Are you interested in exploring set and costume design for the stage? Are you aged between 16 and 19? Then our free seven-week course Introduction to Stage Design could be for you!

In weekly sessions you will:

• take part in a variety of workshops and masterclasses gaining practical hands-on experience in the art of design for the stage.
• explore and develop your skills and understanding of the creative process, including the interrelated disciplines of prop making, working at scale, model making, costume as well as the stage designers’ relationship with other creatives and artists.

The course will culminate in an exhibition opening in our Wolfson Gallery at the National Theatre on 7 April 2026 (time to be confirmed). The exhibition will be open to the general public from Wednesday 8 April to June 2026.

The course is free to take part in and takes place at the National Theatre, on London’s South Bank. Access support and travel bursaries are available to those in the Greater London area.

Who is this course for?

• The course is suitable for anyone interested in art, painting, design, craft, making or fashion.
• No formal training is required but you may have undertaken a GCSE, A Level, BTEC or other qualification in Art, Design, Graphics, Fashion, Textiles or CDT.
• This opportunity takes place at the National Theatre on the South Bank in London, and therefore we aim to offer and prioritise places to those based in London, or who can travel to London easily and safely throughout the programme.

This course is not suitable for anyone who is currently enrolled on or who has completed an art foundation or undergraduate art degree.

We are committed to diversity and access by prioritising engaging young people that we recognise are currently underrepresented in stage design:

• Young people who identify as trans and/or non-binary
• Young people from the Global Majority
• Young people from working class backgrounds
• Young people who identify as D/deaf or disabled

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 29^th 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.

Are you aged 21-25? Do you live, work or study in Lambeth or Southwark? Are you interested in leadership within the Theatre industry?

If this sounds like something you are interested in, the application form to join our Artistic Leadership Lab is now LIVE! 

This five-week programme is designed for young people aged 21-25 who are passionate about theatre and keen to develop as future leaders. Focusing on leadership in the arts, participants will explore the core skills required to lead effectively, discover their own strengths and leadership style, and learn how to communicate and deliver a creative vision. Participants will gain practical insight into the steps involved in turning artistic ideas into reality whilst receiving 1-1 mentoring and the opportunity to pitch an idea to industry professionals.

On our programme you will: 

• Build your artistic confidence and develop core leadership skills essential for leading effectively within the arts and creative industries. Discover your personal leadership style, gaining confidence in your strengths and identifying areas for growth. 
• Learn how to articulate and deliver a creative vision, from concept to realisation. 
• Receive 1-to-1 mentoring throughout the programme 
• The opportunity to pitch an idea to industry professionals, gaining practical insight and feedback from experienced theatre leaders. 

Please see below the key dates to take part in this programme:

Wednesday 14th January 2026 – 18:00-20:30 
Wednesday 21st January 2026 – 18:00-20:30 
Wednesday 28th January 2026 – 11:00-16:00 
Wednesday 4th February 2026 – 18:00-20:30 
Wednesday 11th February 2026 – 11:00-16:00 

A travel bursary is available for this programme. 

Clean Break’s Creative Facilitation training focuses on using theatre practices to safely bring creativity into women only groups and spaces.

Participants will gain the tools they need to deliver theatre workshops with people who have experienced trauma, or to bring creative interventions to their group work or 1-to-1 sessions with clients.

Benefits of the training session

Clean Break’s Creative Facilitation training focuses on using theatre practices to safely bring creativity into women only groups and spaces.

Participants will gain the tools they need to deliver theatre workshops with people who have experienced trauma, or to bring creative interventions to their group work or 1-to-1 sessions with clients.

Who is this training for?

This one-day training is for anyone who works with, or is interested in working with people in challenging or vulnerable circumstances, and wants to safely bring creativity into their practice. You could be a groupworker, facilitator, theatre maker, or frontline practitioner of any kind.

What the training covers

Through a mixture of interactive exercises, group work and discussion, our Creative Facilitation training provides participants with the space to build their confidence as facilitators and develop a rich toolkit to improve their practice. This session covers:

• Clean Break’s approach: Understand the foundational principles that drive Clean Break’s work.
• Safer Spaces: Develop your approach to holding spaces from Clean Break’s trauma-informed practice.
• Boundary Setting: Learn effective techniques for setting and maintaining boundaries.
• Inclusive practice: Build an anti-oppressive framework for holding women-only spaces.
• Challenging Situations: Develop and rehearse the skills to navigate challenging situations with women in vulnerable circumstances.
• Unlocking Potential: Explore transformative creative exercises designed to support women in reaching their full potential.

Why Clean Break

For over four decades, Clean Break has been working creatively with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system or who are at risk of entering it. The only organisation of its kind, we use tools from the world of theatre to help women build confidence, self-esteem and gain new skills.

Our work in the theatre, criminal justice and women’s sectors gives us a valuable and unique perspective on the power creativity holds to change lives, when practiced safely by trained facilitators.

Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Backstage Roadshow will take a series of FREE backstage skills workshops directly into UK state schools, introducing children and young people to the variety of creative pathways and career opportunities that exist within theatre, live events, television and film.

Led by industry professionals and designed by the School’s Production Arts staff, the Backstage Roadshow will take professional equipment into schools to provide a crucial insight into one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors and inspire young people to train and work in the creative industries.

Our team will also be offering full technical support to two primary school productions each year, bringing our lighting, sound, and stage management equipment, along with staff to help run your show.

How it works

The Backstage Roadshow will run for the Academic Years of 2024/25 and 2025/26, with support offered for one Primary School production in December and one in June or July.

What do we bring to your school?

• One lead facilitator and one workshop assistant to run each session. 
• Workshops designed for up to eight students per session, lasting 2-3 hours.
• For multiple workshops, one Project Manager to co-ordinate our staff.
• All equipment needed for each session.
• Transport of equipment to and from your venue.
• All of our staff complete an Enhanced DBS check.
• Public Liability, Employers Liability, and Professional Indemnity Insurance of up to £10,000,000.
• Full risk assessments for all activities (supplied upon request).

For workshops, please complete your expression of interest via this form.

Shortlisted schools will be contacted for an online meeting to discuss the options, prior to a site-visit being arranged ahead of any firm offer for the Backstage Roadshow to visit.

Primary schools, please register here.

British American Drama Academy (BADA)

Bold Theatre

Delve deep into the Gonsalves Method - a Meisner inspired acting approach. Add effective and speedy character discovery to your toolkit, experience continuous presence and attention and learn how to make the most out of your impulses and senses.

An opportunity for actors to revisit their training and keep warm.

Running weekly every Tuesday evening - Nov 4, Nov 11, Nov 18, Nov 25, Dec 2, Dec 9 at 7pm-9pm.

LOCATION

Moya Jane Productions:

Studio 104, Platform Studios (West), 107-117 Morning Ln,

London E9 6ND

PRICE

£8.50 per session OR

£46 all Labs access

London Musical Theatre Orchestra

Quick-fire scratch nights for adventurous new writing in theatre and performance! The Scrap is an open-access night for writers, actors and directors to try out new ideas, meet one another, and showcase their work in front of an audience. Live music, good drinks, and cool new theatre.

Here we're looking for companies or ensembles to present a short work or excerpt from a piece they've been developing independently - usually about 25 minutes, max 30. These would be pieces that already have a team attached, and which have undergone development, rehearsal, and more thorough preparation. We usually programme one or two scratches per Scrap.

We're looking for work (or an excerpt) that is 20 - 30 minutes in length, that has a team already attached, and has undergone some previous workshopping (but which hasn't received a full-scale production).

We try to place no strictures on form, content, genre, team or style for our scratches: absolute minimal gatekeeping. All we ask is that you be adventurous and try something new!