This September, The Quay Theatre is re-launching its Youth Theatre groups, providing weekly drama workshops for young people aged seven to 15 years.

The new groups provide an exciting opportunity for local young people to engage with the craft of theatre in a professional space, with a focus on all manner of acting skills, as well as collaboration and creative communication.

The aim is to give young people somewhere they can feel safe to explore their creative expression - and have plenty of fun too!

Attendees will also have the opportunity to perform in The Quay Theatre itself, taking full advantage of its extensive professional facilities. Their termly showcase will be fully kitted out with lights, sound, costumes and more – a great experience for budding creatives.

Mortal Fools Youth Theatre is open to young people aged 5–19 years. We run weekly Youth Theatre groups, split by age in Ashington. 

At Mortal Fools, we focus on supporting children and young people’s creativity, wellbeing, and self-belief, using the medium of drama. We believe youth theatre can be a brilliant a vehicle to help young people to build their confidence and skills, support their mental heath, and to make sense of the world around them.

There are no auditions, no drama experience necessary, and no fees (although donations are welcome!). All we ask for is a willingness to give things a go, passion for performing, and lots of curious creativity.

Apply your passion and complete your training at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – we offer drama school level training to mould you into a versatile actor and help you launch your career. 

Our BA (Hons) Acting is designed to develop you practically, personally and professionally and prepare you for this challenging industry. We have carefully designed a contemporary course that will train you for a creative career in front of a stage, screen or radio audience. You will receive specialist training in voice, movement and singing, graduating with the skill and aptitude to take on the exciting and dynamic world of the dramatic arts.

This course equips you with the skills you need to become a professional actor; continually stretching and challenging you to reach new levels of personal achievement and self-discovery. As a vocational actor training course, full commitment and attendance would be expected.

If you love theatre and film, you can study them both in depth on the only course of its kind in Scotland. The innovative BA (Hons) in Theatre and Film combines theory and practice to prepare you for a flourishing career in the creative industries.

And… ACTION! Film and theatre are thriving industries, creatively and commercially. This course will give you the confidence and skills you need to enter careers in theatre, film, teaching, and professions demanding communication and creativity. You will be able to forge your own career path, taking full advantage of a course that is flexible to fit your needs.

Through in-house productions, industry based placements and hands-on training, you’ll learn all relevant skills relating to the work of the production technician in theatre, events, film and TV.

With technology at its core, this course offers practical, hands-on training in a variety of high-end lighting, sound, and video systems – skills that are in high demand for the theatre, events, film and television industries in Wales and across the rest of the UK.

You’ll have classes given by leading professionals operating at the top of their field, alongside several production placements, both based at the College and with our industry partners here in Wales.

With your placements, developing your expertise for a technical career in the creative industries is only one part of it. These experiences will also help you to build communication and team working skills that are essential to thriving in collaborative environments.

After graduation, you could take on roles such as a production electrician, lighting technician or programmer, sound and system engineer, video operator or programmer, among many more.

Masterclass is offering a paid, three-month internship for an aspiring Theatre Technician, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This is a hands-on opportunity for those interested in electrics and / or carpentry to gain backstage experience in a professional theatre.

You’ll work full-time alongside experienced in-house electrical and carpentry teams, supported by Masterclass. During this 13-week placement, you’ll develop essential skills in lighting, rigging and carpentry, with the flexibility to focus on your interests.

This internship is for those at the start of their career or looking for a first step into theatre. Prior theatre experience is not required, but candidates must have basic skills in carpentry, electrics or sound, and a strong interest in theatre and live events.

Ideal candidates will:

Eligibility:

 

We’re pleased to announce that Arts and Homelessness International (AHI) in collaboration with One Roof ODAC will be starting regular scratch nights to be held at Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC). The first event will take place on Friday 12th September 2025.

A scratch night is an event where artists/creatives with lived experience of homelessness can show work that is still in progress. This might be a song, a poem, a fragment of a play, or a visual artwork that isn’t yet finished. It’s a space to try things out, to explore, and to begin conversations around work that’s still forming.

These scratch nights are open to artists/creatived with lived experience as well as AHI & One Roof ODAC communities with lived experience of homelessness, creating a safe and supportive environment for artists/creatives at different stages of their careers to share and discuss their work. Discussion will play a huge part in these events.

We are especially keen for creatives and artists with lived experience of homelessness to attend; whether as performers or audience members as your voices and perspectives are at the heart of this programme.

All conversations will be guided by the Critical Response Process developed by artist Liz Lerman. This is a kind and supportive structure for group discussion, enabling valuable feedback from the audience without overwhelming artists with harsh criticism or unhelpful praise. It’s about going deeper, helping artists learn more about their own work and the processes of others.

Each night will feature three or four artists. The work could take many forms—performance, visual sketches, ideas, a few lines of a poem or song lyrics. After each presentation, there’ll be a structured discussion, and then we’ll move on to the next artist.

The atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, with plenty of opportunities to socialise and enjoy refreshments.We hope this scratch nights will become a regular feature of our community calendar—an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and support each other, artistically and socially.

Applications are now open for the 2025-26 cohort of the Bridge the Gap Producer Programme! 

Apply to be one of 10 emerging producers from underrepresented backgrounds to take part in this year long development programme; gaining skills in commercial producing through monthly workshops, a mentor, coaching sessions, tickets to shows, access to grants and more!

Deadline: 12 noon on Friday 9 May

Apply online via our website.

Not sure if it's for you? Find out some more info in our Should I Apply? guide.

Stage One created Bridge the Gap to diversify the current field of commercial theatre producers and therefore strongly encourages individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and outside of London to apply. We want to support people from a Global Majority background, who identify as working class or from a lower socio-economic background, are LGBTQIA+, those that have a disability and/or are neurodivergent and/or those from a culturally or religiously Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh background.

Free space to share film and digital projects.

Applications for Delivision are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Theatre Deli is inviting artists to project work onto the screen in the communal area of their Leadenhall Street venue. This is an unpaid opportunity, offering artists a platform to share their work with other creatives.

Your work can be on any theme or subject.

See our Accessibility Guide for information about access in our venue. 

We particularly welcome applications from marginalised and underrepresented groups. We welcome applications from artists based in the UK and abroad.

When starting my training, back in 2019, I was yet to come out as trans. I was proudly a part of the queer community but hadn’t come to terms with my gender. Growing up in Somerset, my childhood wasn’t one that was surrounded by queer people; that really changed overnight when I moved to London at 19. It felt as though there were more queer people than not. Not long into my 2nd year during theatre training, I began using they/them pronouns - this was the start of my gender journey.

The trans experience in drama schools

Throughout my time at drama school, I believe I stood as someone who really advocated for positive change in all areas of the training, so when I started to come out, I made sure to continue to do so. Things were inclusive at the school I trained in but, like most places, they still had work to do.  Dance classes, historically, have been routed in ‘boys do this’ and ‘girls do that’ - so when you’re going through the process of working out who you are, hearing phrases that instantly whack you in a box that you don’t want to be in can be really hard.

Starting conversations and asking questions is a great place to start. Gendered toilets, wording in emails, dance uniforms - small things that can make a big difference. I was lucky enough to have constant open dialogue with the head of the drama school I went to - she always listened and sometimes ran things by me. Change usually happens when a majority disagree with something. If there are things that you don’t like or don’t agree with, speak to your peers. The more voices you have, the better. When it came to the 2nd Year musical, I wrote to the head of the school and said that I’d like to be given the chance to audition for one of the male leads - I was listened to, given the opportunity, and was cast in the role. People aren’t always reluctant to change, some just aren’t aware that it needs to happen!

Trans experience as a theatre graduate

Breaking into the industry as a graduate is hard. By the time I had done my first professional job, I was out as gender queer, but was still on a journey of self-discovery. I carried my attitude from drama school into the professional world; I wanted to be a part of the small group of trans people who were slowly changing and challenging the industry. I was lucky enough to sign with a wonderful agent who made it clear from our first conversation that they would be 100% up for supporting my journey as a performer and as a human being. Since signing with them I have been seen for roles that I never even thought I’d get in the room for, purely down to our working relationship. I am always honest with them if I feel something isn’t right for me and I always tell them when I think I’m right for something!

One thing that I always stand by is that being your authentic self only aids your performance ability. Easier said than done. When you walk into an audition knowing exactly who you are, it reads. When you are comfortable in yourself, you are your most relaxed. In my experience, this can lead to your best work!

I often reflect on how lucky I am to be in arguably the most accepting and inclusive industry when it comes to difference. It is far from perfect, but the majority of the industry is moving in a positive direction. I think that the acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community within the performance industry has aided the speed of my coming out process. I am lucky to currently be in a job that celebrates differences. The cast of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory are incredible and I’m grateful to be spending the next year and a half with them while we tour! We are a massively diverse group of humans who all celebrate each other. I feel very safe at work. I feel allowed to be authentically myself without fear of backlash or hate. I feel comfortable to be a proud trans man. As much as this should be the norm, I recognise that I am very privileged to feel this way!

Top tips for navigating the industry as a trans person

Here are some of my top tips for fellow trans people who might be worried about training:

Find more theatre careers advice here

Published: 07/12/2022

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