Artists and Creatives

Cast is passionate about supporting artists in Doncaster

Through our Artist Development programme, we offer a range of opportunities for performing arts creatives to explore, develop, and showcase their work. Whether you’re in the early stages of an idea or seeking guidance on funding applications, we’re here to help. 

We're interested in connecting with artists and hearing about your work and your ideas and the stories you want to tell, especially if you live or work in or around Doncaster, or have a strong connection with the city.  

We understand some of the challenges artists face in developing work and getting ideas off the ground and are pleased to offer our support.

Poet Zainab Tasneen, Scratch Night 2023

© 2023 Rasha Kotaiche

Artist Development

Early-Stage Support
  • Free studio space for research and development (R&Ds).
  • A small supportive audience to give feedback, should you wish to share your work at the end of your R&D.
  • We will support in inviting our contacts if you would like industry guests to see your work.
Applying for Funding
  • We can provide advice on navigating the application for Arts Council funding.
  • With some projects that we've supported, we may be able to provide our feedback on prospective applications.
  • We can provide general advice on other types of funding routes, such as applying to trusts and foundations, and signpost you to other sources of funding news.
Scratch Nights
  • Hosted in our Second Space once or twice a year.
  • These offer opportunities to work on a new creative idea and share your workings in front of a live audience and receive useful feedback.
  • Participants are selected through an open call-out.
Associate Artists
  • A programme that offers support to our selected associate artists over a number of years.
  • They receive extended mentoring, support and opportunities to perform at Cast. 
  • We can offer them company and strategic development advice.
  • We advocate for them at local, regional and national levels, where possible. 
  • Our current associate artists are the surrealist comedy theatre company The GrowthHouse,and burlesque producer and performer Tawny Kay.

Actor Levi Payne and BSL interpreter Sarah Cox, Scratch Night 2023

© 2023 Rasha Kotaiche

We're always on the lookout for artist development funding. Sometimes extra financial support becomes available that we can offer to different projects. 

Upcoming shows you might like...

  1. An artist paints a uniformed soldier on canvas in a dim studio with a large red cross flag backdrop. Text: "Shellshocked: An Explosive New Play by Philip Stokes." The scene conveys solemnity and historical reflection.

    Shellshocked

    • Play
    A powerful new play by Leeds-born playwright Philip Stokes. 
    More info
  2. A group of people sit around a large table in a conference room, attentively listening to a speaker in front of a presentation screen. The mood is focused and collaborative.

    Scriptworks Autumn/Winter 2025

    • Workshop
    Doncaster's Creative Writing Group, where local budding writers can develop their craft, supported by professional…
    More info

  3. War of the Worlds

    • Play
    imitating the dog present a thrilling, audacious and timely retelling of H.G. Wells’ classic novel.
    More info

Further content for Artists and Creatives