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).
Finding the Story Through the Body with Keiren Hamilton-Amos.
This workshop introduces participants to movement as a language of storytelling. Through practical exploration, participants will develop the foundations to understand how the body communicates, creates meaning and supports character, narrative and ensemble work.
Using devising techniques, physical exploration and collaborative exercises, the workshop will explore how movement can generate ideas, build relationships and reveal stories beyond words. Participants will work with the body as a creative tool developing awareness, confidence and the ability to create expressive physical choices.
The session will explore ensemble movement, storytelling through the body and the foundations of movement practice, giving participants tools they can carry into acting, devising and performance-making.
Date: Thursday 30 July
Time: 6pm – 9pm
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.
Writing West Midlands is once again teaming up with Birmingham Libraries to recruit the next two Poets Laureate for 2026-28:
The Birmingham Poet Laureate and Birmingham Young Poet Laureate are honorary posts appointed by Birmingham Libraries and Writing West Midlands.
The successful candidates should be residents of Birmingham, or work or study in the city, and will be able to show their commitment to writing and sharing their poetry. They should be comfortable with the idea of sharing with an audience and speaking about their work. They will be expected to be an ambassador for the city of Birmingham and its many communities and areas.
The Birmingham Poet Laureate and Birmingham Young Poet Laureate are asked to undertake a small number of honorary duties during their tenure, including writing poems to commemorate significant moments. They will be expected to share their work at events and to encourage an interest in poetry across the city. We are particularly keen that the Poets Laureate use their work to encourage people to engage with the city’s public libraries.
While the posts are honorary and the roles are voluntary, payments are sometimes made for work that is particularly time consuming. The adult Poet Laureate in particular will be supported by Writing West Midlands to develop their creative work.
The position of Birmingham Poet Laureate was the UK’s first ‘city laureate’, with the first appointment being made in 1998. In 2005, the position of Birmingham Young Poet Laureate was set up.
In-person interviews for both posts will take place on Saturday 19th September 2026 (Adult post in the morning, Young post in the afternoon). Interviews will take place in central Birmingham. An appointment event will take place on Sunday 11th October 2026.
This is a really exciting role for someone that wishes to progress in a creative, demanding but rewarding role at Malvern Theatres Trust Ltd.
You will support the Technical Director with the day to day running of the Malvern Theatres complex.
You will follow the training provided by Creative Alliance on their Production Creative Venue Technician Apprenticeship.
Key Tasks/Accountabilities
General maintenance of the complex as required.
To work, in association with the Technical Director, Supervisors and technicians on all technical set-ups in the Theatre Complex and other stage areas within and outside the complex as directed.
To act as a apprentice Technician during the running of productions in the complex as required.
Equally responsible for the Health and Safety of employees, touring staff, members of the public and any other users of the complex.
To attend training courses as require by the Technical Director.
To achieve continuous professional development.
To train in rigging, focusing and operation of lighting equipment.
To train in rigging and operation of sound equipment.
To train in rigging lifting equipment (chain hoists and motors) and have a knowledge of flying systems
Assisting with building maintenance.
Reporting any defects of any equipment and taking said equipment out of service until repaired.
Willing and able to work at heights.
To become familiar with the Health and safety at Work Act 1974.
Liaising effectively with visiting companies. Communicating information throughout the technical department as required.
Liaising with FOH departments especially on performance days.
When deemed appropriate work on get ins and outs in a safe and effective manner. Liaising with all depts. to ensure a calm and safe working environment.
Things to consider
Late nights, early morning finishes, weekend and Bank Holiday working hours.
After observing the apprentice, you may have the opportunity to earn an enhanced rate of £41 per hour, this involves taking down the stage set at the end of a show, reloading it on to the vehicles, referred to as a 'get out'.
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
