Stage One Bursary

Financially supporting the next generation of independent commercial theatre producers.

The Stage One Bursary supports emerging independent commercial theatre producers. Unlike many other funding opportunities, the bursary focuses on supporting the producers career trajectory rather than a specific production. Helping individuals build the skills, relationships and experience needed to establish themselves within the commercial theatre industry.

Applications Open Twice a Year

Many Stage One Bursary recipients have gone on to develop new productions, establish independent producing careers and contribute to the commercial theatre landscape.

Full Guidelines

Financial award up to £20,000 to support professional development

Mentoring from an experienced industry professional

Support and guidance form the Stage One Team

Access to all of Stage One’s workshop offering

Producers may apply for up to £20,000 to support your development as an independent commercial theatre producer. The panel may decide to only fund aspects of your application, and awards of the full £20,000 in one go are very rare.

In your application, you'll be asked to provide a rough breakdown of how you'll spend your grant. This is split into two categories:

Personal Costs: This should make up the majority of the funds applied for. By personal costs, we mean anything which will support you, such as; travel costs, bills, rent/ mortgage payments, childcare, access support etc. Some producers prefer just to categorise this as their 'day rate'. It may be easiest to think of this category as the money which will allow you to produce to the best of your ability. This is the money you will invest in yourself to be able to dedicate more time to commercial theatre producing, and thus develop your career.

Project Costs: We recognise some producers will also want to dedicate some money to their project, which by extension will develop their career. The project/s you work on during your bursary period should be intended to create live theatre in the UK, which can encompass a variety of related activities including workshops, try-outs and R&D activity. Project costs might include rights advances, commissioning fees, writers' options, paying creatives for R&D performances and company costs.

When shortlisting and interviewing candidates, we use this criteria to guide the progress of your application:

You may have project/s in the pipeline, and you just need the means to get them off the ground.
You might know your project/s will begin to flourish if you had more time to dedicate to them, and you need to reduce other work to do this.
We are aware that people often fill multiple roles in a production (writer, director, actor, etc.) alongside producing, but you primarily need to be the producer on the projects you are applying for support for.
You may have experience producing small to mid-scale shows in the UK and are looking to scale up.
We want to hear from people who are dedicated to becoming independent commercial theatre producers, who can demonstrate their independence as a producer, and who would like to begin or continue a long-term relationship with Stage One. We believe that everyone has the right to see themselves and their stories being represented in theatre.

The role of a theatre producer is integral to seeing a range of truthful and authentic stories being told. We are dedicated to supporting those who have faced barriers in their career so far and will prioritise applications from those who are from underrepresented groups in the industry.

Top Ups are subsequent awards which follow your first bursary award. If you have not received the full £20,000 for your initial bursary, you will be eligible to apply for a Top Up at a later date. You can apply for a Top Up as many times as you like. The total amount you can be awarded is capped at £20,000*.

*Note: If you received a bursary or top up before Autumn 2023, you may only apply for up to £15,000 for your bursary or top up.

For example: Ben applies for and receives £8,000 for his initial bursary. In subsequent bursary rounds, he is then therefore eligible to apply for up to £12,000. He applies for and receives a £7,000 Top Up. He then applies again for a £5,000 Top Up. The total money he has received from Stage One has now hit £20,000, so he cannot apply for a Top Up again.

Top Up applications open and close on the same dates as the main bursary award. The Stage One team will review all top up applications after the main bursary awards are confirmed, so it may take a little longer for you to receive the outcome.

The bursary has been so beneficial for me this year. As I went on to produce my biggest and most ambitious project to date, I knew that I needed time to focus and not get distracted by other jobs. Having the financial support meant I could spend time building my company, the production and more importantly my network.
Liam Gartland, Bursary Recipient Spring 2022, Gartland Productions

Stage One Bursary

Financially supporting the next generation of independent commercial theatre producers.

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