The Shedload-of-Future Fund awards £5,000 grants annually to artists taking work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time. The fund supports debut performers and companies spanning theatre, comedy, music and the performing arts.
The expanded 2026 Fund is generously supported by Francesca Moody Productions, Multitude Media, Joe Lycett, Nish Kumar, Plosive, and Mick Perrin Worldwide.
For 2026, we’re offering 5 x £5,000 grants.
These bursaries can be used towards any costs associated with bringing your show to the Fringe – whether that’s travel, marketing, accommodation, set, or simply giving yourself the time and space to create.
Applications for the 2026 Fund will go open on 11 March 2026 at Midday. Applications will close when we hit 150 submissions or on 1 April, whichever comes first.
The form has will have four short stages:
Need support applying?
We’re committed to making the process as accessible as possible. If you’d prefer to apply via video, or if there’s anything else we can do to support your application, please get in touch with us at info@shedinburgh.com
As a part of the application form, we’ll ask the following three questions (max 300 words each):
Want to be reminded when applications open? Make sure you’re signed up to the Shedinburgh mailing list!
Last year we awarded £15,000 to new Fringe artists, supporting exceptional new writing to make it to the stage.
Since Fringe 2025, the shows we supported have transferred to Soho Theatre and The Pleasance, been shortlisted for the BBC Popcorn Award, and been featured in The Guardian and Rolling Stone.
Last year’s winners were:
– Hannah Ogbu-Samuel (Tigers, Not Daughters)
– Chakira Alin (Quite the Cowboy)
Join Masterclass for a Q&A with stars of stage and screen, Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Siff, on the set of their West End show, Shadowlands.
Beyond his notable TV and film roles – including Downton Abbey and Paddington– Hugh has built an extensive stage career, working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Donmar Warehouse, the Old Vic and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Similarly, alongside roles in Mad Men and Sons of Anarchy, Maggie has worked in theatres across New York and the wider US, appearing in works from new writing to classics by Shakespeare and Ibsen.
They’ll dive into their collaborative process, the challenges of bringing the complex characters of Shadowlands to life, and balancing authenticity with creation.
🔥 Bring your questions and don’t miss this opportunity to hear two critically-acclaimed actors discuss storytelling, craft and the timeless power of theatre.
📅 Friday 20 March
⏱️ 3.30-5.00pm
📍 Aldwych Theatre
🎟️ Book your place and submit your questions by visiting the webpage linked below.
Work experience offers practical, hands-on insight into the theatre industry, helping you build skills, confidence, and a clearer understanding of different career pathways. It’s an ideal first step when exploring a future in theatre. As an initial step, we recommend getting in contact with your local theatre to see if they offer any work experience opportunities.
While many people associate theatre careers with performing, there are a huge number of offstage roles that make productions possible. From stage management and lighting to marketing, producing, costume, sound, and technical theatre, work experience allows you to explore these departments and discover which areas interest you most. Taking part in work experience placements can provide a range of valuable benefits, including:
Understanding How Theatres Work:
Working within a theatre environment allows you to see how different departments collaborate to bring a production to life. This perspective is incredibly valuable if you're considering a career in the sector.
Developing Practical Theatre Skills:
Work experience often gives you the chance to assist with real tasks, whether that’s supporting technical teams, observing rehearsals, helping front-of-house teams, or working with marketing and administration departments.
Building Confidence and Professional Skills:
Being part of a professional environment helps you develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that are essential across the creative industries.
Making Connections in the Theatre Industry:
The theatre industry is highly collaborative. Work experience placements can introduce you to professionals working in the field and help you begin building a network within the industry.
Strengthening Future Applications:
Whether you're applying for drama school, university courses, apprenticeships, or entry-level roles, work experience demonstrates enthusiasm, initiative, and commitment to the sector.
Many theatres and arts organisations across the UK offer work experience placements, shadowing opportunities, and youth programmes. Availability and application processes vary, but the following organisations regularly provide opportunities for young people interested in theatre careers:
London
South of England
Midlands
North of England
North of England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
You may also want to check the websites of theatres local to you, as many venues offer placements throughout the year or during school holidays.
Work experience is one of the most valuable ways to begin exploring opportunities in theatre. It provides a clearer understanding of how productions are created and how different departments work together behind the scenes.
Whether your interests lie in technical theatre, production, stage management, marketing, or theatre administration, gaining offstage experience is an excellent way to start your journey in the industry.
During this programme you will:
You will do all of this with the guidance and support of acclaimed disabled director, Hana Pascal Keegan.
Hana, is also an experienced director of accessible, inclusive spaces. Hana will be joined by a team of other artists along the way.
You must be available for the dates below to take part in this project
Sign up via the form below or register by contacting us on 020 8510 4512
Koro Lab supports migrant and Global Majority creatives to develop bold immersive, interactive and site-specific work through artist development and R&D commissions.
Taking place in spring-summer 2026, the programme includes training, mentoring, production support and seed funding, delivered in partnership with arts and heritage venues.
It will culminate in Koro Festival, a new biennial festival of socially engaged immersive and site-specific performance in May 2027.
Between April and October 2026, nine artists or companies will receive:
• Training: A two-day programme of workshops on immersive and site-specific theatre-making on 7-8 May
• Space: One week of free R&D space at Shoreditch Town Hall, Theatre Deli or Wellcome Collection
• Seed funding: A £2,500 bursary
• Showcasing opportunities: A public sharing with professional filming and photography
• Production support: Mentoring, production and fundraising support from the Koro team and collaboration with an access consultant
Open Spaces bursaries: For four artists creating new immersive or interactive performances responding to current social, political, economic, or climate challenges, culminating in a joint sharing at Shoreditch Town Hall on 30th September.
Wellcome Collection bursary: For an artist developing a new immersive or interactive piece exploring questions of health, inspired by Wellcome Collection’s archives or collections, with a sharing at Wellcome Collection's studio space.
Marketplace bursaries: For three migrant artists creating new interactive work for high streets, marketplaces, and outdoor public spaces, leading to a weekend of short public performances at Leadenhall Market on 18-19th September.
Site-specific bursary: For an artist developing work for a particular place, e.g. public libraries, cafés, museum galleries or green spaces, with a site-specific sharing in September.
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More info: Before submitting your application, please read the Information for applicants, for full details about the opportunity and eligibility criteria.
Application form: Apply here
Application questions: This Word document can be used to prepare your application offline.
Closing date: 15th March 2026
Questions and access support: Please check our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any other questions about your application - including personal access costs or submitting in an alternative format - please contact programme@koro.org.uk
For facilitators, educators, and creative leaders who want to lead with impact, empathy, and embodied creativity.
Lead is a two-day residency designed for practitioners working in education, community and participatory arts. Rooted in Gecko’s physical theatre methodology, it offers practical tools and inspiration for leading dynamic, inclusive spaces that centre physical expression and emotional connection.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This programme is suitable for facilitators, teachers, and creative practitioners working in:
Participants must be comfortable with highly physical, collaborative work.
Gecko is committed to diversity, inclusion and equality within the arts and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Participants will explore:
WHAT WILL I GAIN?
WHEN IS IT?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
WHERE WILL IT TAKE PLACE?
ARE THERE ANY BURSARY PLACES AVAILABLE?
Gecko is committed to creating opportunities for those who are underrepresented in the arts, and we particularly welcome applications from artists from the global majority, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and d/Deaf, neurodivergent and disabled artists.
We will be offering a limited number of bursary places for this residency, which cover the participation fee. To apply for a bursary please complete this section of the application form to tell us a little about your background, circumstances and why receiving a bursary would enable you to take part in this opportunity.
Bursary places are intended for applicants who would otherwise not be able to take part for financial reasons. If you are able to participate without financial support, we kindly ask that you do not apply for a bursary. We do offer a finance plan to help spread the costs if this would better support your access.
Please note that participants will need to arrange their own travel and accommodation.
“This is the best my disability has been treated in any of the training I've done…it means so much to me that I had such a smooth and joyous time.” - Spring ‘23 Residency Participant
This demanding and highly practical course will help you to develop and craft your audition skills.
The course is aimed at all experience levels, particularly those thinking about applying to drama school, but may also be of interest to those who want to explore a specific piece of performance text.
Course Content
This three-day course is designed to train and prepare you for acting auditions. Over the three days you will:
Please head to the opportunity link to read more about how to prepare and any materials you need to bring along to the course.
4 days/week, 10 month fixed term contract | £31,793 (pro-rata)
Company Three are looking for two energetic, creative and experienced Resident Artists to co-create work with their young people and help deliver their year-round programme of workshops and performances.
Company Three are looking for two new Resident Artists to join our team on a one-year fixed term contract, working 4 days a week. The Resident Artist will bring their experience, energy and creativity to their residency at Company Three, supporting the delivery of Company Three’s artistic programme, leading core company projects, workshops and other activities as well as other satellite projects.
Working as part of a collaborative artistic leadership structure, they play an active role in regular practice labs to interrogate and develop C3’s practice and methodology, as well as contributing to monitoring, evaluation, dissemination and external partnerships.
We want everyone who believes they meet the person specification to feel comfortable and confident applying for this role. It is our responsibility to make the application process accessible. If you require our packs or other information in a different format, would like to apply in a different way, or have any questions please let us know.
First Round Interviews: Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March
Second Round Interviews: Thursday 2 April 2026
Friday 20 March - Cardiff (Evening)
Saturday 21 March - Carmarthen PM
Sunday 22 March - Aberystwyth PM
Saturday 28 March - Wrexham AM
Saturday 28 March - Mold PM
Sunday 29 March - Llandrindod Wells PM
Tuesday 31 March - Bangor (Evening)
Thursday 2 April - Newport AM
Thursday 2 April - Merthyr Tydfil PM
Saturday 4 April - Cardiff AM + PM
Tuesday 7 April - Swansea AM + PM
Wednesday 8 April - Cardiff AM
Wednesday 8 April - Treorchy PM
Head over to the opportunity link to read more about the requirements and take a look through the FAQs.
Open Works is a bold celebration of theatre, offering a platform for the most exciting and dynamic artists in South Yorkshire.
With a focus on fresh perspectives and powerful stories, the festival will present world premieres, and original plays that bring unheard stories to the stage.
Committed to supporting artists at every stage of their journey, the festival promises compelling performances, and a chance to experience cutting-edge theatre.
The Open Works Festival will take place between Mon 28 September and Sat 10 October 2026 across the Montgomery Theatre and Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse at Sheffield Theatres.
The festival will feature work from our Associate Companies – Forced Entertainment, Roots Mbili, Stand and Be Counted and The Bare Project – alongside work by LUNG and Swans Productions.
There are four ways for artists to have their work presented as part of Open Works 2026.
Applications for Performance Ready, Work-in-Progress, and Rehearsed Readings are open now until Sun 22 March 2026. Application for Scratch will open this summer.
To support the development of new work in our region we will be running Open Working, a series of workshops focused on making and producing skills.
There will be opportunities for up to 25 people to join Open Working, with participants randomly selected from all eligible submitted applications to all of our Open Works opportunities.
We welcome and encourage applications from artists from backgrounds under-represented in the arts, including but not limited to those who identify as D/deaf and/or disabled, neurodiverse, global majority and/or migrant, and LGBTQ+.
We are proud to be partnering with New Earth Theatre to develop a range of opportunities for British East and Southeast Asian artists as part of Open Works 2026.
We want to create a platform for BESEA artists in our region, so we are allocating slots as part of our Work-in-Progress, Rehearsed Readings, and Scratch opportunities for BESEA artists. In collaboration with New Earth Theatre we will also be offering bespoke mentoring and networking packages for BESEA artists.
New Earth Theatre is the leading and longest-running British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) touring theatre company in the UK. Their mission is to bring nuanced BESEA representation to the widest possible audience.
