Explore writing techniques and exercises to build characters, pacy dialogue and get you started on that all-important idea for the first draft of a play. No experience necessary; everyone has a story to tell!
This two-day course runs from 1pm – 4pm each day in the Dance Studio at The North Wall. Participants must book for the full two 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: £40 for two half-days
Full bursary places available: click here to apply
Dates: 26 May - 27 May 2026
Apply now for the Mercury Creatives Producers Programme
The Mercury Creatives Producers Programme enters its sixth year and will provide an overview of the skills and craft of theatre producing across nine sessions led by the Mercury’s Senior Producer, Antony Stuart-Hicks.
The ten successful applicants will receive nine workshops exploring the main elements of producing work independently, including setting up companies, pitching, planning, budgeting, fundraising, audience development, marketing awareness, tour booking and best practice.
The successful producers’ cohort will also have opportunities to take part in a number of producing masterclasses, led by experienced producers across the commercial and subsidised sectors, facilitated through the Mercury Creatives programme.
Applicants do not need to have any previous producing experience.
If you would like to apply, we ask you to:
– Be over the age of 18
– Complete the form below in as much detail as required
– Tell us about your connection with the East of England – as all applicants must be from or currently live in this area to take part.
The sessions are from 7pm-9pm as follows and will take place in person at the Mercury Theatre and/or Zoom:
Wed 8 Jul 2026
Wed 15 Jul 2026
Wed 19 Aug 2026
Wed 9 Sep 2026
Wed 23 Sep 2026
Wed 14 Oct 2026
Wed 10 Feb 2027
Wed 10 Mar 2027
Wed 24 Mar 2027
Applications are now open!
Applications are open from Fri 15 May 2026 and the deadline is midnight on Fri 12 Jun 2026.
Confirmations of your place will be provided by Fri 26 Jun.
You can complete the form or submit your interest by another format accessible to you, audio recording, BSL video, word doc or via a supported online conversation with a member of the Mercury Creatives team. Email mercury.creatives@mercurytheatre.co.uk.
Additional information
In addition to 18 hours of mentoring, Mercury Producers benefit from:
Opportunities to participate in a number of producing masterclasses, led by industry-respected producers
Mentoring, producer/director shadowing, pitching opportunities and networking events
Invitations to collaborate with other organisations in the East of England
Support from the Mercury team to develop ideas to be considered for future programming
Free tickets and special invitations to some Mercury events
Opportunities to collaborate with early-career artists and associate companies.
If you have any queries, please contact mercury.creatives@mercurytheatre.co.uk.
Apply now for the Mercury Creatives Directors programme
The Mercury Creatives Directors Programme enters its sixth year and will be led by the Mercury’s Artistic Director, Natasha Rickman.
The programme will support a group of ten people to guide and mentor them through the page-to-stage directing process through a series of nine workshop sessions.
The successful cohort will also have opportunities to take part in a number of masterclasses led by experienced directors and creatives across the commercial and subsidised sectors facilitated through the Mercury Creatives programme.
Applicants do not need to have any previous directing experience.
If you would like to apply, we ask you to:
– Be over the age of 18
– Complete the form below in as much detail as required
– Tell us about your connection with the East of England – as all applicants must be from or currently live in this area to take part.
The directors’ cohort sessions are from 6-8pm as follows and will take place in person at the Mercury Theatre and/or Zoom:
Wed 8 Jul 2026
Wed 22 Jul 2026
Wed 5 Aug 2026
Wed 19 Aug 2026
Wed 2 Sep 2026
Wed 16 Sep 2026
Wed 7 Oct 2026
Wed 2 Dec 2026
Wed 6 Jan 2027
Applications are now open!
Applications are open from Fri 15 May 2026 and the deadline is midnight on Fri 12 Jun 2026.
Confirmations of your place will be provided by Fri 26 Jun.
In addition to 18 hours of mentoring, Mercury Directors benefit from:
If you have any queries, please contact mercury.creatives@mercurytheatre.co.uk.
SPILL Festival is offering a new series of artist residencies at the SPILL Think Tank in Ipswich from 20 July – 7 August 2026. Selected artists will receive a £1,000 honorarium, up to one week of free residency space, mentoring from SPILL staff, and access to technical equipment including PA and projection facilities.
The residencies support artists developing new ideas and are aimed at solo, self-producing practitioners working across digital art, experimental sound and music, theatre, film and video, installation, and participatory practice.
Applications close Monday 15 June 2026 at 12pm.
Full details and application information can be found by clicking the opportunity link below.
Would you like to see your writing performed by professional actors? Are you interested in learning more about writing for stage?
Wac Arts is thrilled to continue our intergenerational series with a free creative writing project exploring how theatre and storytelling can promote positive conversations and relationships across the community.
We are looking for young people aged 16 – 24 with an interest in creative writing and theatre to take part in a series of weekly workshops with members of the University of the Third Age at Wac Arts. Under the guidance of playwright Beth Flintoff, Associate Playwright at The Royal Court, the group will explore key aspects of writing for theatre, receive 1:1 script development support and create a series of pieces that will be performed by professional actors.
Workshop Dates & Times: Monday 1st June - 13th July 16:30 - 18:30
Final Sharing Date & Time: Sunday 19th July 13:00 - 17:00
Location: Wac Arts, 213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QP
Cost: Free
Application Form: https://forms.office.com/e/GQeAuaEEuA
No previous experience needed.
For more information please visit our website.
Would you like to see your writing performed by professional actors? Are you interested in learning more about writing for stage?
Wac Arts is thrilled to continue their intergenerational series with a free creative writing project exploring how theatre and storytelling can promote positive conversations and relationships across the community.
They are looking for young people aged 16 – 24 with an interest in creative writing and theatre to take part in a series of weekly workshops with members of the University of the Third Age at Wac Arts. Under the guidance of playwright Beth Flintoff, Associate Playwright at The Royal Court, the group will explore key aspects of writing for theatre, receive 1:1 script development support and create a series of pieces that will be performed by professional actors.
Dates: 1 June - 13 July, 16.30pm - 18.30pm
Final Sharing Date: 19 July, 13.00pm - 17.00pm
Location: Wac Arts, 213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QP
Theatre Making: the Designer-Director Collaboration is a one-day workshop aimed at early career theatre designers and directors. This workshop uses practical exercises to interrogate the process of making work collaboratively.
As an early career director, you may have graduated from a related directing course and made work in:
Please note we are only looking for directors as the designer places are now full.
This workshop will take place on Monday 15 June, 10am – 6pm.
This workshop has been developed by long-time collaborators: designer Georgia Lowe and director Anthony Lau. We hope this workshop will be a space for designers and directors to meet and begin new partnerships.
Participants will be asked to read a one act play in advance of the workshop.
There will be optional networking drinks after the workshop from 6pm. There is also an optional breakfast from 9.20am.
This project is free to take part in. We can offer support access support and financial aid for travel bursaries are available to those in the Greater London area.
Are you a playwright based in the UK who would love to work with Middle Child? From next week, for one-week only, we're accepting scripts so that we can get to know writers we may work with in the future.
All of the details, including what we are and are not looking for, and where to send your script, are on our website (link in bio).
Pictured is our 2025 production of Biting Point by Sid Sagar, who participated in our 2020 associate writer programme following an open call out.
In the first week of May, Middle Child will accept submissions of full theatre scripts, for our literary manager to read. All you need to do is send it to scripts@middlechildtheatre.co.uk with your name and a location. Please include page numbers.
We want to read a script that shows off your voice and what you like to write about. We’re interested in untold stories that make sense of the world today. We are also only looking for one script per writer.
This Masters gives you a practical and theoretical engagement with the many forms of writing and production for theatre. Blending practice, theory and history, the programme is designed for those wishing to develop playwriting skills and knowledge of script development and support, opening the way to many theatre roles, including dramaturgy. You will learn about the changing roles of the playwright and dramaturge in contemporary theatre in the UK and elsewhere around the world, and be supported to define your own creative practice while developing valuable transferable skills in research, project management and critical reflection.
WHY THIS PROGRAMME
In this course, you will develop your skills in writing for radio, theatre and screen with an emphasis on your individual voice and style.
You will graduate with a portfolio of pieces and an understanding of how to approach theatres and film and TV production companies and work towards securing commissions as a professional playwright or screenwriter.
The MLitt will provide you with technically-oriented tuition by leading contemporary and award-winning playwrights, with an emphasis on best practice in recent and contemporary writing.
