Open to Ideas is back for Autumn 2025 — and this year, we’re launching First Steps, a fully supported R&D residency created especially for early career theatre-makers in Scotland.
A residency for early-career theatre-makers
For this opportunity, we’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, and that’s absolutely fine. As long as you identify as being on the start of a professional theatre-making journey, we want to hear from you.
Whether you’re working solo or starting to form a creative team, whether you have a finished script or your idea’s at seedling stage, we’re here to help you take the first steps in a safe, supported environment.
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 and explore, and get an idea up on its feet.
What we’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
- 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)
Application detail
How to apply
- Deadline: Please complete the application form by midnight on Friday 12 Sep.
- Decisions: We’ll let you know whether you’ve been selected on Monday 22 Sep via email.
Other ways to apply: If you would prefer to submit a video application, or to apply in another way, please email engage@capitaltheatres.com. If required you can download a dyslexia-friendly version of the form.
Is this for me?
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
If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, or just want to chat it through, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at engage@capitaltheatres.com — we’d love to hear from you.
FAQs
Creatives and producers
At the heart of our work is collaboration — with artists, producers, and companies who share our values and ambition. Together, we co-create bold, inspiring theatre, support new talent, and bring extraordinary experiences to audiences.