Almeida For Free is an exciting festival for people aged 25 and under.
Running alongside their productions, the festival gives young people the chance to see the productions for free, and to also take part in workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses that cover everything from acting and writing, to theatre-making and design.
It is a celebration of young people’s creativity that takes over the whole theatre and aims to give an insight into the way shows are created at the Almeida.
A Paid Residency Opportunity for Early-Career Artists in Bristol
Creative Futures is offering 4 early-career artists a £500 commission & a 3-month residency each to develop new art, music, sound &/or performance works. Creative Youth Network will provide commissioned artists with a structure of support, mentoring, artist-to-artist creative exchange & workshops to develop their creative practices, producing skills, professional networks, and artistic community - ending with a public showcase of the commissioned artist’s works at The Courts in Bristol’s city centre.
The residency runs from Tues 6th Oct 2026 - Tues 26th Jan 2027. Commissioned artists will receive:
We are looking for artists working across all creative disciplines, with two of the four places will be reserved for musicians and sound artists.
Back for its second year, the Young Associates programme is an exciting opportunity for emerging performers aged 18–26 to explore a broad range of creative roles across theatre and live events.
From September 2026 – May 2027, the programme connects young creatives with industry professionals to develop skills in creative management, writing, directing, production, and collaborative projects, while offering mentorship from peer mentors.
As part of the application process, auditions will be led by acclaimed theatre director Philip J Morris, giving applicants the opportunity to showcase their creativity in front of an experienced industry professional.
Start date: Thursday 24 September 2026
Sessions: Thursdays, 7pm – 9pm
Term 1 (Sept–Dec): Curating Your Own Work
Term 2 (Jan–Feb): Creative Management
Term 3 (Mar–May): Showcasing Skills
Young Associates get free tickets to shows at Brixton House, weekly mentorship and industry insight, workshops and masterclasses, and hands-on experience in festivals and events.
The National Youth Theatre's Stepping Up course is now open to applications!
Stepping Up is a free 3-month acting and leadership programme for young people who are looking to enhance their skills, learn in a supportive environment, and build meaningful connections within a creative community.
As Stepping Up is an accredited course, run by National Youth Theatre in partnership with UCG (United Colleges Group), participants are able to achieve an OCN London Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts, as well as become a National Youth Theatre member.
Key Information:
- The course runs every Monday & Tuesday between 19th October 2026- 26th January 2027.
- Each week participants have one 10:30-4:30 session and one 10:30-8pm session. Tea, lunch and dinner breaks are included throughout the day.
- There are 2 strands (Actors & Leaders).
- Classes take place in the National Youth Theatre's base on the Holloway Road, N7, London.
Acting Pathway
(2 days/evenings a week on a Monday, & Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday if Bank Holiday week).
For young people who are new to performing and/or want to increase their confidence and performing skills. You will participate in units that include acting skills, improvisation, and physical theatre and you will perform in a final show at the end of the course.
Leadership Pathway
(2 days/evenings a week on a Monday, & Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday if Bank Holiday week.)
For young people who have an interest in performing and becoming facilitators in the future. The Leadership strand combines practical acting training alongside learning directing and facilitation skills, including increasing your knowledge of planning and delivering drama workshop and rehearsals. Units include Improvisation, Physical Theatre, Devising and Rehearsal Planning.
Applications are now open for the HAC Young Creatives Programme 2026-27! An exciting opportunity for young adults aged 19-26 to gain free creative industry skills.
What's on Offer:
The HAC Young Creatives Programme aims to develop the skills and talents of young people looking to begin careers in the theatre industry. The course is designed to develop your individual creative practice, and work together as an ensemble to create a professional production.
Term 1:
Term 2:
The course will take place on Thursday evenings (term time) between September 2026 - April 2027, with an intensive showcase rehearsal week from 22nd - 25th March 2027.
Content has been designed to develop your creative skills and your practical knowledge so you’re ready to go out into the industry and take the limelight. What’s more, you’ll meet like-minded creative enthusiasts and become part of a supportive and inspiring artistic community.
To apply, please fill out the application form at the base of this page. If you'd prefer to send your answers to us in video format, please send to participation@harrowarts.com with the subject line 'Young Creatives Application'.
Turtle Key Arts are excited to launch the Joy Artist Development Programme, a new development opportunity for disabled artists as part of Joy Festival 2026.
The Joy Artist Development Programme will support four emerging disabled artists in developing their professional artistic career and practice. The programme will offer 4 artists a programme of 1:1 mentoring, networking, professional seminars with leading disability arts organisations, plus rehearsal time culminating in a performance slot during the Joy Festival Studio performance week in October.
Please read the full information on the programme before applying. All the information can be found on their website including the information pack (full PDF, word & BSL versions)
Key information
Applications open: Friday 17 July, 10am
Applications close: Monday 17 August, 10am
Informal chats/interviews: w/c 17 August, by arrangement*
Programme start date: 4 September 2026
*Please note we will offer to have short, informal conversations with candidates whose applications we would like to know more about. You may be accepted onto the programme without a chat with the team, or we may invite you to talk to us about your idea if we feel we need further clarification.
How to apply
You can apply to the Artist Development Programme via their online application, or submit a word document via email.
A free digital resource celebrating the work of William Shakespeare, developed to bring audiences into direct contact with Shakespeare's language in an immediate and engaging way for students, teachers, actors and anyone with an interest in the plays.
Whether used in the classroom, for exam preparation, independent study or simply to inspire a love of Shakespeare, the library offers a fresh way to engage with these extraordinary works.
The library is available to access online free of charge.
Bristol Old Vic Young Company provides weekly drama sessions for ages 2-30. Sessions focus on ensemble working, devising, and playful creativity, and are led by trained facilitators working in the industry.
Members in the Year 10-11 and 16-25 classes can audition for our Young Company shows, which are performed on the Weston Studio stage and supported by a professional creative team (such as: How Do You Sleep at Night? | Bristol Old Vic). We perform two Young Company shows a year, one in January and one in April, and both are included in your Young Company membership. Casting for the January show will be held in September 2026.
All Young Company members have the chance to perform for family and friends during Springboard, our relaxed annual showcase. Members in Year 7 and above share their work on the Weston Studio stage.
Prices range from £40 for a five-week term for our younger years sessions, to £110 for a ten-week term for our senior sessions. We also offer a limited number of 50% and 100% bursaries. For more information, please see: Fees & Bursaries | Bristol Old Vic.
We also now have a session specifically for young people in Home Education, which runs on Mondays 11am-1pm.
Chichester Festival Theatre believe positive change can be ignited by young people. They endeavour to create an atmosphere where debate and collaboration are celebrated, where young people’s voices are heard and where there is the space and opportunity to think boldly and dynamically about how best to drive Chichester Festival Theatre towards a diverse, inspiring and exciting future.
They are looking for four innovative and driven young people between the ages of 16-25 to join their current members of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and help think creatively about how the Theatre can work to welcome diverse and dynamic audiences. It doesn’t matter whether you have previously engaged with the Theatre or not, they want to hear from people with a variety of interests, which may include the arts.
The YAB will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Festival Theatre’s Board of Trustees, taking part in a two-way conversation on how best to make the Theatre a more inviting and exciting place for young people.
Sound like something you would like to get involved in? Please visit their website for full details and the application form to apply.
Offered in collaboration with Theatre Peckham, Young & Talented, Guildhall School and RADA, Originate prepares young actors for Drama School and the industry via a free intensive eight-month programme. Originate allows young actors to build on their acting technique and confidence as a performer, create industry connections, establish a network of collaborators and introduces them to the rigour and joy of actor training.
Participants train in acting, voice, text, movement and audition technique, the course includes theatre visits, Q&As with actors, directors and practitioners, and access to practical resources such as headshots and showreels.
The course is based at Theatre Peckham with sessions led by Suzann McLean, sessions are also held at RADA and Guildhall School with professional guest tutors from each conservatoire.
The course culminates with a showcase at RADA performed for an audience of professional directors and agents, as well as friends and family.
The Originate partnership enables drama schools to open up access, giving young performers the chance to develop their techniques and learn more about the experience and possibilities of full-time drama training. The programme has been shortlisted for the 2024 NEON Award for Widening Access to Higher Education.
Originate is supported by AKTA Photography who provide pre/post-showcase headshots and showreels for all Originate participants.
