Birmingham Hippodrome
A great opportunity to learn about the basic techniques of puppetry and how to bring a story to life using this theatrical device.
With insight into the Made At Curve productions that utilised this method, such as PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS and THE OWL THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS, are you ready to take on a creative challenge that will be full of fun, storytelling and amazing characters?
Date: 18 August 2026
Running time: 2pm – 5pm
Cost: £25 - A limited number of free bursary places are available for families facing financial hardship. If you would like to be considered for a bursary place, please email cycc@curvetheatre.co.uk. They would require evidence of being receipt of benefits or eligible for free school meals or pupil premium.
Have you ever wanted to know more about the technical side of theatre, and all that goes into collaborating with the director and design teams?
Well join Curve Theatre, Leicester for a day and find out how it's all done, from the set, props and costumes in a Made a Curve production, to exploring lighting and sound that enhances the experience for an audience.
No experience needed, just your enthusiasm for backstage roles!
Date: 10 August 2026
Running time: 10am – 5pm
Cost: £50 - A limited number of free bursary places are available for families facing financial hardship. If you would like to be considered for a bursary place, please email cycc@curvetheatre.co.uk. They would require evidence of being receipt of benefits or eligible for free school meals or pupil premium.
Steve Wilson of Live & Local will lead a workshop about rural touring, a sector that has been around since the days of Shakespeare. Steve will take you through rural touring and the work of Live & Local and will explore how to get your work on both theirs and other schemes.
Topics will include subject material, marketing, pricing and the local and national rural touring picture. There will also be a practical element of the workshop with attendees exploring ideas and themes in a friendly group environment.
Date: Tuesday 1 September
Time: 6pm-9pm
Steve Wilson has been working professionally in the arts for over 25 years and as well as working in rural touring has also been an arts funder, a writer, director and producer. He also performs too! He is also a director of Crave Arts, a professional arts company based in Worcester. As well as doing theatre work, he supports Spurs (which has aged him), plays badminton (which ages his knees) and likes to tell jokes (which ages everyone else).
Deaf Theatre Makers is delighted to offer 8 paid placement opportunities for deaf creatives across the UK. Working with our partner organisations, these placements are designed to provide hands on experience within professional theatre settings and help deaf people develop skills, confidence and industry connections.
Whether you are interested in producing, technical theatre, programming, creative development or exploring a career behind the scenes, this is an opportunity to learn directly from experienced theatre professionals.
Successful applicants will receive:
Placements do not need to take place over five consecutive days. Depending on the host organisation and your learning goals, activity may be spread across a project, production or period of time.
(shared placement across both organisations)
This placement offers an introduction to producing, programming and arts management across two very different cultural organisations. You will gain insight into how work is programmed, developed and delivered, while meeting staff from a range of departments.
areas of focus include:
timing: Flexible from August 2026 onwards.
This placement can be tailored to your interests and career goals. Working with staff across the organisation, you will have the opportunity to explore the areas of theatre that interest you most.
potential areas of focus include:
timing: Flexible.
This placement will be hands on and can be shaped around your interests and offers the opportunity to gain experience across a range of departments within a producing theatre, or to focus on one or two areas of interest if that is preferred.
potential areas of focus include:
timing: Flexible.
This placement is ideal for anyone interested in producing, technical theatre and the development of new work.
The placement will be linked to a festival taking place at Sheffield Theatres, offering the opportunity to observe and support activity during a busy period of theatre making.
areas of focus include:
timing: Applicants should be available for activity taking place between 28th September and 10th October 2026.
The Opera North Youth Orchestra (ONYO) forms part of the Opera North Youth Company. It serves to help dedicated young musicians transition from further or higher education into the professional world of music.
Drawing inspiration from the orchestral and opera work of Opera North, the Youth Orchestra prepares and performs two programmes of challenging repertoire each academic year. Rehearsing in the Orchestra of Opera North rehearsal studios, the Youth Orchestra provides opportunities to learn the musical and non-musical intricacies of working within a high-level orchestra whilst gaining further experience with orchestral and operatic repertoire.
Central to the programming of the Opera North Youth Orchestra is creating opportunities for the ensemble to work together and perform with soloists, conductors and ensembles from Opera North’s performing company. The Orchestra is led by conductor Oliver Rundell, and sections are coached by members of the orchestra of Opera North. Repertoire in the 26-27 Season will include:
Project 1: Dewsbury Town Hall, 1 November 2026, 3.30pm
Paul Dukas Fanfare from ‘La Péri’
Edward Elgar Serenade for Strings
Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
Arvo Pärt Fratres
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17
Project 2: Dewsbury Town Hall, Sunday 21 March 2027, 3.30pm
Doreen Carwithens ‘Bishop Rock’ Overture
Richard Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op.11
Amy Beach Symphony in E minor (Gaelic Symphony), Op.32
Members benefit from mentorship from the musicians and artistic team of Opera North, in addition to connecting with a variety of professional orchestral and opera conductors. The Opera North Youth Orchestra is designed to complement participants’ existing study schedule, rehearsing during school and university holidays and on selected weekends over the academic year.
The Orchestra currently has vacancies for the following instruments*:
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp
Woodwind: Bassoon
Brass: French Horn
Percussion* Depending on current membership, some instruments may not be auditioned this term. If your instrument is not listed, you are welcome to apply to register your interest for future opportunities.
If you play an orchestral instrument not listed above, please fill in the application form if you would like to register your interest for any future opportunity to audition.
Eligibility
Project 1 will be open to musicians aged 15-21 and performing at Grade 7+ standard on their instrument. Project 2 will be open to musicians aged 16-21 and performing at Grade 8 standard. Please refer to the FAQs section below for more information.
Application deadline
Friday 18 September
(Applications received after this date will be considered on a rolling basis, subject to vacancies)
Audition date
Saturday 26 September
How to apply
Complete the application form at the top of this page, making sure you’ve noted the audition date and requirements.
If you have any questions please get in with touch with Youth Orchestra team via onyo@operanorth.co.uk.
The Opera North Youth Orchestra (ONYO) forms part of the Opera North Youth Company. It serves to help dedicated young musicians transition from further or higher education into the professional world of music.
Drawing inspiration from the orchestral and opera work of Opera North, the Youth Orchestra prepares and performs two programmes of challenging repertoire each academic year. Rehearsing in the Orchestra of Opera North rehearsal studios, the Youth Orchestra provides opportunities to learn the musical and non-musical intricacies of working within a high-level orchestra whilst gaining further experience with orchestral and operatic repertoire and having fun!
Players travel from all over the North and Midlands to gain experience, make new friends and great music!
Rehearsal dates for the 26-27 academic year are as follows:
Autumn term – Project 1
Sunday 11 October 2026
Saturday 24 October
Sunday 25 October
Wednesday 28 October
Thursday 29 October
Friday 30 October
Sunday 1 November – Concert: Dewsbury Town Hall
Spring term – Project 2
Sunday 24th January 2027
Sunday 7th February
Sunday 21st February
Sunday 7th March
Saturday 20th March
Sunday 21 March – Concert: Dewsbury Town Hall
Are you 18–24 and ready to make something that matters?
£750 to bring your creative idea to life
Work with children & young people
Be mentored by professional artists
Join a Youth Arts Board + shape the future of arts in the Black Country
Are you this type of person?
Got a creative idea you’ve been sitting on
Want to lead your own project
Passionate about theatre, music, dance, digital, or visual arts
Ready to build your career in the arts
🎯 8 commissions available | Up to 8 weeks
Across: Theatre, Music, Visual Arts, Dance, Literature, Digital, Combined Arts + Museums
What you’ll do:
1️⃣ Pitch your idea
2️⃣ Get selected + funded (£750)
3️⃣ Create your project with support + mentorship
4️⃣ Showcase your work + make real impact
🚀 This is your pathway to practice
Not just funding — real experience, real networks, real opportunities
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.
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.
