For aspiring writers, composers, and anyone curious about creating original musicals.
This week-long workshop is designed for young people interested in writing for musical theatre - whether you’re a lyricist, composer, book writer, or just starting to explore how stories are told through song.
Throughout the course, you’ll work with professional musical theatre writers to gain a deeper understanding of how to craft a compelling narrative and seamlessly integrate book and score.
You’ll begin by developing your own ideas, supported through writing exercises and creative feedback. By the end of the week, you’ll have created original material that could form part of a pitch or treatment to share with directors and producers.
Alongside writing time, you’ll explore the realities of working as a theatre creative - from the structure of the industry to how new musicals are commissioned, produced and developed.
The course takes place at Birmingham Hippodrome, home to a thriving New Works department - an inspiring setting where you’ll be surrounded by writers, creatives and producers.
You’ll also get the chance to watch technical rehearsals and a performance of Lightning Boy, NYMT’s bold new musical playing that week.
The Criterion Theatre Trust welcomes thousands of visitors each year to our productions, as well as to a variety of other events including showcases, workshops and readings.
This training scheme is aimed at an individual who has an interest in a career in theatre front of house management, operations of a Theatre or arts venue. They may already have experience as a front of house team member but this is not essential. The ideal candidate will be wishing to gather experience and qualifications to be able to progress in a career in theatre management.
The Theatre Managers and Front of House team are responsible for the smooth running of the theatre during all performance times, ensuring that our customers, company, and other theatre users experience a safe, pleasant and enjoyable visit to The Criterion.
In so doing they will:
This six-month training scheme will involve on the job training working with our Theatre Managers in a busy theatre environment. Work will include evening and weekends in which you will learn about the responsibilities of Duty Management as well as day time administration shifts.
You will play a part in the direct line management of FOH Assistants and Stage door keepers. So you will take the time getting to know the teams whilst understanding strengths and weaknesses of individuals which in turn will help you indicate training needs for the team. You will be involved in staff appraisals, return to works and performance management when required with Theatre Management.
You will spend time working and shadowing with other departments at the Theatre including Box Office, Finance, Stage Door, Fire officer and Front of House to help you understand their roles and the part they play in ensuring the successful operation of the Criterion Theatre.
There will be occasional external hires/events including the Criterion New Writing programme, Eastside Spoken Word and a variety of others which you will have the opportunity of facilitating with the Theatre Management. This will give you an insight into utilising the venue’s potential, the importance of community outreach and building of relationships with a multitude of clients and producers.
As there is a large focus on stock management and bar sales including merchandise, you will have the opportunity of meeting different suppliers, whilst being able to understand the needs of different audiences and the trends of bar sales by looking at sales reports with the Theatre Management. This will also play a key part in helping understand how to process orders.
You will get the opportunity to take part in short placements at other venues the Criterion has relationships with, to help understand how different venues operate.
Taking on this post will involve commitment from the trainee - demonstrating an active interest in learning and making the most of the opportunities presented. Assessment reviews will be carried out at regular intervals.
At the end of the six months the trainee will have:
Working Days – Scheduled dependent on the production schedule. 2 x 5 hours shifts and 3 x 8 hours shifts a week - 34 hours total.
Shifts will be combined with some daytime and mostly evening shift patterns.
Will involve some time on training courses off site. First aid training and personal license application costs will be covered by the Trust provided the full six-month course is completed.
£14.58 per hour for a 34-hour week, work on Sundays paid at double time, employer auto enrolment pension contributions.
Are you a passionate theatre lover with a keen eye for detail and excellent writing skills? Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you as an Edinburgh Fringe Reviewer!
We are currently seeking Edinburgh Fringe Reviewers to join our Guest Reviewer Programme for the upcoming Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As a Theatre Reviewer, you will play a crucial role in providing insightful and engaging reviews of performances at the festival, helping to inform and guide audiences and artists alike.
Looking for new opportunities, need support with a personal project, or just after some advice?
Book a quick chat with the RicNic team to get unstuck, ask questions, or explore your next steps. We can help with everything from career planning and freelancing to opportunity-hunting, CV reviews, and more.
Our team brings a wealth of experience in event and theatre production, new writing development, and creative careers—and we’re connected to a broad network of industry professionals ready to offer shadowing, mentoring, or a helpful chat. Using proven coaching techniques, we’ll help you clarify your goals, find answers, and leave the session with a clear set of actions—plus our practical advice along the way.
Scratch My Progress is the Oh Yeah Music Centre’s flagship annual talent development programme.
It is supported by PRS Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council.
Each year we recruit 4-5 emerging artists from Northern Ireland onto a structured and dedicated scheme of work that supports the creation, performance and promotion of their work. The programme is guided by our dedicated talent development specialist, Charlene Hegarty and builds a system of ‘real world’ experience and support around artists at pivotal stages of their career development.
The support offered includes mentoring, one to one meetings with industry experts, and workshops on everything from vocal coaching, songwriting, funding and festival applications, copyright & IP management and developing skills in managing finances.
As part of the 9-month programme each act will gain free rehearsal space, recording time, PR and marketing support and training, a professional photoshoot and a biography writing session as we prepare for an official release as part of the programme.
We’re excited to invite you and your Year 12 students to Creative Futures – a free, inspiring day of talks, workshops, and Q&As designed to spark interest and ambition in performing arts careers.
Date: Thursday 10 July 2025
Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Location: The Studio at The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Cost: FREE
Your students will hear directly from professional actors, writers, and creatives from Bradford, including Jessica Knappett, Amit Dhand, and Shaun Thomas, and take part in interactive workshops exploring the craft and careers behind the stage and screen, including:
Places are limited to 200 students – register now to avoid missing out.
Schools and colleges may bring up to 20 students.
To register, please email the address below.
A UK-wide free training programme for ages 18 to 30
Dive into the world of theatre-making and shape the future of Theatre with OV Theatre Makers, a free, six-month training programme.
With the support of director Joseph Hancock and leading professional theatre makers, you’ll explore contemporary theatre-making practices to provide you with a toolkit of skills to begin developing your own work and career. Developing a broad range of theatre making skills from writing and devising to directing and producing you will then have the chance to showcase your work in a Scratch Night at a professional theatre venue.
Travel to London will be required and we’re able to support with costs if needed.
A workshop for the politically engaged and perpetually exhausted. In the face of arts cuts, climate collapse, and rising authoritarianism, what does it mean to keep making political theatre?
Is it still a tool for change or just shouting into the void? This session creates space to reflect, rant, and reimagine: to swap strategies, share frustrations, and ask what resistance looks like onstage today.
All ticket sales will be donated to WarChild. The workshop will take place on June 22nd at Riverside Studios, 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
About Sam Rees:
Sam Rees is a critically acclaimed theatre-maker whose work has been staged at leading UK venues, including Summerhall, Oxford Playhouse, Soho, Norwich Theatre, and Jermyn Street. His recent projects include Edinburgh Fringe 2024 sell-out show Lessons On Revolution, praised as ‘compelling and galvanising’ (James Graham), ‘one of my favourites of this year’s fringe’ (Natasha Tripney),‘a heartfelt paean to the politics of hope ★★★★★’ (The Scotsman), ‘the best thing we’ve seen this year ★★★★★’ (The Morning Star), ‘intelligent, questioning documentary theatre ★★★★’ (The Stage), and ‘one of the most talked about shows from this year’s festival’ (The Conversation), and The Food Bank Show, called ‘utterly magnetic ★★★★’ by Broadway Baby, a show which ‘creates space for radical conversation to happen ★★★★’ by A Young(ish) Perspective), and ‘an exemplary production that defies the rules of the genre’ by Theatre Weekly.
We provide professional development opportunities for actors, writers, artists, designers and makers from the region
We strive to be a creative hub in the city that allows for peer learning and support, nurturing a culture of shared opportunities and experiences to support in career development and sustainability.
We know that all work, at every scale, starts somewhere and that it can be incredibly difficult to access space and support to develop new work in it's initial stages.
As part of our Studio programme, we have created Open Door to new and developing professional work.
The Young Muslim Writers Awards is back for the 15th year and want to hear from you! If you’re aged 16 or under and living in the UK, we’re inviting you to submit your entry for a chance to be read by our judges!
If you’re one of this year’s shortlisted writers, you’ll be invited to the awards ceremony, receive a certificate, and be gifted with books!
The closing date for the 2025 Young Muslim Writers Awards is midnight on Sunday 27 July 2025.
