Five days. One room. Permission to mess with time.
Are you an emerging theatre-maker looking for a new performance project?

Scottish Youth Theatre is inviting 15 emerging theatre-makers to join Then. Now. Next. , a fast-paced creative hot house led by Pete Lannon (Superfan) and guest artists. Together, you’ll devise bold new performance exploring past, present and future realities – raiding memory, wrestling the now and imagining what might come next. No polished ideas needed, simply curiosity and a willingness to collaborate. You’ll also receive practical advice from Scottish Youth Theatre producers on navigating the industry and building a sustainable creative career. The project will culminate in an informal public sharing of the work.

Then. Now. Next. will take place as part of Light the Blue 2026, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people. The project is open to emerging theatre-makers aged 18 – 28 based in Aberdeen and the North East. 

By emerging theatre-maker, they mean a young person exploring a creative career, who is looking to further develop their skills, techniques and knowledge of the sector.They expect them to have had some theatre-making experience, perhaps in college, university or youth theatre, but this doesn’t have to have been in an education environment. 

The project will take place over the following dates at the Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT: 

• Sun 7 June, 10am – 5pm 

• Thu 11 June, 10am – 5pm 

• Fri 12 June, 10am – 5pm 

• Sat 13 June, 10am – 5pm 

• Sun 14 June, 10am – 5pm (sharing 3.30pm) 

To apply, please complete the online form by Fri 1 May 2026, at 5pm. Submissions will be reviewed by Scottish Youth Theatre and the Light the Blue team. Participants will be selected based on their response to the application questions and a balance of lived experiences in the room. The form asks you to submit personal details and answer the following questions (max. 200 words each): 

• What excites you about making (devised) theatre right now? 

• Please give a summary of your previous theatre-making experience 

• If you could send one message to the future, or bring one thing back from the past, what would it be and why?

Please note: by completing this online form, you consent to your details being shared with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Scottish Youth Theatre. If you have any questions about the project or would like to apply via an alternative method, please contact Jordan Blackwood, Creative Producer, or Annabel Lunney, Associate Producer, via LIGHTTHEBLUEFESTIVAL@ABERDEENPERFORMINGARTS.COM. There is no cost to participate and travel bursaries will be available to those based in the region who would otherwise be unable to attend.