BEVERLEY – Young people from Beverley and the East Riding hoping to build a career in theatre are being encouraged to apply for a programme that has already helped launch the careers of dozens of performers and creatives.
Applications have opened for the 2026 intake of the Godber Theatre Foundation, which supports students studying degree-level courses in acting, drama and theatre arts.
Since it was established in 2020, the Foundation has provided mentoring, professional workshops, networking opportunities and financial support to young people from Hull and East Yorkshire as they take their first steps into the industry.
Former members have gone on to work with organisations including Hull Truck Theatre, Middle Child, the John Godber Company, Glyndebourne, Bradford City of Culture and productions in London’s West End.
The Foundation also helps students with some of the practical costs of starting a career, including professional headshots, Spotlight membership, scripts and other career development expenses.
John Godber, one of Britain’s best-known playwrights and a proud East Yorkshire voice, established the Foundation to help ensure talented young people from the region, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, have opportunities that might otherwise be beyond their reach.
Successful applicants become part of a network that continues long after university, with mentoring from industry professionals, masterclasses, backstage visits and opportunities to build contacts within the profession.
Applications are open to students from Hull and East Yorkshire who are studying, or have accepted a place to study, a degree-level course in acting, drama or theatre arts. That includes performance, stage management, technical theatre, costume, design and playwriting.
Applicants are asked to submit either a short written statement or a two-minute video explaining why they would benefit from the Foundation, together with a monologue or creative portfolio depending on their discipline. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an online interview.
Applications close at 12 noon on Thursday 13 August.
For any young person from Beverley dreaming of a career on the stage or behind the scenes, it could be the first step into an industry that often seems difficult to break into.
Full details of how to apply are here: https://thegodbertheatrefoundation.org