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Applications now open
for Headlong Origins 2026

We are looking for emerging theatre directors based outside London to join Headlong Origins 2026, our year-long artist development programme supporting directors across the UK. Running January–December 2026, this part-time scheme is designed to fit around your work and help you take the next step toward main-stage directing. It offers a blend of artistic support, mentoring, and practical experience with Headlong’s productions and creative processes. You’ll become part of a small cohort of directors and given the opportunity to explore and develop your own individual practices as a director with the support of your peers and the Headlong team. Across the year, you’ll also connect with our partner organisations, and guest artists, and be able to immerse yourselves in the day to day working of a national touring theatre company.

Download Application Pack
Large print application pack
BSL Application pack

Information

BSL Pack

    • £6,000 bursary

    • Two in-person residentials with masterclasses led by leading theatre practitioners

    • Mentoring from Headlong and two additional sessions with an industry mentor

    • Tickets, travel and accommodation to see Headlong productions

    • Allowance for theatre tickets and playtexts to support your ongoing development

    • Travel, accommodation and day rate to observe Headlong rehearsal and production processes

    • Access to Headlong’s internal activities, including team meetings and artistic planning sessions

  • (you must be available for the following)

    • Thursday 29 January 2026 – In-person kick-off day in London

    • Tuesday 21st - Saturday 25th April – In-person residential in London & Oxford (3–4 days)

    • Thursday 5 – Sunday 8 November 2026 – In-person residential in Manchester

    • Thursday 10 December 2026 – In-person wrap-up day in London

    Please note: any of the above may involve overnight stays depending on your home location.

  • (ideal but not essential)

    • Wednesday 11 February 2026 – In-person at Leeds Playhouse: A Midsummer Night’s Dream tech

    • June / July 2026 (dates TBC) – In-person in London/Oxford: 2 days observing ROBOTA rehearsals

    • w/c 13th July (exact date tbc) – In-person in Oxford: ROBOTA show watch & Oxford Playmaker Showcase

    • August / September 2026 (dates TBC) – In-person in London: 2 days observing Fences rehearsals

    Please note: any of the above may involve overnight stays depending on your home location.

  • Headlong Origins is open to theatre directors who:

    • Live and work outside London

    • Have directed at least two substantial shows for a public audience, such as:

      • A professional or fringe production with a two-week run

      • Major community work as a lead practitioner

      • A digital or hybrid project with significant audience reach

      • Assistant or associate director experience on a professional production

      We strongly encourage applications from disabled, Deaf and neurodiverse artists, those from lower-income backgrounds, the Global Majority, and others facing significant barriers to working in the arts. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, contact carla-marie@headlong.co.uk for a chat.

  • Location: Nationwide (for directors living and working outside London)
    Duration: January – December 2026
    Bursary: £6,000
    Deadline for applications: 10am, Tuesday 11 November 2025
    Download the Recruitment Pack here

  • Please send the following to jobs@headlong.co.uk with the subject line “Headlong Origins 2026”:

    • Your application, in any format that suits you — written (up to one A4 page), audio or video (up to 3 minutes), or a visual portfolio

    • Your CV, including contact details and referees

    • The Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, available here

    In your application, please address the following:

    1. A piece of work that inspired you.

    2. An artistic project you were involved in that you're most proud of.

    3. What you would gain from Headlong Origins.

    If your file is too large to email, please use WeTransfer. You can also post your application to: Headlong Theatre, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA

    If you require this information in an alternative format or need access support, contact carla-marie@headlong.co.uk or call 020 7633 2090.

    • First-round interviews: Week commencing 24 November 2025 (online)

    • Second-round interviews: Week commencing 1 December 2025 (online)

    • Successful applicants will be notified by email.

    A heads up! We’re a small team, so we won’t be able to provide feedback unless you’re interviewed.

Origins 5.0

Testimonials

Our current cohort

Hey there, theatre enthusiasts. Welcome to our electrifying world of Headlong Origins – now in its fifth year. This groundbreaking scheme is about championing budding theatre directors from every corner of the UK.

Picture this: a whole year jam-packed with mentorship from top-notch industry pros and our stellar producing and creative teams. We're talking hands-on experience. Directors selected for this journey will immerse themselves in Headlong’s R&D sessions, dive into workshops, and get up close and personal with the rehearsal process. 

But that's not all – they'll soak up the best of UK theatre, shaping their artistic vision every step of the way. This is our Origins 5.0 cohort. They have exciting stories to tell.

Headlong Origins is generously supported by Backstage Trust

Testimonials

  • “I've been part of several directing programmes over the years, but I can honestly say that Origins has had the biggest, most positive impact on my career as a director.”

    Origins Director, Cohort 1

  • “I am still in the early stages of my career, but I can say with total certainty that the guidance and confidence Headlong have consistently shown me over the last few years has been one of the most significant supports to me.”

    Origins Director, Cohort 2

  • “I still can't quite believe we got the bursary. It literally felt like magic money. [It] bought me time and space - as a freelancer I constantly feel like I should be in work and jump project to project, never leaving time to think / dream / rest. The bursary was vital in allowing me to do all these things whilst paying my rent and living bills too.”

    Origins Director Cohort 3

  • “Being recruited for the Headlong programme was a game changer for me. As an artist based in Cumbria, having the backing of Headlong has been a huge boon; even just from the confidence boost it has given me in being a ‘Headlong Origins Artist’ which has pushed me to take on roles/job opportunities I may not have felt worthy of in the past."

    Origins Director, Cohort 4

  • “I am truly honoured to be associated with Headlong, a company whose name I have always known and whose work I greatly admire. During my time, I had the opportunity to observe their work, which was a highlight in learning how to lead a rehearsal room with so many people involved."

    Origins Director. Cohort 4

  • "The time they spent with me to develop a new project I am working on was invaluable. I have felt the team's genuine support of my practice.”

    Origins Director. Cohort 4

  • "It has allowed me to meet and learn from industry creatives at the top of their game and get my name out there with them; connections that otherwise could have taken years to make. The team all feel like they care about you as an artist, and your development; the support offered feels tangible and thorough. It has been a privilege to be part of this year's cohort.”

    Origins Director. Cohort 4

Origins 4.0
Origins 2.0
origins 1.0
Origins 3.0