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Homegrown is Nottingham Playhouse’s pre-professional theatre artist programme, designed to support young adults who are keen to work professionally in the theatre industry.

Applications for Homegrown Performers 2027 are now open, see below for more details.

What is Homegrown Performers?

A bespoke programme for pre-professional and emerging theatre performers. During the year-long course you will meet over three terms, in which you will develop your own work, participate in workshops, receive professional mentoring and broaden your network of industry contacts. As part of Homegrown Performers you will receive up to 135 hours of artist led workshop as well as a further access to spaces for self-led rehearsals at Nottingham Playhouse.

What will I do over the year?

• Rehearse and perform a professional production in our Neville Studio theatre.
• Learn/Develop skills including:
  • How to select, prepare for and perform auditions for employment and drama school.
  • How to use marketing to reach the audiences you want.
  • How to facilitate theatre workshops.
• 1-2-1 meetings with industry experts.
• Support the Homegrown Creatives’ festival, including performance opportunities.
• Production photographs.
• Watch two Nottingham Playhouse productions.
• Discounted access to wider participation programme*
  *Playhouse Insights, Masterclasses, other opportunities where available.

Who is Homegrown Performers for?

You must be aged 18 – 30, hard working and passionate about performing in theatre. You should commit to the whole year of the Homegrown programme.

Testimonials from previous Homegrown participants

Alec Boaden, who performed his first professional stage role in James Graham’s Punch at Nottingham Playhouse, at the Young Vic and in the West End, is an alumni of Homegrown, and said:

“In terms of professional development, it was massively useful to meet real directors and writers and try to understand their ideologies. If you can do that in a rehearsal room, it allows you to open up to new ways of working and not be pigeon-holed. It taught me to genuinely be myself.”

How to apply

To participate, you will be asked to go through an audition process. The criteria we will be assessing each applicant on will be as follows:

– A monologue.
– Willingness to offer ideas and take on others’ ideas.
– Commitment to working in a professional and collaborative manner.

To apply for an audition, please complete and submit this form: Homegrown Application Form 2026/27

Deadline for applications is 5pm Thu 15 Oct. We reserve the right to close the application window earlier if we fill all audition and interview slots ahead of this date.

Homegrown Performers is led by Natalia Bruce