The Next Stage is presented by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Performing Arts Forum. Funded by the Arts Council.
Presented by Performing Arts Forum in partnership with Dublin Theatre Festival, the Next Stage is the artist development strand of Dublin Theatre Festival. Over the 18 days of the festival, participants are immersed in the programme and given access to an array of leading artists in a packed schedule of talks, interviews, group time and workshops. The Next Stage has been lauded by alumni as “a rare amount of inspiration” and “career changing”.
The Next Stage also creates valuable opportunities for enriching engagement with other participants, with past programmes sparking successful artistic collaborations.
Incorporating the feedback of previous Next Stage participants, we will offer more flexibility in the schedule in this year’s edition, along with a contribution to the expenses of those participating.
- The 2024 Next Stage programme will start on Thursday 26th September and run to Saturday 12th October.
- Programme participants are encouraged to attend all sessions as well as performances most evenings. Sundays will be completely free, Mondays are free until evening show time. All other days start at 11am.
- Participation in the Next Stage is by application only. Applications will open in July.
- A contribution of €400 will be offered to each participant towards expenses incurred while participating.
- If you are based outside of Dublin, you can apply for an additional support of €600 towards accommodation/travel expenses. There are a limited number of these available, and they will be awarded on a discretionary basis. Applicants may still be offered a place on the Next Stage regardless of where they live, but due to finite resources, may not be offered this additional support.
- If you have any questions, please email paul@performingartsforum.ie.
Programme of Activities
The programme of activities of The Next Stage includes:
- Seeing over 20 shows in the Festival (ticket value of approx. €500)
- Attending Talking Theatre events
- Participation in daytime workshops
- Attending public interviews
- Question and answer sessions
- Talks with guest speakers
Eligibility
Applications are invited from anyone working professionally in theatre and the performing arts. Theatre artists and makers at an early career stage as well as more established and experienced professionals are invited to apply. It’s important that each group is a diverse one for participants to get the most of the programme.
Selection
Each year, participants are selected by a panel made up of Dublin Theatre Festival and Performing Arts Forum representatives. The panel reviews all applications received and the following selection criteria are applied:
- Applicant’s artistic ethos and goals
- Applicant’s artistic output to date
- Applicant’s likely role and fit with the group
- The overall group dynamic and its diversity
- The potential for future collaboration within the group
As in previous years, there will be a Dance Ireland bursary and Dublin Fringe Wildcard awarded to two artists.