Applications are now open for BOLD MAKERS 2026. Applicants have three weeks to apply, with the deadline set for midnight on 6 May.
BOLD MAKERS will support three theatre companies working across devising, site-specific work, and physical theatre. Each selected company will be paired with a specialist mentor to support the development of a new piece of work at an early stage.
The mentors for this programme are:
The award is aimed at emerging theatre companies exploring devised performance, including those working in site-specific contexts, physical theatre, or experimental approaches to form and making. It is not open to solo artists at this time.
Applicants must be available for both of the allocated rehearsal periods: 22–28 June and 20–26 July.
Three companies will be selected and will receive:
The programme is designed to support the development of new work through structured mentorship, time, space, and financial support.
Do you want to turn your creative ideas into real projects and learn how culture, events and creative initiatives are actually developed and delivered?
Royalties London is a development programme for young people who want to work seriously with creativity, culture and project development.
The programme is designed for emerging creatives, cultural practitioners, and project-minded individuals who want to move from inspiration to practical experience and gain insight into how creative ideas become real initiatives.
Royalties London offers practical insight into how cultural and creative projects are developed, organised and brought to life. The programme combines inspiration with practical experience.
Participants will work together to develop concepts and translate them into projects that can be realised in practice.
During the programme you will:
The programme runs over approximately six months with one full-day workshop each month, followed by a final event. All sessions take place will take place from 9am to 5pm on Thursdays. Dates are subject to change.
The final event will be conceptualised, produced, and delivered by participants in collaboration with London Heritage Quarter.
Applications are now open for PROJEKT EMPOWER - our mentorship program for migrant theatre makers based in the UK.
We match 10 emerging migrant artists with the country’s most successful migrant theatre makers and empower them to become leading creative change makers of the future.
✨ This year's incredible mentors are:
Aline David
Amit Lahav
Gabby Wong
Inua Ellams
Joel Tan
Jordan Fein
Moi Tran
Myanna Buring
Nadi Kemp-Sayfi
Robin Belfield
Head over to our website for more information on the mentors and how to apply.
📍Deadline for applications is midnight 29th April 2026!
How does it work?
We will match 10 emerging artists with 10 of the UK’s most successful migrant theatre makers, and
guide them through a six-month period of one-to-one and group meetings, culminating in an
in-person celebration in London in November 2026 for the full cohort of 20 artists.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Is money stopping you from taking part in music, dance or drama?
NAYT grant music bursaries, dance bursaries and drama bursaries, up to £1,000 each, to talented young people aged 12-25 who can’t afford to access opportunities in the arts. A bursary typically pays for a year’s part time dance, music or drama classes, and it can be used to cover some other expenses and costs too, including tuition fees at drama school.
They open applications for bursaries several times a year, and the next deadline is 3 June 2026. If you apply after this, we’ll consider your application in the next round. Sign up to their newsletter and they’ll keep you posted about future deadlines.
The Young Playwrights Award is a free, open-access competition for any teenager in the UK interested in writing a play.
Your play can be about anything you want or imagine: something that inspires you, a story not told before, or ideas that challenge the world around you. To help you get the most out of the experience, we also offer support and advice at every step - including dedicated resources for schools and groups getting involved, and a free workshop at the Royal Court on Tuesday 31 March.
Perfect for anyone aged 18+ interested in acting for screen.
This two-day course will introduce you to the techniques and skills required for acting in film and television. Learn key techniques including how to prepare for a scene, be present and how to connect with your scene partner, to give authentic and truthful performances.
You can expect to: Explore the differences between acting for stage and screen; Learn how to analyse a scene quickly and accurately; How to prepare for a scene; Work on short, scripted scenes; Learn about visual storytelling; Draw on your own life experience using the mindset technique; Utilize your imagination to bring an inner life to characters; Develop your confidence in front of a camera.
Some preparation work including reading and learning short, scripted scenes, will be required as part of the course.
Dates: Sat 18 – Sun 19 Jul 2026
Cost: £285
Deadline to book: 5pm, Friday 3 July 2026
Perfect for anyone aged 17+ who has an interest in acting and would be interested in applying for Drama School or an equivalent programme. It is also open to actors who are interested in improving their general audition technique.
Whether you are interested in developing a speech for drama school or university or just generally improving your audition technique, this two-day course will give you an insight and introduction into the tools you need to succeed.
You will look at: How to choose a speech and what to look for; Practical exercises that can be used to unlock the speech and enhance understanding; Discussion on the audition environment and techniques to encourage relaxation and readiness; Tips and techniques to bring the speech to life.
You will be expected to engage in practical tasks on the speeches that you bring to the course to work on. The atmosphere will be informal and welcoming. You will need to choose a Shakespeare speech and a modern speech that you connect with in advance of the course.
Dates: Sat 1 – Sun 2 Aug 2026
Cost: £285
Deadline to book: 5pm, Friday 3 July 2026
Perfect for anyone aged 14 to 17 with an interest in creative writing. No experience is required, just interest and enthusiasm.
Put pen to paper, let your imagination roam free and conjure your creativity with this new two-day course, led by London writer Annie Hayter.
Working with Annie, you will explore a range of literary texts including poetry and fiction, and will use artwork, photographs and songs to inspire your own creative writing. You will learn to draft and develop your own stories and explore the best ways to present, perform and publish them.
Maybe you want to write about your pet goose Doris, an imagined day in the life of your favourite popstar or whatever is important to you, this course will be a warm and open space for you to freely express yourself and delve into the depths of your imagination.
Dates: Sat 18 – Sun 19 Jul 2026
Cost: £230
Deadline to book: 5pm, Friday 3 July 2026
The only programme of its kind in the UK, our courses are designed for those with an interest in developing their performance skills and engagement with live theatre.
Initially a week-long acting summer school based in London, the Academy has grown over its 16 years to encompass a range of disciplines and locations. New Earth Academy plays a key role in addressing the under representation of ESEA artists on UK stages and screens as well as behind the scenes by providing a safe and supportive environment to gain access to professional training, develop new skills, join creative networks and engage with industry professionals.
In 2026 our courses will take place in London, Manchester, Liverpool and York and include training in Performing, Theatre Making and Producing and Playwriting. Please click on the links below for more information about each individual course.
If you have any questions about the programme, please read the FAQ below. If you require the documents to be in a different format or need any adjustments made in order to apply, please get in touch with us by emailing academy@newearththeatre.org.uk
New Earth Academy is delivered in partnership with The Lowry, our Strategic Partner, and Factory International/Aviva Studios, alongside HOME, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and York Theatre Royal. The programme is further supported by Horizons Collective, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Acting, Birmingham Hippodrome and Arts Council England.
There are a range of opportunities taking place across the UK listed below. Please head to the opportunity link to sign-up to the respective events.
New Earth Theatre Makers Academy - Greater Manchester - Monday 29 June – Friday 3 July
New Earth Theatre Makers Academy - York - Monday 6th July – Friday 10 July
Performing Shakespeare Academy - Monday 27th – Friday 31st July
Performers Academy - London - Monday 14th to Friday 18th July
Performers Academy Plus - London - Monday 20th July – Friday 24th July and Monday 27th – Friday 31st July
Theatre Makers Academy Plus - Greater Manchester and the North West
September 2025 to February 2026
Key Dates: (Applicants must be available to attend all below dates)
Weekend Residential 20th & 21st September 2025 at HOME
Masterclass 1 - Mon 20th October
Masterclass 2 - Mon 10th November
Masterclass 3 - Mon 8th December
Masterclass 4 - Weds 14th Jan
New Earth Academy Programmes in Salford & Greater Manchester are supported by Lowry, HOME and Factory International.
