At Kent, you will develop your individual voice and hone skills to express yourself creatively through performance.

Whether you want to be a stand-up comedian, actor, director, writer, producer, choreographer, or set designer – or even start your own theatre company – you’ll have the opportunity to explore your passions at Kent.

With a wide range of topics including acting, community theatre, musical theatre, puppetry, dance, stand-up comedy, and even alternative cabaret, there are plenty of opportunities to tailor the programme to your interests.

Theatre, drama and performance have the power to connect people, bring communities together and examine big issues. You’ll explore all this when you join our warm and inclusive creative community.

Our strong connections with industry and local arts venues will give you the chance to put your learning and creativity into action through placements, internships and other opportunities.

You can see shows and even take part in them at our fantastic on-campus venue, the Gulbenkian Arts Centre – which puts on an incredible programme of theatre, dance, music and film.

You can also take this course with a year in industry or year abroad.

Ensonglopedia is a neurodivergent-led theatre company and registered charity creating live theatre, songs and teaching resources that bring science and the natural world to life.

They are offering a paid research and development (R&D) opportunity for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives to help shape a new inclusive theatre company and the early development of a new project, Project Plantlife (working title). The R&D will explore an interactive, immersive theatre experience focused on plant lifecycles and their role in the ecosystem.

This is a 5-day collaborative R&D process focused on experimentation, play and accessibility rather than producing a finished or performable work-in-progress. All participants will work as equal collaborators, supported by Ensonglopedia’s Artistic Director and Dramaturg.

They are looking for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent:

Applicants should have around 3+ years’ experience (or equivalent), a collaborative practice, and an interest in process-led, cross-disciplinary work.

The R&D will take place at the University of Sussex, Falmer, so applicants should be based in or within commuting distance of the Sussex coast.

Key details:

StoneCrabs Productions (Theatre)

With school holidays offering many young people the opportunity to take part in creative activities, it’s often a time when interests grow, and future ambitions begin to take shape.

Whether a young person is already engaged in the arts or just starting to explore, there are many different pathways into a career in the creative industries. However, for many families, these routes can feel unclear or uncertain.

Recent research from Netflix and the National Youth Theatre found that 89% of parents from working-class backgrounds would be unlikely to encourage their child to pursue a career in the creative industries. Building understanding and confidence among parents and carers is an important step in helping more young people feel supported in exploring these opportunities.

Introducing Parents Unscripted

Parents Unscripted is a new series from Discover! Creative Careers, created in collaboration with organisations across the creative industries. The series shares the perspectives of parents whose children now work in the sector, offering honest reflections on their journeys.

We’re proud to have collaborated on one of the films in the series, developed alongside Discover! Creative Careers and the National Theatre. In this film, Angela Jumbo, mother of actor and playwright Cush Jumbo, reflects on her child’s journey into the industry and shares her perspective as a parent.

You can watch the other films in the series here!

Why this matters

We know that when parents and carers feel more confident about creative careers, it can make a real difference to a young person’s ability to pursue them.

By sharing these stories, Parents Unscripted aims to open up conversations, challenge misconceptions, and highlight the many routes available across the creative industries.

Share with your networks

We encourage teachers, industry professionals and partners to share these films with their networks, whether through newsletters, social media, or conversations with young people and their families.

Helping more families understand the opportunities available in the creative industries is a vital step in supporting the next generation of talent.

Find out more about Discover! Creative Careers here.

Find out more about the National Theatre Skills Centre here.

This intensive Foundation Course in Acting is designed to prepare you for rigorous degree-level training. Tailored for passionate emerging artists aged 18 and above, this course builds the essential tools of the actor: voice, movement, imagination, and presence.

The course fosters creativity, discipline, and collaboration, ensuring you are fully equipped to meet the demands of professional training and beyond.

The Foundation Course in Acting at OSD has been running for over 25 years, with the majority of graduates are now pursuing successful careers on the stage and screen.

The course lasts two terms. Entry is by audition only.

A paid summer work and cultural exchange opportunity for creatives aged 18+.

Camp America offers a paid summer opportunity to live and work at an American summer camp for 9–12 weeks, with performing arts and creative roles available across camps in the USA. This is more than just work experience - it’s a chance to use your creative skills while living the full summer camp life!

Creatives from all backgrounds are placed in roles where they can teach, lead and inspire young people through acting, singing, dance, music, technical theatre and production, while also being part of a wider camp community. Alongside your role, you’ll take part in classic camp activities, build international friendships and experience everyday life in the USA. While we work with specialist theatre and performing arts camps, performing arts roles are available across many different camps, not just specialist ones.

This opportunity is ideal for those who:

Camps generally run from mid-Jun to mid-August – but this can vary by camp and location.

Oxford School of Drama

New Adventures

Farnham Maltings

Work alongside industry specialists as you develop your skills and abilities through the three essential disciplines: Acting, Dance and Singing. Collaborate, create and gain performance experience from full scale musicals to a graduate showcase.

With this musical theatre course you’ll become a confident, creative and self-motivated individual, ready to break into the industry.

Read me aloud