Life in a Northern Town is a partnership between Northern Broadsides, Barnsley Civic, Blackpool Grand Theatre and The Customs House and is supported by Arts Council England.

We are passionate about two things: stories and the North. We believe that the future of theatre starts with new voices – and we want to hear yours. We’d love to hear from a diverse range of people; from anyone who has ever thought about writing a play.

If you are selected to be part of the cohort, you’ll get:

- The time and space to develop your own short play

- Online and/or in person creative writing workshops led by professional playwrights

- An in-person residency in April 2024, with the opportunity to share your work with peers

(3rd – 5th April 2024 for Northern Broadsides and Barnsley Civic groups.

5th – 7th April 2024 for The Customs House and Blackpool Grand Theatre groups.)

- The chance to see your play come to life, performed by professional actors.

This new programme supports the creativity of young people across four corners of the North, develops work by new artists, and provides a ladder into the theatre industry for upcoming talent.

If you are aged 16-19 living in the North of England, you can apply to Northern Broadsides.