Quick-fire scratch nights for adventurous new writing in theatre and performance! The Scrap is an open-access night for writers, actors and directors to try out new ideas, meet one another, and showcase their work in front of an audience. Live music, good drinks, and cool new theatre.

Here we're looking for companies or ensembles to present a short work or excerpt from a piece they've been developing independently - usually about 25 minutes, max 30. These would be pieces that already have a team attached, and which have undergone development, rehearsal, and more thorough preparation. We usually programme one or two scratches per Scrap.

We're looking for work (or an excerpt) that is 20 - 30 minutes in length, that has a team already attached, and has undergone some previous workshopping (but which hasn't received a full-scale production).

We try to place no strictures on form, content, genre, team or style for our scratches: absolute minimal gatekeeping. All we ask is that you be adventurous and try something new!

A CPD opportunity for teachers to embed drama and creativity into their teaching, through working with a Bristol-based theatre company, Travelling Light.

Want to shake up your physics lesson but need some inspiration? Join Travelling Light on an exploration of how to incorporate more Drama into your classroom. Find out how a team of artists and teachers used arts-based learning to refresh their existing curriculum, whilst supporting pupil oracy, emotional literacy and wellbeing.

Key aims of the session:

Slots available in Bristol (8th Dec), Weston-Super-Mare (9th Dec) or Bath (11th Dec).

Please note, this is for teachers only.

Stretch your creative muscles and split in groups, collaboratively (and friendly competitively) work on devising and adapting ideas from stimulus such as articles, published literature, sound and photography, culminating in a sharing at the end of the session. Led by Artistic Directors of StageBase, Eleanor Willis and Gabriela Chanova

Based in London; Moya Jane Studios E9 6ND

Session time from 7pm-9pm on November 4th

More sessions every Tuesday 7-9pm until the 9th of December and get all 6 sessions for £46 with the link below!

Polka’s Catapult Programme consists of two seed funding strands, which are designed to platform underrepresented Artists and to help bring brand new ideas and concepts to life. Both programmes are open to Artists at any stage of their career, and from any creative discipline. 

The TYA sector is currently significantly underrepresented with work from artists from the Global Majority, who identify as disabled, LGBTQ+, or who come from a lower socio-economic background. There is also a real need to identify brand new stories for children – those not adapted from books, tv shows or films or western fairy tales. We are looking for artists who can address these gaps, with the very best innovative new ideas for children’s theatre.

First Steps: For brand new ideas for audiences of 0-6 years

Next Steps: For taking that first draft or second R&D to the next stage for audiences of 0-12 years

Both strands offer mentoring, training, free rehearsal space, scratch performance opportunities and tickets to Polka productions. 

BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications. They combine practical learning with subject and theory content.  
 
The BTEC study programme can be accessed from 16 years of age and is delivered by our highly trained professional artists and performing arts teachers within each learning facility over two years. Students will train and perform within our professional, purpose-built studios providing a unique and true vocational experience. 
 
As one of the oldest Musical Theatre colleges we'll ensure you maximise your true potential as you'll work closely with our working industry professionals. You will receive a high level performing arts training and work towards achieving the highest grades possible in line with our high internal standards to become the very best version of you. 
 
You will be assessed through practical performances, rehearsals, training sessions and assignments. This BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice will allow you to progress onto university, audition/apply to specialist, advanced performing arts schools and/or gain employment directly into the industry.  
 
 
Recognition 
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Musical Theatre) is awarded by Pearson and regulated by Ofqual. It is Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. This qualification is equivalent to 3 A-levels and worth up to 168 UCAS points. 
 
Progression 
This BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice will allow learners to progress onto university, audition/apply to specialist, advanced performing arts schools and/or gain employment directly into the industry.
 
 
 
 
 

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.



Financing your studies may seem daunting at first, but help is at hand. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School will provide all the support you need to take control of your finances.

For fees purposes, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School classifies students as UK or International. Your residency classification determines the amount you pay in tuition fees as well as the financial support available to help towards tuition fee costs and living expenses.

This programme aims to provide the vital support necessary for students to overcome the financial barriers they face to access and complete our training, allowing students to focus fully on their course without the burden of financial strain. 

We currently provide scholarship support to 28% of students across our student cohorts. Applicants will be contacted about scholarships when they receive an offer to train at LAMDA, however some scholarships can be applied for externally. 

All scholarship applicants must possess the means to fund their training costs at LAMDA before applying for scholarship support. This includes applying for applicable undergraduate or postgraduate loans in the UK, US or home countries. 

There is always a greater need for scholarships than what we can currently provide, and we are working to increase the number of scholarships available to ensure that finance is not a barrier to students from under-represented groups who wish to access LAMDA’s training.

LAMDA’s scholarships usually range between £3,000 - £15,000 and are funded through grants from trusts and foundations, companies and individual donors and are reviewed on an annual basis. 

We believe that talent and potential should be the only requirements for entry, and that a person’s circumstances should never prevent them from embarking on a successful career in theatre. Every year, Mountview awards a range of scholarships and bursaries to support students with the costs of study.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of talent, potential and financial need and designed to ensure that cost is not a barrier to study. Mountview’s scholarships are generously provided by a variety of supporters including the Leverhulme Trust, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Elaine Paige OBE, Crossroads Live Ltd, The Champniss Foundation, The Christina Smith Foundation, Jamie Lonsdale and many more.

For: producers, artistic directors, people working in youth theatre, access coordinators, facilitators, directors, and people making work in the room.

This session will cover how Prime Theatre approach pastoral care and supporting the teenagers they work with, including support inside and outside of the rehearsal room and care practices.

We think it's important there are free, regular spaces to connect with other youth theatre makers, to learn together and to dream big for the sector. 

Since 2024, we’ve partnered with England’s Youth Theatre NPOs to offer free, regular online spaces to discuss the practice of running a youth theatre today.

In the Running a Youth Theatre sessions, you'll hear about their real-world perspectives and practice, participate in a task or provocation, and have space to ask any questions you have to the session leader and other makers in the room.

This is a space to learn, reflect, and connect with others working across the sector - whether you're new to the role or have years of experience. All sessions are free, held on Zoom and are open to anyone using performance in their work with young people.

 

Read me aloud