Friday New Pathways
This week: new development opportunities for theatre artists and other theatre people on 15 May 2026
This week on Friday New Pathways:
tiata fahodzi have announced the return of PlayLab in 2026 with a refreshed two-year programme designed to support and develop Global Majority artists working across theatre and the wider performing arts.
New Earth have announced the New Earth Writers UK Academy Plus: a new programme supporting five early-mid career BESEA playwrights from across the UK who have a full length play that they would like to take to the next level.
Submissions are now open for a new national playwrighting prize: The Mainstage Prize, with an award of £10,000 for the winning bold, ambitious Horror play.
SPILL Festival and Think Tank in Ipswich have announced a new series of Artist Residencies for Summer 2026.
Test Match, the artist development programme from Camden People’s Theatre for Works-in-Progress is back for 2026.
Frantic Assembly have announced applications are now open for the Intermediate Course, a 2.5-day course on Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June 2026 at Woolwich Works in London.
YesYesNoNo have launched another opportunity for emerging artists - their ‘Open Rehearsal‘ scheme is back for 10 London based artists.
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tiata fahodzi have announced the return of PlayLab in 2026 with a refreshed two-year programme designed to support and develop Global Majority artists working across theatre and the wider performing arts.
The team are selecting six artists from across the UK for a paid opportunity that centres long-term development. PlayLab is a structured two-year programme delivered through 12 sessions (six each year), running bi-monthly sessions from February 2026 to December 2027.
The programme offers:
A paid artist development opportunity over two years
A supported space to develop your artistic practice
Sessions shaped by the cohort’s needs and interests
Access to specialist facilitators
Regular mentorship
Regional theatre engagement opportunities
Peer connection and professional guidance
The team are seeking applications from Global Majority artists working in a range of practices within the arts/performing art, based anywhere in the UK. This is for makers who are looking for structured support to expand their practice, reflect on their career path, or strengthen their networks. Applications are welcome from a wide range of disciplines and approaches to performance.
New Earth have announced the New Earth Writers UK Academy Plus.
This is a BESEA writers’ programme dedicated to the development of a full length play, part-time (approximately 30 total hours) over 5 months October 2026-February 2027. Delivery is a mix of in-person and online; for regional playwrights, all in-person delivery will be provided at the nearest New Earth regional hub and travel costs will be covered.
The programme supports five early-mid career BESEA playwrights from across the UK who have a full length play that they would like to take to the next level through a supported and rigorous redrafting programme. Participants will create a new draft of their submitted work. They will integrate dramaturgical techniques and feedback through mentorship, a revision structure and system of support by experts and peers.
Deadline 30 June 2026
Submissions are now open for a new national playwrighting prize: The Mainstage Prize, with an award of £10,000 for the winner. This year, the team are looking for bold, ambitious horror plays.
Founded by producer Sophie Cairns and supported by Riverside Studios, the annual prize aims to address a growing demand from theatres and producers for new plays with the potential to fill large venues and tour nationally.
Deadline: 30 August 2026
SPILL Festival and Think Tank in Ipswich have announced a new series of Artist Residencies for Summer 2026.
If you’d like to spend one week in the White Room, researching and developing a new idea, then the team would love to hear from you. Successful applicants receive an honorarium of £1000 for each residency. Dates are 20 July - 7 August 2026.
These residencies are intended for solo, self-producing artists, although you can be working with collaborators. The team are particularly interested in artists who incorporate any of the following forms in their work:
Digital art
Experimental Sound + Music
Experimental Theatre
Film + Video
Installation
Participatory Practice
Deadline: Monday 15 June at 12pm
Test Match, the artist development programme from Camden People’s Theatre for Works-in-Progress is back for 2026.
The team are looking for looking for six developing pieces, to share 45-60 minutes of work-in-progress and are interested in performance which asks big, sticky questions about what it is to be human, work which is outward looking, work which plays with form in order to serve content, and work which seeks to move a conversation forwards rather than re-iterating old tropes.
You'll get a £200 seed commission , 2 half days of workshops, marketing support, half a days technical support and a follow up meeting with Artistic Director Rio. Performances will take place between the 5 October and 17 November 2026
Deadline: Midday Thursday 21 May
Our friends at Frantic Assembly have announced applications are now open for the Intermediate Course, a 2.5-day course on Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June 2026 at Woolwich Works in London.
These sessions are for people with previous experience in physical theatre or dance, or those who have attended the Introductory or Teacher Training workshops who wish to gain a deeper knowledge about the way Frantic works in the rehearsal room. This training will develop your physical confidence, enabling you to be bold and playful in the way that you create your own work.
WHEN? Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June 2026
TIMINGS? 2pm to 5pm (Friday) 10am to 5pm (Saturday/Sunday)
WHERE? Woolwich Works, London, SE18 6HD
HOW MUCH? £290 // £240 concession
Deadline: Sunday 24th May at 11:59pm
YesYesNoNo have launched another opportunity for emerging artists - their 'Open Rehearsal' scheme is back for 10 London based artists.
If you want to observe the team’s process as they make a brand new solo storytelling show for Fringe 2026 & get bespoke mentoring, send a paragraph of text about who you are and why you're interested. Travel within London paid.
To apply or for more info, email sam@yesyesnono.org