Friday New Pathways
This week: new development opportunities for theatre artists and other theatre people on 8 May 2026
This week on Friday New Pathways (slightly later than planned this week):
The Polka Playwriting Award is back and open for submissions for new writing for young audiences aged 7-13.
The Creative Fund from Manipulate Arts is now open, offering Scottish-based artists up to £5,000, rehearsal space, mentorship and a supported sharing to help you push your project forward.
Babel Theatre have announced that CREATION SPACE is back - a year long development programme for theatremakers, dancers and movement artists to make your work.
Light Up The North have announced the return of SPARK 2026 - a programme that nurtures and develops artists & producers interested in working in the light art sector.
Summerhall Arts is inviting applications for two First Draft Commissions, supporting writers based in Scotland to develop a new play over an extended, self-directed period.
Rampage Theatre have teamed up with the Bush Theatre once more for Ink to Action, this time for LGBTQ+ playwrights for a double bill reading in June.
The National Theatre Skills Centre have announced two free new courses for young people to get involved with, around prop making, design and directing.
For more information including how to apply, see below. For weekly updates straight into your inbox with new development opportunities for theatre artists and other professionals subscribe:
The Polka Playwriting Award is back and open for submissions for new writing for young audiences aged 7-13.
The winning playwright will see a full staging of their production as well as the play text published by Methuen Drama. The award puts the creation of professional theatre for audiences aged 7-13 at the centre of creative, vital conversation, and was set up to find diverse stories, new voices and brilliant new writing for this overlooked age group.
Alongside the award, you can take part in online masterclasses exploring new writing for young audiences explore the quality, rigour and imagination needed to write for and inspire such an exciting audience base
Deadline: Sunday 19 July
The Creative Fund from Manipulate Arts is now open, offering Scottish-based artists up to £5,000, rehearsal space, mentorship and a supported sharing to help you push your project forward.
Got a bold new idea in visual theatre, puppetry or object-led performance? The team are looking for projects in early creative development, either brand new ideas or significant re‑imaginings of existing work. Projects must be visually led, image‑driven or involve animating the inanimate. Supported artforms include mime, clowning, physical theatre, object theatre, gestural theatre, microcinema, circus, aerial theatre and some dance‑hybrid work.
Deadline: Thursday 4 June at 12 noon
Babel Theatre have announced that CREATION SPACE is back - a year long development programme for theatremakers, dancers and movement artists to make your work.
Creation Space is a 10 month development programme for theatremakers, dancers and movement artists consisting of intensive workshops (June - October in London), 1:1 coaching, funding workshops, producing workshops and space support. The programme culminates in an industry sharing in 2027
This programme is designed to support people not only to train, but to create your work at the same time. This is a full development journey - not a drop-in.
Applications open Mon 27th April and places will be offered weekly.
Light Up The North have announced the return of SPARK 2026 - a programme that nurtures and develops artists & producers interested in working in the light art sector.
SPARK is a great opportunity for early career artists wanting to develop their practice in light based and digital work for light festivals AND for early career producers wanting to learn and understand the research, planning, budgeting, commissioning, partnership and audience development, curating and presenting skills that underpin running successful light art festivals.
Across 2 weekends in November, the project will offer up to six individuals – three early career artists and three early career producers – the opportunity to be supported through a specially designed programme of informal workshops, networking events, mentoring and talks scheduled to complement two LUTN partner festivals – Light Up Lancaster (5-7 Nov) and Light Night Wigan (20-22 Nov).
The six individuals, selected through an open call, will each be awarded bursaries of £300 to participate in the SPARK programme, with additional funds of up to £600 each, allocated to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend Light Night Wigan & Light Up Lancaster, where the programme of activity will take place.
Deadline: 22 May 2026
Summerhall Arts is inviting applications for two First Draft Commissions, supporting writers based in Scotland to develop a new play over an extended, self-directed period.
Summerhall Arts will commission two writers to develop a first draft of a new stage work (up to one hour in length), with a fee of £3,228.75 per writer. This is a process-led opportunity designed to support writers to spend time with an idea — to test, explore and build a piece of work without the pressure of immediate production.
The team are interested in bold, contemporary writing that engages with the world and takes risks in form, voice or content. This is an opportunity for ideas in development — not for polished scripts, but for compelling proposals and distinctive voices.
Writers will have approximately twelve months to develop their work, with light-touch, tailored support from the Summerhall Arts team.
Deadline: Sunday 24th May
Rampage Theatre have teamed up with the Bush Theatre once more for Ink to Action, this time for LGBTQ+ playwrights for a double bill reading in June.
Chosen plays will need to be reduced to a 30 minute extract, and selected writers will receive free rehearsal space and assistance. The readings will take place 26th June.
Deadline: 13 May 2026
The National Theatre Skills Centre have announced two free new courses for young people to get involved with, around prop making, design and directing.
Mechanical props, tricks and stage magic course: a three-day prop making course for 16—19-year-olds
Explore the world of miniature mechanics for props, puppets, tricks, effects and stage magic in this three-day course.
Sessions will include a mix of practical projects, demonstrations and interactive activities.
Whilst no experience is necessary, we’d encourage people to apply who have a keen interest in design and making of props for theatre.
Deadline: Monday 11 May, 10am
Theatre Making: The Designer-Director Collaboration Workshop 2026
For 18+ year olds on Monday 15 June, 10am – 6pm. This is a one-day workshop aimed at early career theatre designers and directors. This workshop uses practical exercises to interrogate the process of making work collaboratively.
As an early career director, you may have graduated from a related directing course and made work in:
Fringe venues
Drama schools
With youth companies around the country
Please note the team are only looking for directors as the designer places are now full.
Deadline: Monday 18 May, 10am