New work is at the heart of the Everyman & Playhouse – and the Playwrights’ Programme is part of our mission to nurture, empower and champion the next generation of writers in Liverpool. 

It’s a free, ten-month programme led by our New Works Associate, and offers a mixture of facilitated and peer-directed sessions, masterclasses with experienced playwrights, and watching performances – whilst supporting you to complete a draft of a new full-length play. 

The Playwrights’ Programme is an opportunity for you to: 

• develop your playwriting craft, with sessions tailored to the interests of the group (e.g. structure, form and politics, world-building) 
• read, analyse and discuss a broad range of scripts – from contemporary classics to the most urgent, innovative work being staged today 
• build a close peer-group of playwrights, to share and read work, and give/receive constructive feedback 
• write a new, full-length play with ongoing dramaturgical support from the Everyman & Playhouse team 

You’ll also: 

• attend masterclasses with leading artists 
• work with professional directors and actors 
• learn about reading processes for open submissions and playwriting prizes 
• have access to our script library 
• get to see Everyman & Playhouse productions for £5 (or less!). 

Does your child or young person experience disability and/or neurodivergence? Go and visit Theatre Porto on a Sunday afternoon whilst they are are closed to the public…

24 November and 29 December

2pm - 5pm

Go and visit Theatre Porto on a Sunday afternoon whilst they are closed to the public, but specifically open for families with those children who need a space to relax, play and engage with their creative and sensory sides.

To find out more and help organise your visit, get in touch with Natasha - Theatre Porto's Access and Pastoral Lead via the email address below.

Are you interested in lighting, sound, video and automation? Are you aged between 13–19? Then our technical theatre workshops could be for you!

The Nationwide Young Technicians offers an exciting opportunity to develop your skills and learn all about a variety of backstage and off-stage roles from top industry professionals.    

This FREE course will take place in two parts:

1. The first part of the course will be online on Tuesday evenings from 5-7pm, running from Tuesday 4 February to Tuesday 15 April 2025. In these workshops you’ll be introduced to the basics of technical theatre including lighting, sound and stages, through demonstrations and practical activities.
2. After the online course, there will be the opportunity to continue developing your practical skills and knowledge with in-person workshops created, led and facilitated by our partner organisations HOME Manchester, Nottingham Playhouse and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

To take part, you must be able to commit to all the dates in the programme from February – April 2025.   

Nationwide Young Technicians Project - Online Course Dates 2025 

(these sessions will take place on Zoom)  

Tuesday 4 February 5-7pm
Tuesday 11 February 5-7pm
Tuesday 18 February 5-7pm
Tuesday 25 February 5-7pm
Tuesday 4 March 5-7pm
Tuesday 11 March 5-7pm
Tuesday 18 March 5-7pm
Tuesday 25 March 5-7pm
Tuesday 1 April 5-7pm
Tuesday 8 April 5-7pm
Tuesday 15 April 5-7pm
(These sessions will take place on Zoom)

Partner venue dates:

HOME Manchester: TBC
Nottingham Playhouse: Sunday 13 April & Monday 14 April
Theatre Royal Plymouth: TBC

This opportunity is for young people aged 13 – 19. To apply and take part in the hybrid programme opportunity, you must live within Greater Manchester, the East Midlands or South Devon and Cornwall. You must also be able to commit to all the dates in the programme from February – April 2025.

You can apply for the hybrid programme here.

If you do not live in these areas and would like to take part in the programme, you can apply to join the digital sessions only.

You can apply for the digital only sessions here.

We are furthering our commitment to diversity and access by concentrating recruitment in these areas that we recognise are currently underrepresented in the field of technical theatre: 

• Young people who identify as Female, 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. 

To apply please complete the relevant application form by 10am, Monday 9th December 2024. This is your chance to tell us about your interest in any element of technical theatre. You can write, record or video your answers (within the word and time limits).  

If you have any further questions, please contact the email address below.

 

The Bill Cashmore Award is presented by the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and is a Young Lyric new playwriting award for young writers aged 18-30. Young Lyric is funded to support and provide opportunities for children and young people aged up to 30 years through programmes, workshops and activities.

The Bill Cashmore Award prize offers a paid opportunity for two new one-act plays to be professionally produced at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. The prize is for writers aged 18 – 30 to submit new scripts for selection by an industry-leading panel of the Lyric’s Artistic Associates. The two winning plays will run as a double bill and will be performed by the Lyric’s SPRINGBOARD trainee actors in Autumn 2025.

PARAMETERS OF THE AWARD

• The script must be written for stage (see FAQs on the type of work we accept)
• The script must be no more than 20 pages
• The script must be suitable for a cast of 5 actors aged 18-25
• Running length to be 30 minutes

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 23 December 2024 at 12pm

See FAQs for more details on our criteria.

City of Liverpool College

Do you want to be in our next Young Company? Applications are now open!

Young Company is for young people who are looking for a welcoming space to be creative and connect with others, as well as those with a curiosity about theatre who want to develop skills within the North West’s largest and only full-time text based producing theatre.

We’re looking for Makers, Writers and Performers to work with us weekly September 2024 – July 2025. As a Young Company member you will have access to Royal Exchange Theatre’s sector-leading creatives and learn the fundamentals of theatre-making. Performers will have performance opportunities and Writers & Makers will have the opportunity to have their work platformed and performed, and receive feedback.

Performers 1 (ages 14-17) & Performers 2 (ages 18-25*) – for people who like performing, acting, working in groups and trying out new styles of theatre.

Makers (ages 16-25*) – for those interested in the behind-the-scenes areas of making theatre – directing, lighting & sound, design, stage management & producing.

Writers (ages 16-25*) – for anyone who likes storytelling and is interested in writing for stage. You might be a poet or a songwriter but want to learn more about playwriting.

*For those over 21 will prioritise applications from people who are underrepresented in theatre including but not limited to disabled young people, D/deaf young people, neurodivergent young people, Global Majority young people, working class young people.