A six-month funded programme for artists with bold new ideas
What would you make if you stopped worrying about whether it was too ambitious, too political, too different, or too difficult?
We're looking for bold new ideas that respond to the world we live in now.
About SHIFT Artist Labs:
SHIFT Artist Labs is a 6-month funded programme running between January and July 2027, for artists with ideas that need the time, care and investment to grow.
We know that many artists carry work that has been put on hold: ideas that have been self-censored, scaled back, deprioritised, or simply haven’t had the resources to develop. SHIFT Artist Labs exist to help those ideas take their next step.
We are looking for projects that ask difficult questions, challenge dominant narratives, and ask who gets to tell stories and on whose terms. Joyful or provocative, intimate or epic, we’re interested in stories that feel alive to the present moment.
What the Programme Offers:
Five projects will receive a tailored package of investment including:
The Process:
You'll be matched with a dramaturg, a producer, an industry steward, and join a programme of workshops with the wider SHIFT network.
Important Dates:
The compulsory workshops will run for 2 hours either in person or on Zoom during:
The programme will conclude with an in-person sharing on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 July 2027.
Travel for the in-person days and accommodation for the two-day final sharing will be covered for artists based outside London.
Who Can Apply:
You cannot apply with a project that:
Available Places:
To ensure the programme reaches artists across regions and communities, the five available places will be allocated to:
In line with Tamasha’s mission and values, we are particularly interested in supporting work by Global Majority artists.
For more information and to apply, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Join us for a conversation with theatre maker and aerial artist Farrell Cox, exploring her career as an interdisciplinary artist.
Farrell will share how she brings different disciplines into her work, how she decides which skills to draw on for each project, and how she weaves her lived experience into the stories she creates.
We’ll also explore how to recognise and make the most of your full creative skillset, and how to keep creating and developing your practice within the current challenges facing the theatre industry.
An informal session with space to reflect, share ideas and explore new possibilities for your own creative practice.
Key Information:
For more information and to reserve your place, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Applications are now OPEN for Young Techs 2027.
Our Young Techs programme is a FREE introductory training programme for 18–25-year-olds who want to develop practical skills and explore a career in backstage theatre.
This introductory training programme gives participants hands-on experience in lighting, sound and stagecraft, working alongside professional theatre technicians and industry practitioners.
Course Summary:
All eligible applicants will be invited to join us at a Selection/Interview workshop at Stratford East on Wednesday 9 December, 4:00-5:15pm or 6:30-7:45pm.
Participants on this programme will be paid a training bursary when working on specific shows.
For more information and to apply, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Cameron Mackintosh Limited is delighted to offer a technical demonstration from Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece, Oliver! Join the company at the Gielgud Theatre where you will take your seat in the auditorium and get to see how all the technical elements are combined to produce a scene. This session will showcase sound, lighting, automation and stage management in perfect harmony!
The demonstration will be followed by a Q&A where you will get the opportunity to ask the company questions about any technical aspects of the show.
This session will be hosted by the Oliver! production team, presented by Cameron Mackintosh LTD
Key Information:
How to Book:
Bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
To find out how to book, sign up to the TheatreCraft 2026 mailing list using the ‘Stay up to date’ pop-up in the bottom-left corner of this page.
Subscribers will receive booking information and instructions on Friday 16 October, followed by the link to book when bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
Already signed up? You don’t need to do anything – we’ll email you everything you need to know.
In-Person Waiting List:
If you aren’t able to book a place in advance, you can join the ‘on the day’ waiting list at the workshop venue. This is for any places that become available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
Simply come to the specified venue and a volunteer will direct you to the waiting list queue. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and joining the waiting list does not guarantee entry.
For more information and to sign up to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Ever wondered how the magical moments in shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Worst Witch were designed and directed? In this session, join seasoned Illusion Designer and Director, John Bulleid, to learn exactly that! This session will take a Q&A format following a short presentation about John’s work in the industry. Attendees will even learn an illusion to take away and impress friends and & relatives.
This session will be hosted by John Bulleid, Illusion Designer and Director
Key Information:
How to Book:
Bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
To find out how to book, sign up to the TheatreCraft 2026 mailing list using the ‘Stay up to date’ pop-up in the bottom-left corner of this page.
Subscribers will receive booking information and instructions on Friday 16 October, followed by the link to book when bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
Already signed up? You don’t need to do anything – we’ll email you everything you need to know.
In-Person Waiting List:
If you aren’t able to book a place in advance, you can join the ‘on the day’ waiting list at the workshop venue. This is for any places that become available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
Simply come to the specified venue and a volunteer will direct you to the waiting list queue. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and joining the waiting list does not guarantee entry.
For more information and to sign up to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Join award-winning puppetry company Talk to the Hand Puppets, the puppetry directors from Avenue Q, to explore the world of puppetry for the stage. Try your hand at bringing Avenue Q style puppets to life. Then join co founders Iestyn Evans and Andy Heath to discuss the different uses of puppetry in live performance, and the different career paths within theatre puppetry. Andy and Iestyn will be sharing insights from their 28 years in the industry from Doctor Dolittle to Avenue Q, via Star Wars.
This session will be hosted by Iestyn Events & Andy Heath – Co-founders of Talk to the Hand Puppets
Key Information:
How to Book:
Bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
To find out how to book, sign up to the TheatreCraft 2026 mailing list using the ‘Stay up to date’ pop-up in the bottom-left corner of this page.
Subscribers will receive booking information and instructions on Friday 16 October, followed by the link to book when bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
Already signed up? You don’t need to do anything – we’ll email you everything you need to know.
In-Person Waiting List:
If you aren’t able to book a place in advance, you can join the ‘on the day’ waiting list at the workshop venue. This is for any places that become available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
Simply come to the specified venue and a volunteer will direct you to the waiting list queue. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and joining the waiting list does not guarantee entry.
For more information and to sign up to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Join award-winning producer, writer and co-founder of the Women's Prize for Playwriting, Ellie Keel, as she offers insights into how to enjoy a successful career in theatre, even in a cultural climate where artistic opportunities can seem fewer in number and more competitive when they do exist.
In a world where artists need to be entrepreneurs as well as creatives, we'll explore how to maintain vision and volition, through a mix of identifying gaps in the market, creating opportunities, building relationships, and taking strategic risks with the reward of making the work you want to make.
This Masterclass will reveal how to start new ways of working, how to sustain yourself both commercially and creatively, and how to find the support you need to make things happen. Ellie will share her experiences of engaging and retaining stakeholders, garnering support, and – whether staging a play or starting a prize competition which evolves into a registered charity – learning the skill of effective fundraising.
This Masterclass, aimed at early- to mid-career theatre-makers, will equip participants with practical tools, fresh insights and clearer ideas about what they will make next.
Key Information:
For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Please note: This event has been fully booked. Join the waitlist for the chance to secure a place!
Planning your next steps in performing arts training?
The Stage's annual How to Choose Your Drama School guide is here to help!
Curated using insights from more than 1,000 respondents to our 2026 drama school survey, the guide brings together practical advice and expert guidance to help aspiring performers make informed decisions about their training and future careers. Now its own standalone supplement, this is the perfect comprehensive guide to share with your students and wider networks.
To read the guide, click the Opportunity Info link below.
Apprentices from across the sector, including from RBO and National Theatre, share their experiences and advice with attendees. Come hear how what an apprenticeship is really like and bring any questions you might have, chaired by National Theatre’s Skills Centre.
This session will be hosted by Apprentices from National Theatre, RSC, Theatre People, Creative Alliance, and Chichester College Group
Key Information:
How to Book:
Bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
To find out how to book, sign up to the TheatreCraft 2026 mailing list using the ‘Stay up to date’ pop-up in the bottom-left corner of this page.
Subscribers will receive booking information and instructions on Friday 16 October, followed by the link to book when bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
Already signed up? You don’t need to do anything – we’ll email you everything you need to know.
In-Person Waiting List:
If you aren’t able to book a place in advance, you can join the ‘on the day’ waiting list at the workshop venue. This is for any places that become available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
Simply come to the specified venue and a volunteer will direct you to the waiting list queue. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and joining the waiting list does not guarantee entry.
For more information and to sign up to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Join a backstage tour of the iconic Lyceum Theatre, home to Disney’s The Lion King. See where the costumes are maintained, where the masks and puppets are created, and explore what it takes to bring this award-winning musical to life on stage.
This session will be hosted by Nancy Shakerley, Education & Audience Engagement Manager at the Lyceum Theatre.
Key Information:
How to Book:
Bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
To find out how to book, sign up to the TheatreCraft 2026 mailing list using the ‘Stay up to date’ pop-up in the bottom-left corner of this page.
Subscribers will receive booking information and instructions on Friday 16 October, followed by the link to book when bookings open at 12pm on Monday 19 October.
Already signed up? You don’t need to do anything – we’ll email you everything you need to know.
In-Person Waiting List:
If you aren’t able to book a place in advance, you can join the ‘on the day’ waiting list at the workshop venue. This is for any places that become available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
Simply come to the specified venue and a volunteer will direct you to the waiting list queue. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and joining the waiting list does not guarantee entry.
For more information and to sign up to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
