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.

Youth Advisory Board Members - Chichester Festival Theatre

We believe positive change can be ignited by young people. We endeavour to create an atmosphere where debate and collaboration is 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.

We are looking for four innovative and driven young people between the ages of 16-25 to join our 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, we 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 our website for full details and the application form to apply https://www.cft.org.uk/jobs/yab

Offered in collaboration with Theatre Peckham, Young & TalentedGuildhall 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.

Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants are designed to enable meaningful partnerships, cross-cultural exchange and long-term collaboration between the UK and participating countries.  

Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to support creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs and collectives to develop and deliver projects across a range of themes and art forms. 

Eligible activity may include:  

A great opportunity to learn about the basic techniques of puppetry and how to bring a story to life using this theatrical device.

With insight into the Made At Curve productions that utilised this method, such as PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS and THE OWL THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS, are you ready to take on a creative challenge that will be full of fun, storytelling and amazing characters?

Date: 18 August 2026

Running time: 2pm – 5pm

Cost: £25 - A limited number of free bursary places are available for families facing financial hardship. If you would like to be considered for a bursary place, please email cycc@curvetheatre.co.uk. They would require evidence of being receipt of benefits or eligible for free school meals or pupil premium.

Finding the Story Through the Body with Keiren Hamilton-Amos.

This workshop introduces participants to movement as a language of storytelling. Through practical exploration, participants will develop the foundations to understand how the body communicates, creates meaning and supports character, narrative and ensemble work.

Using devising techniques, physical exploration and collaborative exercises, the workshop will explore how movement can generate ideas, build relationships and reveal stories beyond words. Participants will work with the body as a creative tool developing awareness, confidence and the ability to create expressive physical choices.

The session will explore ensemble movement, storytelling through the body and the foundations of movement practice, giving participants tools they can carry into acting, devising and performance-making.

Date: Thursday 30 July

Time: 6pm – 9pm

About OpenView Education

OpenView Education is a dynamic Theatre in Education Company. Our mission is to empower students to lead successful, happy lives.

Since 2018, OpenView Education has grown to work with over 100,000 students a year, delivering drama-led PSHE workshops that schools ask us back for, year after year. 

That growth isn't slowing down, and we're looking for self-employed facilitators and performers to work with us.

 

“They are the best company. Honestly I'm saying this from the bottom of my heart. They're such an incredible company.”  - OpenView Education Facilitator

 

As a company we are proud to have an excellent relationship with our facilitators, working in a collaborative way and setting them up to succeed.

 

6 Reasons Why Performers Love Working With OpenView Education:

  1. You Matter: The work you do with OpenView matters - feel fulfilled at the end of your day knowing you're doing important work.
  2. Make a Difference: Use your skills as a performer to empower young people to live successful, happy lives and see the positive impact you have.
  3. Connection: We pride ourselves on having a positive relationship with our facilitators. You'll feel recognised and valued for your individual input.
  4. Learn New Skills and Excel as a Performer: We provide full training for every project, including the opportunity to gain puppeteering experience.
  5. Flexiblility to fit around other projects: Book in project dates with OpenView Education allowing time to work on other projects. 
  6. Return to well-paid work, year after year. You'll have the opportunity to come back for future bookings each year.

 

“I feel like I've really improved my puppetry skills because I'm doing it all the time.” - OpenView Education Facilitator

 

What a typical day is like as an OpenView Education Facilitator

Every booking is different, and the above structure is an example. But one thing's for sure - you’ll always feel well prepared, supported and ready to empower your students!

 

Who We are Looking For

We are seeking reliable facilitators that are happy to work independently. Although you will work independently in the role, we are always available to support you.

We are particularly interested in hearing from actors and facilitators in the following areas:

Essential:

All performers must have:

Desirable:

Every person we work with is important and valued. Our goal is to create a diverse and inclusive working environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. 

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, which reflect the diverse communities of young people and schools we serve.

It's time to get excited about your next project - apply today.

 

Production details

For this role, we are looking for facilitators with availability during the following weeks:

You don't need to be available for all of these dates and work can be allocated around other projects that you may already have in place. 

 

Fees are:

Most bookings are full days.

Plus travel contributions.

 

Casting details:

Zoom Audition:

This will be a first round group interview on Zoom.  It will last approximately 20 minutes.

In-Person Group Audition:

The second round will be an in person group audition at a London Location. 

This will be an activities based audition, you will also perform an excerpt from two of our Workshops. 

This round will last approximately three hours.

We aim to make our in-person auditions supportive, interactive and fun - we’re sure you’ll enjoy the day.

 

Further Information:

 

Apply Now

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage applying as ealy as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Creative Steps funds the professional, business and organisational development of artists who have experienced barriers to careers within the arts.

Creative Steps for Individuals is for supporting career development, and NOT for creating new work or project delivery. For example, creating artwork to sell online would not be applicable but working with a mentor to develop your painting skills would be. 

We want artists to identify exactly what they need to progress and professionalise their artistic career, and to remain open to exploring different ways of doing this with our support. 

We recognise that everybody’s needs are different and that professional development varies from individual to individual. However, these are some of the things that your application could include:

When completing the budget, you should include the following:

We expect all applicants to pay freelancers the standard industry rates as a minimum. If people are providing their time in-kind, we would need to know why and have this confirmed in a letter of support from them. 

The Open Fund for Individuals is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding programmes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The overall annual budget for this fund is £5 million.

What the fund supports

The fund is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes. 

We will ask you to tell us the start and end date for this activity and to describe the outcomes, benefits and impacts that you wish to achieve.

Eligibility

Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland who are at least 18 years old are eligible to apply. You must have a UK bank account in your name.

If you are not a self-employed individual or a sole trader, you may be eligible for the National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations.

Please read the guidance for full information on eligibility.

Funding amounts

You can apply for between £500 and £50,000.

Timescales

As standard, if your application request is between £500 and £20,000 you will hear the outcome in 10 weeks. If your application request is between £20,001 and £50,000 you will hear the outcome in 14 weeks.

Please see above for details of our 25/26 Christmas closure and the effects it will have on our processing timelines.

The Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP) is a range of schemes which aim to support artists across all disciplines to create work and develop their practice

The Project Funding for Individuals scheme aims to support the wide range of activity that can be undertaken by artists of all disciplines in relation to their practice, and to enable innovation and experimentation. A “project” and its associated costs can be any activity that develops and supports your creative practice. 

Project proposals could, for example, be any of the activities below - or a combination of them:

If you are looking for information on other Support for the Individual Artist Schemes, guidance notes for all schemes are available from artscouncil-ni.org/funding/funding-for-individuals You should read the guidance notes for each scheme to find the most suitable for you and your project idea.

Read me aloud