Capital Theatres’ dedicated R&D residency for early-career theatre makers, offering five days of studio space, up to £2k funding, two days of tech support and 1:1 mentorship.

Capital Theatres’ First Steps residency is back for Spring 2026. Created especially for early-career theatre makers in Scotland, this Open to Ideas R&D residency offers dedicated support to help you explore, test and develop bold new work.

For this opportunity, they’re looking for artists in the first two years of their professional practice. This might mean that:

– You’re a student or recent graduate
– You’ve made or are exploring your first Fringe show
– You’ve assisted on a production
– You have a spark of an idea and the drive to pursue it

It might mean something different to you – and that’s absolutely fine. If you see yourself at the very start of a professional theatre-making journey, they want to hear from you.

Whether you’re working solo or beginning to form a creative team, and whether your idea is fully formed or just a seed, they’re here to help you take those first steps in a safe, supportive environment.

They don’t expect you to hold a sharing at the end of the week (though you can if you want to), and they aren’t promising to programme the work in the future. Instead, it’s a genuine offer for you to experiment, explore and get an idea up on its feet.

What they’re offering
– Five days of rehearsal space in the Studio Theatre
– Two days of technical support, if needed
– Up to £2,000 in seed funding, agreed with you based on your idea and development interests
– Dedicated wraparound support, including:
– A professional mentor for 1:1 guidance
– Help with budgeting, planning, and building a team (if needed)
– Pre-residency meetings to shape your goals
– Wellbeing support during the residency week
– Optional dramaturgical input
– Support planning a sharing – if you want one (no pressure)

The First Steps Residency is open to:
– Anyone aged 18+
– Scotland-based artists
– Those with 0–2 years of professional theatre-making experience
– People who are not in receipt of RFO funding from Creative Scotland
– Artists applying with a new, unproduced idea

Residency dates: Mon 13 – Fri 17 April 2026
Location: Studio Theatre, Edinburgh
Deadline to apply: Fri 6 March 2026, 5pm
Decisions shared: Mon 16 March 2026

Apply via form, through Capital Theatres’ website, or email engage@capitaltheatres.com to apply in another way.

For further information, please contact engage@capitaltheatres.com or visit https://www.capitaltheatres.com/activities/open-to-ideas-first-steps-residency-2026/.