Playing Up is a practical ten-month part-time drama training programme that offers young people aged 19–25* who are not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) the opportunity to gain a Level 3 qualification in drama. The programme is a Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma in Theatre Arts, accredited through OCN London and delivered in partnership with United Colleges Group.
The course runs from October 2026 to July 2027 at NYT’s building on Holloway Road, London. The programme builds in intensity, beginning with two days a week from October to March, then increasing to three days a week until June, when the course runs full-time for five weeks.
Places are available to both NYT members and non-members between the ages of 19 and 25 years old, *or up to 30 for those with learning disabilities.
Priority for places is given to applicants who are not in education, secure employment or training, or those who have missed out on gaining Level 3 qualifications.
Applications are welcomed from care leavers and individuals whose challenging circumstances may have prevented them from completing Secondary School or FE education. Applications are also welcomed from those with access and support needs, refugees or asylum seekers with the right to study in the UK, and those who are underrepresented in the industry, including individuals who identify as neurodivergent, disabled, or from the Global Majority.
Ready to move beyond the script and start making your own theatre?
Theatre Makers is an intensive 8-week course where you take the lead. You’ll explore the professional process of devising a show from scratch, using your own ideas, life experiences, and imagination to build powerful, original scenes.
This is about finding your unique voice on stage. Through movement, improvisation, and collaborative storytelling, you’ll work as part of an ensemble to create theatre that actually feels real to you.
The course culminates in an informal “scratch night” performance, where you’ll showcase your devised work to an audience of friends and family in the professional atmosphere of the Roundhouse Studios.
This course is led by professional drama facilitators from the Roundhouse team including Eve Atkinson who has extensive experience in the London theatre scene. They are here to mentor you, not just teach you, ensuring the room remains a professional and inclusive space for all.
All levels are welcome. Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to build confidence or an experienced performer wanting to try your hand at devising, this course is designed to meet you where you are.
Book your place using the Enrol button at the bottom of this page.
I’M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE PART…
If you need help to pay for things like project fees, transport or childcare, we can help. Find out how you can get support. If you are using a bursary to pay for the project, please ensure you arrange this with the Advice Base with plenty of time before the start of the project.
I HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
We are committed to supporting D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people, those with medical conditions, access requirements or any lived experience that may require adaptation, support or sensitivity. If there is anything you would like to let us (our youth workers, tutors or staff) know that will support your enjoyment and access, you can do so by emailing us at advicebase@roundhouse.org.uk, and we will contact you to discuss further how to best support your engagement.
For years, the idea of “making it” in theatre has followed a familiar script: go to university or attend drama school, earn a degree and then maybe you’ll land a job.
But that’s only one version of the story.
The truth is, theatre has never had a single entry route. Many people build careers through practical experience, training on the job, and creating their own opportunities, and crucially, this doesn’t just happen in London.
Apprenticeships are one of the most accessible and structured ways to begin a career in theatre. They combine paid work with hands-on training, allowing you to learn directly from industry professionals.
Major organisations like the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet and Opera, and the Royal Shakespeare Company offer established apprenticeship schemes in areas such as technical theatre, stage management, and costume.
Outside of London, opportunities are just as valuable. Theatr Clwyd and Leeds Playhouse, for example, run programmes that focus on developing local talent and opening doors into the industry.
Apprenticeships offer:
Paid internships in theatre do exist, but they can be harder to find and are often highly competitive. They’re usually offered through specific programmes rather than widely advertised roles.
Masterclass, the Birmingham Hippodrome and Creative Access, for instance, partner with producers and theatres to provide internships that give insight into how the industry operates behind the scenes.
While not as accessible as apprenticeships, internships can still:
Not everyone wants, or needs, to commit to full-time training. Short courses offer a flexible way to develop your skills, whether that’s acting, directing, writing, or technical theatre.
Institutions like the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama offer part-time courses, but similar opportunities can often be found at regional theatres and arts centres across the UK.
These courses allow you to:
It’s easy to think of theatre as London-centric, but the UK has a rich network of regional venues creating high-quality work and supporting emerging talent.
Organisations like the Bristol Old Vic, Royal Exchange Theatre, Northern Stage, Birmingham Hippodrome, and the National Theatre of Scotland all offer development programmes, workshops, and early-career opportunities.
Starting outside London can often mean:
One of the most powerful ways into theatre is to stop waiting for permission.
Write a play. Organise a scratch night. Collaborate with other creatives. Platforms like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have launched countless careers built on self-created work.
Creating your own opportunities shows initiative and gives you something tangible to build on.
There’s no single way into theatre, and that’s what makes it such an exciting industry to be part of. Whether you choose an apprenticeship, apply for internships, take short courses, or start creating your own work, each path offers something different.
What matters is finding the route that works for you, your circumstances, your interests, and the way you learn best. Theatre needs a range of voices and experiences, and there’s space for more than one way in.
There isn't one fixed pathway. Find the route that suits you, and start there.
The Roundhouse
Are you passionate about theatre and eager to perform and transform your creative ideas into compelling stage productions? Brunel’s Theatre course will equip you with specialised skills in acting, theatre making and musical theatre while providing a robust academic foundation. This unique blend nurtures your development as a versatile artist and critical thinker.
Balancing studio practice with theory, you'll benefit from instruction by internationally renowned industry professionals and academics within specialist facilities. Teaching faculty have worked with prestigious performing arts venues such as Barbican Theatre, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Tate Modern, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and Lincoln Centre in NYC. These industry links support you throughout your journey at Brunel and beyond, for example through industry placements, guest speakers, and access to industry networks.
The course features both compulsory and optional modules that allow you to explore a range of approaches to theatre as a creative, critical, and vital force in the world.
Head to the link to read more!
BA Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway is about more than the stage. You’ll study how performance engages with big ideas like identity, politics, power, and protest.
Learn to analyse, question, and make theatre that responds to the world around you. Balancing creative practice with critical thinking, this degree equips you to grow as a confident, versatile artist – on stage and beyond.
In your first year at Royal Holloway, you’ll take part in our Skills Lab module, designed to give you career-focused learning from the start. You’ll take part in skills workshops by staff from across the university, on topics ranging from careers and academic skills to technical theatre and digital performance.
In your final year, you’ll apply your skills in industry-focused modules like Radio Drama and Theatre for Young People. These help you reflect critically and prepare for your next steps.
Launch your career in areas such as theatre, TV, education, arts management, cultural policy, and teaching.
We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Head to the link to read more!
Head to the link to read more!
We have a limited number of £10 tickets available for Under the Shadow at the Almeida Theatre.
Tickets are available from 2 April - 5 April at 7.30pm.
Click the link below to access up to 2 tickets.
They travel on the wind, just like that missile, and they only land once they find someone to possess.
Babak Anvari’s BAFTA-winning film, acclaimed as a ★★★★★ “ghostly Iranian gem” (The Observer), is reimagined by Carmen Nasr in this suspenseful stage adaptation, directed by Nadia Latif and featuring a cast led by Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie; Kaos).
When Shideh’s husband is conscripted to serve on the frontline, she is left alone with her young daughter as Tehran is bombed. As the missiles strike, something more ancient and malevolent is carried on the wind.
The world premiere adaptation of this “gripping thriller” (The Hollywood Reporter), set amid the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, explores the boundary between the rational and the irrational, and the question of whether to leave or stay.
Age Guidance: 14+
Content/Production Warnings: This production includes depictions of death, war, bombing, political oppression, and violence including against children. This production also includes flashing lights, haze, blackouts, and sudden loud noises including sirens.
Have you ever wanted to work backstage at The Old Vic?
OV Backstage will offer paid placements on an Old Vic main house production to six 18–30-year-olds from underrepresented backgrounds in the arts.
Participants will shadow industry professionals across 15 paid sessions and get hands-on experience in one of the following disciplines:
The programme starts with induction sessions and culminates with a networking session to help participants take the next steps in their careers.
Each participant will receive a fee for taking part in the programme. Additional support for travel costs is available if required.
Who is this programme for?
OV Backstage has been set up to specifically work with people who are currently underrepresented in backstage roles. This includes people from the global majority, women, those from working class backgrounds, care experienced people, neurodiverse people and disabled people. They are particularly keen to hear from people who have had limited or no access to arts opportunities in the past and are committed to identifying and resolving barriers which may ordinarily exclude young people from accessing theatre.
This programme is for those at the start or early on in their careers who can demonstrate a passion for theatre and their chosen discipline. You must have some transferable skills or prior experience. This could be gained from school, a short course, volunteering or your own self led learning. They will not accept applications from anyone with an established theatre career or who has undertaken paid work in their discipline.
Weekly open level acting classes in Camden for adults
Tuesday evenings - 7pm - 9pm - 21st of april to 23rd of june - NW3
Wednesday morning - 10am - 12.30pm - 15th April - 17th June - NW3
Friday morning - 10am - 12.30pm - 17th april - 19th of june - NW1
Pre book sessions with flexible booking
Pay what you like sliding scale - £10 - £30
contact - contact@furtherthantheedge.com or 0794168206
