The Bill Cashmore Award offers a paid opportunity for two new one-act plays by writers aged 18-30, to be professionally produced at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Bristol Old Vic.
The two winning plays will run as a double bill and will be performed by the Bristol Old Vic’s Young Company and Young SixSix in April 2027, and the Lyric’s SPRINGBOARD trainee actors in August 2027.
The award is kindly supported by the Bill Cashmore Award Founder Sasha Bates.
We particularly welcome submissions from those who are underrepresented in theatre and/or situated in areas culturally underserved.
The two successful writers will:
Role Description
A Live Event Rigger is a competent person employed to carry out rigging operations. For the purposes of this scheme, rigging is defined as the installation, removal, or other activity using lifting, or suspension equipment, or accessories used in tension for lifting or supporting display, production, performance, or event technical requirements.
Outcome
It is intended that on successful completion of the full term of the scheme, the candidate will have attained the range of skills, knowledge and experience that will enable them to undertake the role of a Live Event Rigger with competence and confidence and also have achieved National Rigging Certificate (NRC) Level 2.
Due to the diverse work undertaken by Rigging Team, the candidate may have the opportunity to gain additional skills in areas such as performer flying, anchor installation/testing and equipment inspection.
Duration of Scheme
The programme will typically last 24 months.
This is a full-time role of 40 hours per week. Due to the nature of our industry, additional hours may be required.
Location
Whilst there is an expectation that as candidates progress through the scheme they will have to travel to site, this opportunity will be based at Rigging Team’s head office in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
Renumeration
Candidates will be paid at least the appropriate National Living Wage for their age. This will increase progressively as specific targets are achieved throughout the scheme.
Candidates will receive all training, certification, necessary work equipment and PPE free of charge and will be able to take their personal equipment with them at the end of the scheme. If the candidate should leave or be dismissed prior to completing the full term of the scheme then Rigging Team will look to recover all training, certification, and equipment costs directly from the candidate.
Provisional Timeline
0-6 months Candidate will be based within the warehouse in order to gain familiarity with equipment and procedures.
6-12 months Once candidates show an aptitude and understanding of rigging equipment, they will spend time on site shadowing our team of riggers and inspectors in addition to supporting the warehouse team.
12-24 months Candidate will be expected to support our warehouse team and work on site assisting our team of riggers or inspectors, building skills and evidence towards the NRC Level 2 assessment. Candidate will spend some time within the office in
order to gain an understanding of the project management, operational and support roles.
Candidate will be expected to achieve NRC Level 2 and continue to work on site as a rigger or inspector whilst continuing to support our warehouse team.
Important Note: This timeline is for indicative purposes only and is subject to change without notice based on the actual performance of the trainee throughout the programme, including, but not limited to, learning aptitude, assessment results and general operational performance.
Training Courses and Assessments
Training courses and assessments will be ongoing throughout the term of the scheme; the order and timing of these will be such as to give a natural progression to the training. Course availability and operational requirements may have an impact.
A non-exhaustive list of training and courses that may be covered is:
Anyone who is interested in this scheme can get in touch by sending a copy of their CV or details of experience to careers@riggingteam.com
RADA
Join The North Wall on this actor focussed workshop where you will spend the three days refining your acting skills through voice, movement and script exploration. You will look at classical, contemporary and self-written monologues and everyone will have opportunity to present a mock audition. This will be a fun, supportive workshop – open to everyone with an interest in acting!
This three-day course runs from 1pm – 4pm each day in the Drama Studio at The North Wall. Participants must book for the full three days.
The North Wall's experienced workshop facilitators are DBS checked, and there is always a first aider and fire marshal in The North Wall building.
Cost: £60 for three half-days
Full bursary places available: click here to apply
Dates: 17 August - 19 August 2026
A free, four-day intensive theatre-making experience designed for actors, writers, and directors who are ready to push their creative boundaries.
Over four days you'll build a brand new piece of theatre, take part in workshops hosted by external practitioners, and develop your personal toolkit.
Guided by Burnt Orange Theatre's core team, you'll be placed into small interdisciplinary teams including a writer, director and up to 5 actors, taking ownership of the creative process. You will explore different styles and techniques, generate material and refine your work through rehearsal, development and collaboration.
This is a fast-paced, high-energy experience, offering professional development, creative risk-taking, and an exciting opportunity to meet and collaborate with like-minded artists. They operate a deposit system, where participants are asked to pay a small deposit to secure their space. This is refunded on completion of the course. However if this cost would be a barrier, please let them know and they will waive the fee no questions asked.
Participants must be aged between 16-23, and must be able to commit to the full 4 days of the course, taking place from 26 - 29 May from 10am - 4pm at the Bush Theatre
Secure your place here: https://www.ticketsource.com/burntorangetheatre/t-qmmrmoo
"We believe everyone deserves a seat at the theatre..."
Jamie Wilson Productions and Nederlander are proud to introdcue the Pay What You Can ticket scheme for The Devil Wears Prada The Musical, now playing at the Dominion Theatre, London.
They know theatre isn't always affordable. With their Pay What You Can scheme, you set the price, making the magic of theatre accessible to more people.
How To Apply:
There are up to 10 PWYC tickets available per performance, and individuals or small groups can request tickets. If groups are looking to attend in larger numbers, they can either split across multiple dates or get in touch with Georgia at Jamie Wilson Productions first to explore options with the box office.
In 2019, as a present to himself for his 80th birthday Ian McKellen went on a tour of the UK visiting 87 venues with a one-man show. The aim was to raise money for each venue he visited. Later that year the show transferred to the West End for 88 performances.
The final two shows were captured by the producing team in conjunction with NT Live. In 2021 the show became, and remains, available to watch on Amazon Prime for customers in UK and Ireland and globally via NT @ Home.
All remaining profits from both the West End run and the future broadcast including any salary Ian would have received will be distributed to help emerging producers by providing a one-off grant.
This grant may be used towards both capitalisation and running costs, specifically for the payment of actor wages. Awards of up to £25,000 are available, provided the Producer pays the cast no less than Equity minimum rates and that total actor fees are consistent with industry norms for the venue in which the work is presented.
The Live Entertainment & Arts Foundation and ATG Productions are proud to facilitate these grants to enable ambitious theatre productions that create employment for artists, expand opportunities for emerging producers, and bring high-quality work to audiences that might otherwise not reach the stage.
Between now and April 2029, our ambition is to provide support to a minimum of 30 productions by way of these grants.
This grant supports emerging theatre producers and independent production companies to create ambitious work and employ larger casts.
Purpose of the Grant
The grant aims:
Are you passionate about creating theatre for young audiences? DIRECTORS IN TYA – An International Exchange 2027 is now open for applications, offering a space to research, experiment, connect and shape the future of theatre for young audiences.
🌐 Theatre directors specialising in TYA from all over the world can apply. Each ASSITEJ centre can issue one letter of recommendation. Please get in touch with your National Centre.
New: Applicants from Germany 🇩🇪 also need a letter of recommendation from one of ASSITEJ Germany's member theatres.
In 2027, the next edition will be hosted by COMEDIA Theatre Cologne which focusses on common spaces and community-based work in the arts.
COMMON SPACES are places of gathering and togetherness. Places that serve equal exchange, benefit a variety of people and are open to all. They are spaces that belong to those who shape them and are shaped by those who inhabit them. Spaces that are inhabited by communities and themselves give rise to communities themselves.
How can a theatre be a place of encounter? What is either a desire or a claim in many places is already practice and reality elsewhere. But what does this look like? And how is it shaped by, with and for young people?
For one week, COMEDIA Cologne is opening its theatre to the participants of the ASSITEJ DIRECTORS IN TYA – An International Exchange so that they can create their own COMMON SPACE. Which aesthetic practices of shared spaces with children and young people do the individual participants bring with them? Which ones does the group collectively produce? How do these practices shape the space? And how can this idea of COMMON SPACE serve as a blueprint for one’s own work for, with and by children and young people?
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.
Drama and Creative Writing work together to craft powerful stories, invent new forms of expression, and engage audiences and readers in fresh ways of thinking. Whether on the page, stage or screen, these disciplines help us explore what it means to be human.
The Drama and Creative Writing degree at UEA gives you the chance to study in two outstanding departments, including the longest-established and most prestigious Creative Writing department in the UK. You’ll be taught by experienced artists, writers, and researchers who will support you in developing both your creative voice and your performance skills. By combining your passions for text and performance, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how they inform and inspire one another.
You’ll explore both disciplines, studying acting, innovative playwrights, writing, and theatre practices from around the world. You’ll learn the art of writing, including for stage and screen, the craft of theatre-making, and how critical thinking leads to rigorous and powerful work. You’ll have the opportunity to study all kinds of creative writing, with a particular focus on writing for theatre, cinema, television, and radio. Alongside this, you'll be exploring the contemporary practice, criticism, and history of dramatic writing and performance. Your writing will be enriched by an awareness of theatrical and literary traditions from around the globe.
You’ll work in their professional Drama Studio, benefiting from their highly regarded student-run Minotaur Theatre Company and gaining even more performance, technical, and scriptwriting experience. Studying in Norwich means you’ll have access to a rich arts scene, including Norwich Theatre, Norwich Arts Centre, UEA Live, and the National Centre for Writing.
Your degree could take you into a career in the creative industries, as a writer or working in theatre, film, and radio. Or you might choose to take your collaborative, creative and critical skills into a host of other professions or into business.
