This autumn, renowned theatre company Frantic Assembly will travel across the UK to deliver free taster and trial workshops in association with 13 regional partner venues – we are proud to say that we will be hosting them here at Mercury Theatre. These high-energy, movement-based workshops target young people aged 16–24 who face barriers to accessing the arts, to demonstrate that the arts can be for them. They are seeking underrepresented talent in unexpected places.
What is a taster?
A high-energy, movement-based workshop with professional theatre-makers. No experience necessary, and all abilities welcome.
What is a trial?
A second workshop to further understand and explore Frantic’s distinct approach to devising theatre.
What is the Intensive?
Selected from the trials, 24 participants will join each other for a week in London. Guided by Frantic Assembly, they will create two original performances for a public audience.
Frantic Assembly pays for all aspects of the Intensive (travel to London, accommodation, food), thereby removing financial barriers to participation.
For those who take part in the Ignition intensive, we offer a year-round access programme which continues to mentor and signpost training and career opportunities both with Frantic Assembly and their partners throughout the UK.
The taster session is an opportunity to experience first-hand the way Frantic makes work. If you find yourself interested and would like to be considered for the Ignition intensive, you will need to come along to one of the trials.
The Tasters and Trials will be held as follows:
TASTERS – Sat 13 Sep
Session 1 – 1.30pm–3pm
Session 2 – 3.30pm–5pm
Sign-ups for the taster sessions open on Mon 11 Aug, 9am and close at Thu 11 Sep, 9pm.
TRIALS – Sat 20 Sep
Session 1 – 11am–1pm
Session 2 – 1.30 pm–3.30pm
Sign-ups for the trial sessions open on Sun 14 Sep, 9am and close at Thu 18 Sep, 9pm.
Please note: Each session has space for 24 participants, and we will assign places on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay registration!
Optional – email sign up
Another option is to offer an email sign up link where prospective participants will be notified when sign-up links open.
This would then just require a scheduled email to be sent on your respective sign-up opening dates, including a link to our website.
We appreciate that team size and capacity will vary across all our partners, so if the above isn’t feasible, we completely understand.
To sign up or for more information, visit the Frantic Assembly website: franticassembly.co.uk/ignition-2025.
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