Our work experience programme has been designed in response to the high number of enquiries we receive from school and college students for work experience opportunities
These opportunities are available to 15 – 19-year-olds and we are delighted to offer 6 students a one-week work experience placement in June 2025.
We spread our programme across two weeks (with a cohort of 3 students attending each week). For 2025 these are 16 – 20 June and 23 – 27 June.
What will you be doing?
Duties include (but are not limited to):
This year's Optimist Summer 2025 course is suitable for emerging producers, artists, and creative practitioners who are hoping to develop their skills as professional producers, or as a producer of their own work, in the subsidised arts sector.
Drawing on China Plate’s extensive experience and real examples in theatre producing, The Optimists provides knowledge and insight on the practicalities of making, funding, touring, and promoting your work.
The Optimists course is led by China Plate, with the support of guest industry experts and speakers.
The course is open to participants nationwide, and those working across different art forms (e.g., dance, live art, spoken word, etc.) but has a particular focus on producing and touring live work in the theatre industry.
Sessions: 10 in-person sessions taking place over 7 weeks
Dates: Between Saturday 14 June and Saturday 2 August 2025
Location: Venues across the West Midlands
Spaces: For up to 20 participants
Costs:
Bursaries are available, covering the full cost of the course, to those who have faced prejudice, discrimination and/or cultural barriers due to factors including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
Deadline for applications is 12pm (midday) on Friday 23 May
Please visit our website for more information about the course, including application guidelines and details on how to apply. Accessible formats are available, including BSL & captioned and audio introductions about the course, alongside large print formats.
If you have any questions, please contact our Training & Development Producer, Kristina through the email address shared below.
This course is suitable for 16-18 year olds wanting to work in television, film or the theatre, either in performance or technical support. Employment within the industry not only depends on talent, but also a sense of determination to succeed.
You will experience different performance styles, try out new ideas and gain an understanding of the performing arts industry at Barnet and Southgate College. Projects are largely based on practical assignments and performances, with some written exercises and evaluations.
You will study some of the following areas of performance:
There will be a series of practical assignments varying from informal small group presentations to larger public performances.
Are you an aspiring musician who is looking to create a new single or EPK? Are you looking for opportunities to be able to know how to take control of your content creation and record and perform your own songs?
This course is all about creating a portfolio to attract new opportunities, to rehearse your own original music and gain valuable industry feedback and to improve your own performance and production skills.
You will be getting an insight into artist development through performance activities and analytical problem solving based on your original material. Having a sense of ownership of your creativity and intellectual property is integral in the Music Industry, and we want to harness this methodology and refine the process in which your music is made, produced and performed.
Join us for a fantastic evening filled with joy, birthday drinks, fun games and mingling at EXTERIOR: StageBase's First Birthday Party!
Whether you're an actor, crew member, or theatre enthusiast, this is your chance to celebrate this milestone with us and mates who share your love for the stage. Whether you were here for our first steps or are about to join us for our next, we'd love to see you there!
Date: May 19 2025, Monday
Time: 7pm - 11:30pm
Venue: Barrio, 141-143 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JE
Tickets: PWYW*
*If the cost is a barrier to your attendance, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to accommodate that. If you need to enquire about a refund, get in touch.
** Entry fee is solely used to cover the venue cost and all remaining money will be invested in our next development programme.
StageDates is the perfect combination between effective networking and accessible theatre for early-career creatives.
StageBase invites a set of creatives from different performing arts disciplines - from actors to stage managers, designers to producers and then some - on a free theatre trip; a pre-show meet and greet and a post-show discussion. Everyone meets at the venue for the first time! We aim to discuss, encourage critical thinking and expand your collaboration circle.
We regularly see shows at venues like the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Riverside Studios, The Pleasance, Jermyn Street Theatre and others!
Next StageDate:
16 - Little Brother at Jermyn Street Theatre - May 23
Follow @stagebaseprod on Instagram for more!
StageDates is the perfect combination between effective networking and accessible theatre for early-career creatives
StageBase invites a set of creatives from different performing arts disciplines - from actors to stage managers, designers to producers and then some - on a free theatre trip; a pre-show meet and greet and a post-show discussion. Everyone meets at the venue for the first time! We aim to discuss, encourage critical thinking and expand your collaboration circle.
We regularly see shows at venues like the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Riverside Studios, The Pleasance, Jermyn Street Theatre and others!
Our next StageDate:
15 - The Last Incel at the Pleasance - May 14
Express interest by April 30 at 12pm.
Attendees must be aged 18+ to apply.
Follow @stagebaseprod on Instagram for more!
Are you an aspiring musician looking to start creating and performing your own music? Do you want to learn how to produce tracks, rehearse with others, and grow your confidence as a performer?
This course is the perfect starting point to help you explore your musical creativity, gain essential industry knowledge, and develop your skills in music performance and production.
This hands-on, practical course helps you build a portfolio of original music and live performance work. You’ll learn how to take control of your music, from developing song ideas to recording and performing them. You’ll also collaborate with others, gain feedback on your work, and begin to understand how the music industry operates. We’ll guide you through key aspects of artist development, help you understand your creative rights, and teach you how to present yourself professionally in both live and recorded settings.
We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in performing, songwriting, music-making or you have another creative-skill, aged 18-25.
If you are keen to explore musical theatre, this is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively with artists and facilitators, in response to National Theatre shows, Here We Are and London Road.
You’ll spend the week exploring and creating alongside musical directors and facilitators – the week is all about getting stuck into theatre-making and the process of this. You’ll watch both productions prior to the course week and use these as a starting point for some musical-making during the week. The week will culminate in an informal sharing of work alongside your peers on the last day of the programme.
This year, we’re particularly interested to hear from you if you have a passion for musical theatre or plays with songs.
These opportunities are free to take part in – no prior experience is necessary, just a sense of curiosity and creativity!
Come along for a behind-the-scenes tour of Malvern Theatres
Taking place on regular Sundays during the year, theatre tours offer a great opportunity to visit areas of the building not normally accessible to the public. See behind-the-scenes in all three auditoria: The Festival Theatre, Forum Theatre and Cinema, plus check out the new Studio One space. Stand on the Festival Theatre stage and gaze out into the 850-seat auditorium as you soak up the fascinating story of this historic venue. Take a peek into the dressing rooms used by some of the most famous names in theatre and get an insight into how your favourite shows are staged.
Lasting around 1hr 45mins and led by an experienced tour guide ready to share anecdotes and answer your questions, each theatre tour will end with a cream tea in the Bistro Café.
The price of the tour includes a souvenir brochure detailing the history of Malvern Theatres.
Next date: Sunday 4 May, 1.30pm
