Submissions are now OPEN for the second year of the Bill Cashmore Award: One Act Play Prize
The Bill Cashmore Award, presented by Young Lyric, offers a paid opportunity for two new one-act plays by writers aged 18-30, to be professionally produced at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. The two winning plays will run as a double bill and will be performed by the Lyric’s Springboard trainee actors in Autumn 2026.
The two successful writers will:
We particularly welcome submissions from those who are underrepresented in theatre and/or situated in areas culturally underserved. Please see our FAQs for more details.
Experience a behind-the scenes tour and interactive sessions throughout the building, with expert advice on career pathways into theatre and live entertainment at one of Bristol's most iconic venues!
Book for either the 4th or 6th November.
This opportunity is part of the West of England Discover! Creative Careers takeover, in collaboration with: Get Into Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Beacon, St George’s, The Redgrave, Prime Theatre, The Egg Theatre and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Please note, this is for school groups only. Sign up and book via the Discover! Opportunity Finder.
Experience the magic of pantomime from behind the scenes!
Discover the magic that goes into creating our award- winning pantomimes. From costumes and props to stage secrets, it will be a unique glimpse into the world of theatre.
Take a picture of yourself in our pantomime set, see out wonderful costumes up close as you enjoy an exclusive backstage tour.
Our backstage tours are suitable for all ages to enjoy.
Dates:
Friday 12 December - 3.30pm & 4.15pm
Sunday 14 December - 11.45am
Tour lasts a maximum of 40mins.
Please bear in mind that there is no step free access on theatre tours.
If you love theatre and film, you can study them both in depth on the only course of its kind in Scotland. The innovative BA (Hons) in Theatre and Film combines theory and practice to prepare you for a flourishing career in the creative industries.
And… ACTION! Film and theatre are thriving industries, creatively and commercially. This course will give you the confidence and skills you need to enter careers in theatre, film, teaching, and professions demanding communication and creativity. You will be able to forge your own career path, taking full advantage of a course that is flexible to fit your needs.
We’re pleased to announce that Arts and Homelessness International (AHI) in collaboration with One Roof ODAC will be starting regular scratch nights to be held at Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC). The first event will take place on Friday 12th September 2025.
A scratch night is an event where artists/creatives with lived experience of homelessness can show work that is still in progress. This might be a song, a poem, a fragment of a play, or a visual artwork that isn’t yet finished. It’s a space to try things out, to explore, and to begin conversations around work that’s still forming.
These scratch nights are open to artists/creatived with lived experience as well as AHI & One Roof ODAC communities with lived experience of homelessness, creating a safe and supportive environment for artists/creatives at different stages of their careers to share and discuss their work. Discussion will play a huge part in these events.
We are especially keen for creatives and artists with lived experience of homelessness to attend; whether as performers or audience members as your voices and perspectives are at the heart of this programme.
All conversations will be guided by the Critical Response Process developed by artist Liz Lerman. This is a kind and supportive structure for group discussion, enabling valuable feedback from the audience without overwhelming artists with harsh criticism or unhelpful praise. It’s about going deeper, helping artists learn more about their own work and the processes of others.
Each night will feature three or four artists. The work could take many forms—performance, visual sketches, ideas, a few lines of a poem or song lyrics. After each presentation, there’ll be a structured discussion, and then we’ll move on to the next artist.
The atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, with plenty of opportunities to socialise and enjoy refreshments.We hope this scratch nights will become a regular feature of our community calendar—an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and support each other, artistically and socially.
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.
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.
Acting Strong: Resilience for Stage-Ready, Mind-Ready Artists.
Acting Strong is a podcast by Generation Arts, made for young people pursuing a career in the performing arts. In each episode, actors and artists from a range of backgrounds share real stories about how they got started, what it’s really like working in the industry, and how resilience helped them through the highs and lows. Honest, inspiring, and full of practical insight—this is a must-listen for anyone dreaming of a career on stage or screen.
Available at the direct link, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at Generation Arts website.
This production is supported using public funding through Arts Council England
Acting Strong and Generation Arts are not-for-profit.
