R&D stands for Research and Development. It’s a creative process where artists explore, test, and experiment with ideas before committing to a finished piece.

Think of it as a creative sandbox – a chance to:

• Try things out without pressure to “get it right”
• Discover what your project might become
• Play with ideas, forms, or collaborators
• Ask questions and follow curiosity
• Explore new professional skills, as part of your artistic development

• To explore a new idea or project before writing or producing it fully
• To build confidence in your concept or team
• To fail safely. Figuring out what doesn’t work is just as valuable.
• To clarify your artistic voice or what you’re trying to say
• To gather initial feedback through peer or industry feedback, if that feels right for you
• To identify future areas for discovery and development
• To apply for funding or development support with something concrete. Residencies can be a great space for collecting evidence!

An R&D is not about the end performance, it’s a process. You’re allowed to be messy, take creative risks, and not know all the answers. It’s about discovering the potential of an idea, not proving it’s finished.

We will prioritise applicants who have a clear project or research area they want to explore.  This can absolutely be at an early conceptual stage, but we want to have a sense of why this project and why now.  As these residencies are in high demand, we’d encourage all artists to consider: 

• Why do you require the space and resource that this residency offers? 
• How will you structure your time? 
• What do you hope to achieve, test, and discover? 
• Why would you benefit from the mentorship this opportunity provides? 
• How will this opportunity contribute to your wider professional development? 

You will have access to the Creative Engagement Studio from 10am – 6pm each day.

The Studio is on Level 3 of the King’s Theatre, which can be accessed by stairs or lift.

It is a self-contained space, with a sprung dance floor, the option of a mirrored wall, and internal speaker system.

The Studio has its own field kitchen, with a fridge, sink, microwave and facilities to make hot drinks. There are 6 single occupancy toilets and a changing places toilet on the same level. The Studio has a separate quiet space available, with comfortable seating and a desk for working.

Office services – including printing, photocopying, and laminating – can be arranged through your mentor, and we have plenty of resources available on request. If there’s something specific you need, we’ll always do our best to support your process.

The King’s Theatre also has a cafe on the ground floor, which is open through the day, and three bars, which open 1 hour before shows.

Your mentor will also be based at the King’s Theatre during your residency days.

From the moment you accept the opportunity, you’ll receive dedicated one-to-one support from a member of the Capital Theatres Creative Engagement team. They will begin with an initial meeting to understand where you are in your project and artistic journey, helping you shape realistic and meaningful outcomes for the residency.

Together, you’ll develop a plan for the budget that supports your creative goals, ensures fair pay for everyone involved, and strengthens your future practice. Our team will manage the administrative details and can assist with everything from connecting you with collaborators and industry contacts to sourcing materials and supporting a final sharing, if you’d like to host one.

Most importantly, they’ll act as a trusted sounding board throughout – whether you’d value feedback, guidance in the rehearsal room, space to test ideas, or simply some encouragement along the way. And when you need uninterrupted creative space, we’ll step back and give you exactly that.

The residency includes £1,000 in seed funding to support the development of your project. You can use this budget however best supports you artistically, whether that is to invest directly in the residency days – for example, bringing in other creatives or resources – or through dedicating additional paid time to the project’s development beyond the residency. Every artist’s approach is different.

You can request to be paid in full, or to have our Creative Engagement team handle payments for anyone else involved in the project. We’re happy to take care of the administrative details, including processing invoices, so you can focus fully on the creative work. Your mentor will provide guidance on ways you can shape a budget that enables you to achieve your goals while ensuring everyone involved is paid fairly.