Open to Ideas, our residency programme, is back for 2026! We are offering two R&D residencies to support Scottish theatremakers to test out new ideas.
An opportunity to experiment and explore
We don’t expect you to hold a sharing at the end of the week (though you can if you want to) and we 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.
We’re excited by ideas that have something to say about contemporary Scotland, new musicals, devised work, family work, and total theatre stuff with big heart and low tech. We’re less interested in script development, adaptations or remounts of existing texts, abstract academics and magic shows.
Application detail
How to apply
Please complete the application form by midnight on Mon 12 Jan 2026. You can complete this with written answers or we also accept a video application. We will let you know whether you are successful or not on Mon 19 January 2026 by email.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch at engage@capitaltheatres.com
What we offer
- Five days of rehearsal space at the Studio Theatre, Edinburgh
- Two days of technical support if required
- £2,000 in seed funding
The dates available
- Residency 1: Mon 16 – Fri 20 Feb 2026
- Residency 2: Mon 2 – Fri 6 Mar 2026
Eilgibility criteria
- You must be based in Scotland
- You must have worked on at least one professional production previously. This can include Fringe performances but not university productions or amateur dramatics
- You must not be in receipt of multi year funding from Creative Scotland
- You must be available during your selected residency period
- You must be applying for a new project that has not already been commissioned, produced or coproduced, or staged by another organisation
We will be ringfencing one of these residencies for someone based in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We’ll also be aiming to support theatremakers at different stages in their career so are interested in applications from both new and more experienced applicants.
How to apply
Please complete the application form by midnight on Mon 12 Jan 2026. You can complete this with written answers or we also accept a video application. We will let you know whether you are successful or not on Mon 19 January 2026 by email.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch at engage@capitaltheatres.com