Playhouse 2026
Playhouse 2026... is coming to Doncaster!
Delivered nationally across the UK, Playhouse is a unique participatory theatre project that commissions writers to create new work for school children aged 8-11 years. Offering training to teachers, rehearsal support and festivals to perform in; Playhouse connects school with professional theatres, writers and theatre makers, so they may be inspired and empowered to experience the benefits of professional theatre making.
Project Overview
Playhouse is a partnership project between Theatre Royal Plymouth, York Theatre Royal, Theatre IOLO, Landmark Theatres, and for the first time this year, Cast.
Together, we are commissioning professional playwrights to write short plays, specifically for large casts of young people aged 8-11 years. For 2025/26 are commissioning two brand new plays from Robert Alan Evans and Branwen Davies, and re-commissioning two plays from the Playhouse canon of work.
Cast will work with local schools to support the development of the teacher as director. All participating teachers come together for in-person regional in-house training and a digital writers day workshop with the writers to workshop, ask questions and develop their directorial skills.
Teachers then return to their schools to rehearse their chosen play with in-school support from partner theatre professionals, before performing at Cast in a brilliant theatre festival in July 2026. We are also offering an optional school visit to participating groups, including a school tour and workshop.
Key Dates
Schools to be given scripts to read by:
January 2026
Schools to select which script they would like to perform by
Date: Tuesday 3 February 2026
Project Welcome and Director’s CPD
Date: Wednesday 5 February 2026
Time: 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Location: Cast, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU
For: Lead Teachers (plus 1 additional staff member is welcome to attend – this should include the teacher directing the play for the school)
Content: Welcome and introduction to the project and Cast spaces. Discussion over school visits and Cast dates, and ideas on how to direct a play with a Primary School class.
Invitation: We are pleased to offer attendees, up to two tickets to watch War of the Worlds by Imitating the Dog in Cast’s Main Space that evening.
Playhouse Writer’s CPD
Date: Thursday 5 March 2026
Time: 4.00pm – 6.00pm
Location: Online – a weblink will be circulated before the event.
For: Lead Teachers/ Director of the School’s production.
Content: Teachers from across the UK, will get the chance to meet the playwrights and find out more about their play choice.
School Visits
Each school will receive at least one school visit from a Cast artist to support their development of the play between March and July 2026
Playhouse School Visit (optional)
Date/s: April/May 2026 (to be organised in conjunction with the Lead Teacher)
Time: 2 hours
Location: Cast
For: Children and Teachers
Content: Each school will be invited to Cast to experience a tour of Cast, learn about theatre making and the jobs involved, plus practice their projection skills!
Playhouse Festival 2026 at Cast
Festival Dates:
7, 8 and 9 July 2026
Each school will be allocated a day to perform at Cast.
Tickets will be on sale by April 2026.
Application
Project Cost
£400 (plus VAT). An additional £50 for the optional Playhouses School’s Visit for a
tour and workshop before the festival performances.
How to Apply
Complete this form https://forms.office.com/e/TBp4FHS1KP
If you don’t know all the answers to the form at this stage, that is fine, we can follow up with schools for more information later, but it’s useful to know as much as you can share at this stage.
Information Pack
Download the Playhouse 2026 information pack for further information.
Questions?
If you’d like to discuss the project with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with sarah@castindoncaster.com or participation@castindoncaster.com
Playhouse Festival 2026 at Cast
Festival Dates:
7, 8 and 9 July 2026
Each school will be allocated a day to perform at Cast.
Tickets will be on sale by April 2026.