?
We recruit between 13-16 young people per year to join SYC.
Application Process
Auditions will be on Monday 15 & Tuesday 16 December 2025.
Sustaining a freelance career in the creative industries means more than just talent, it’s about knowing how to navigate an ever-changing sector, where to find opportunities, and how to turn ideas into income. That’s where our fully funded Skills Bootcamp comes in.
Over several weeks, you’ll gain the insight, confidence, and practical tools to strengthen your business foundations and build a more resilient freelance practice. Designed specifically for creative freelancers, this programme helps you develop the skills, mindset, and strategies to thrive, not just survive.
Key Information:
Dates: Monday 12th Jan, Wednesdays 21st - 11th Feb, then half term break followed by Wednesday 25th Feb - 18th March
Duration: 1 day a week for 9 weeks, 10am to 5pm (with breaks)
Venue: Central Bristol, TBC
Full Fee: Free
Level: Level 4
The brand-new series of In Dialogue - the podcast for emerging artists, is now here. Whether you’re an aspiring theatre-maker, performer, writer, director or producer, then this one’s for you.
Across four episodes, these five artists dive into topics like nailing your audition, building creative partnerships, touring as a performer and producing autobiographical work.
If you're looking to elevate your creativity and your career, make sure to tune in – this is one series you won’t want to miss!
First episode is now available to stream, search Scottish Youth Theatre wherever you get your podcasts or use the link in the bio to listen now.
