Applications are now open for our annual development lab for new work from solo (or duo) theatremakers. 

Working alone or in pairs can be hard. Starting Blocks helps with that.

Starting Blocks connects and supports artists who have new, experimental ideas that need development. It invites artists to make a home at CPT for ten weeks, introduces them to others on the same journey, and supports them to realise their creative ideas as ambitiously, and in as supportive and fun an environment, as possible.

In recent years, Rachel Mars’ hit show The Way You Tell Them, Louise Orwin’s Pretty Ugly, Haley McGee’s The Ex Boyfriend Yard Sale and 2018 Underbelly Untapped Award-winner Queens of Sheba by Nouveau Riche have all started life on Starting Blocks and gone on to national and international tours, four and five star reviews, with extended runs at CPT and beyond. Some of our last cohort have now been programmed for longer-running shows this autumn season. 

We will support 5 or 6 solo artists, or pairs of artists, across the programme. Each project will receive:

• A £1000 cash commission, paid up front
• Approx 9 days of free rehearsal space, across 11 weeks (1 day/week)
• Weekly creative discussion meetings with the other Starting Block artists on Friday mornings 10:30-12:00
• Creative, producing and marketing support and 1:1 time with the CPT team
• A slot to share what you’ve been working on, at a CPT Starting Blocks showcase as part of our 2026 SPRINT Festival