Sheffield Theatres has announced a new annual theatre festival, Open Works, which will run from 28 September to 10 October 2026. The two-week event will bring together established theatre companies, emerging artists and audiences in a programme focused on developing new work.
The festival aims to showcase new voices, stories and creative ideas at different stages of development. Alongside performances, Open Works will include workshops, masterclasses and industry panels, giving audiences insight into the theatre-making process and providing professional development opportunities for artists.
The initial line-up includes Sheffield Theatres’ associate companies Forced Entertainment, Roots Mbili, Stand & Be Counted Theatre and The Bare Project, as well as visiting work from LUNG and Swans Productions. A full programme will be announced at a later date.
Applications are now open for theatre makers and writers in South Yorkshire to present work as part of the festival. There are four participation routes:
• Performance Ready – fully realised productions programmed within the festival
• Work-in-Progress – up to one hour of developing material
• Rehearsed Readings – scripts performed by professional actors
• Scratch – short presentations of up to 20 minutes of new work
In the lead-up to the festival, up to 25 applicants will be selected to take part in Open Working, a workshop series focused on producing and creative skills.
The festival will also partner with New Earth Theatre to create opportunities for British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) artists. Dedicated slots will be available across Work-in-Progress, Rehearsed Readings and Scratch categories, alongside mentoring and networking support.
Deborah Dickinson, Creative Development Director, said the organisation is looking forward to receiving applications from theatre makers across South Yorkshire and building a programme of work designed to engage audiences.
Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman added that, as a major UK producing theatre working locally, nationally and in the West End, the organisation sees supporting new writing and emerging artists as a core responsibility.
Applications for Performance Ready, Work-in-Progress and Rehearsed Readings are open now via the Sheffield Theatres website. Applications for Scratch will open in summer 2026.
Open Works: A New Festival of Creative Talent | Sheffield Theatres
What’s In Grace’s Satchel?
I knew something was happening in Sheffield before the official announcement.
You don’t spend your working life delivering envelopes to rehearsal rooms without noticing when everyone suddenly starts whispering the words “new work” and “applications open” like they’re passing around a secret recipe.
So here’s the gossip properly confirmed: Sheffield Theatres are launching a brand new festival called Open Works this autumn, and it isn’t just another programme of shows. It’s basically a theatre playground.
Not everything arriving is polished. Some of it will be brand new, slightly nervous, and still figuring out its lighting cues. Audiences won’t just see finished productions, they’ll see ideas halfway through becoming theatre. And honestly, those are often the most exciting nights because you can feel the room leaning forward together.
The festival is opening its doors to writers and theatre makers across South Yorkshire with four routes in. Full productions, work-in-progress sharings, rehearsed readings and scratch pieces. Which in theatre language translates to: from “ready for opening night” all the way to “I had this idea on the bus and now actors are saying it out loud”.
There’s also workshops and industry panels, plus a development programme where 25 people will be selected to learn producing and making skills. I suspect half of them will arrive terrified and leave forming companies together. It happens. Theatre people travel in packs once they find each other.
Another lovely detail is the partnership with New Earth Theatre, creating dedicated opportunities and mentoring for BESEA artists. Festivals often talk about new voices, but this is a practical way of actually putting them on stage.
The whole thing runs from 28 September to 10 October 2026, and I have a strong feeling about this one. Not just a festival. A starting point. The kind where in three years’ time someone wins an award and quietly says, “it began in Sheffield”.
And if you’re sitting there thinking, I’ve always wanted to try writing a play…
Consider this your official sign.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a suspiciously heavy envelope addressed to a rehearsal room and I absolutely have to deliver it immediately.
Open Works: A New Festival of Creative Talent | Sheffield Theatres
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