Make It

Theatre development programme.

Bradford Culture Company is looking for 8 West Yorkshire creatives who identify as a person from the Global Majority, with a practice in live performance and/or theatre making, to take part in a new theatre development programme from October 2026 to March 2027.

Make It Work is specifically designed as a pilot programme to support global majority creatives to develop their knowledge, skills and artistic practice in order to build theatre making capacity in the region.

Final date to receive applications: 11:59 pm on Sunday 26 July.

Make It Work aims to support the growth and diversity of work being made in West Yorkshire by providing training and mentoring for Global Majority artists to develop their skills, networks and practice in live theatre making.

The programme is led by theatre maker Kully Thiarai (LEEDS 2023, National Theatre Wales, CAST), supported with leading performance makers, producers and programmers including award‑winning artist and filmmaker Topher Campbell, Artistic Director and cultural leader Madani Younis (The Shed New York, Bush Theatre, Freedom Studios), Artistic Director of Factory International John McGrath, and Artist and Creative Director of Bradford Culture Company Shanaz Gulzar.

We’re looking for artists wanting to develop their creative practice and explore a creative idea in the world of theatre. You may be an existing theatre maker who wants to develop their practice, networks and performance skills, or a creative working in another field such as spoken word aiming to extend your practice in the world of theatre making.

The programme will start and end with week-long residencies in October 2026 and March 2027 taking place in Bradford.

The First Residency will encourage and enable you to share and explore a particular theatre idea in a safe environment and offer a series of focused workshops on:

• Building your creative team.
• Identifying your audience.
• Creating a collaborative culture in the rehearsal room.
• Identifying producing and production needs.
• Budgets and project planning.
• Managing risk and relationships.

Between October and March, each individual will have the opportunity to work with Kully Thiarai as well as a specific mentor to support their creative process and develop their idea further. The group will also be encouraged to support each other through informal peer‑to‑peer learning across the 6 months, outside of the residencies.

The Second Residency week in March will focus on:

• Developing the pitch for your creative project.
• Workshopping ideas.
• Presenting your idea to an invited audience of producers/promoters.
• Creating a project plan with next steps.

• A £2,500 fee (£250 per day) plus travel expenses to support participation at both residencies in Bradford.
• Bespoke mentoring, training and support.
• Food and drink during the residencies – please note accommodation costs will not be covered.

• 12‑16 October 2026:
  Residency week, Bradford.
• 1‑5 March 2027:
  Residency week, Bradford.
• Three bespoke mentoring sessions across six months.

• Aged 21+.
• Creatives who have experience in creating work for a live audience.
• Creatives with an interest or practice in live performance and/or theatre making.
• Creatives who have an idea they would like to develop.
• You must be available until 6:30 pm for all dates on both residency weeks (12‑16 October 2026 & 1‑5 March 2027).
• You must be based in West Yorkshire and have a track record of delivering work in the region.
• You will have a creative idea that you are passionate about and that has the potential to be shared live with an audience in Yorkshire.
• Your idea will have a performing arts focus but can be multi‑disciplined in its approach and delivery.
• Examples of the types of artists are included above. If you are not sure if you are eligible, please email  to check with us before you make an application.
• If you are attached to an organisation, you are welcome to apply. Please note, however, that we are unlikely to offer the opportunity to multiple people from the same organisation.
• By a person from the Global Majority we mean people who are Black,…