Every year the Lakeside Theatre invites proposals students, staff and alumni to make shows as part of our Homegrown programme.
Homegrown applications are open to the whole University of Essex community (you don’t have to be a drama student to apply!!) and we are open to receiving applications from different styles of Performing Arts, not just limited to original plays, we are interested in spoken word, poetry, music, dance and other types of performance!
Since 2013 The Lakeside Theatre has been committed to providing a spotlight to a diverse range of acts and we have encouraged students and alumni to form companies and enabled them to direct, produce and technically manage numerous small scale productions in our black box studio space which some have taken beyond the University!
New for 2024, we have introduced two levels of Homegrown productions for you to apply for:
We encourage you to read more about our 2024 Homegrown structure, but basically, First Level reflects a more ‘starting out’ level of proposal for our Studio stage, while Next Level reflects a more established production proposal for our Main stage.
We do not have a published fee structure for any selected shows as we fund your show, including staffing the theatre on the evenings of your performances. However, we do have a limited budget and each application is reviewed on an individual basis with priority given to applications which showcase a development opportunity for the applicant.
Lakeside Theatre Homegrown Shows are awarded by application and you must complete our online application form to apply.
All University of Essex Students, Staff, Alumni and members of the local community are eligible to apply. If you want to produce your own show or idea in the Studio we would like to hear from you.
Please read this page and the guidelines (including FAQs) before submitting your application.
NEW FOR 2024! There is no deadline! We have an open application process whereby we commit to reviewing all applications withing 4 weeks of submission and we aim to contact applicants within 5 weeks. We will periodically do call-outs for applications for which we will attribute in year submission dates, but applications are open all year round.
COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.
Email arts@essex.ac.uk.
Page updated 16/08/2024.
