Call Out for New Work to be supported by Lyric and The Pleasance Theatre Trust

The Pleasance is working with partner theatres across the UK to identify and support exceptional artists and companies local to them who want to take work to the Fringe. Each partner is a leading national producing house, with a commitment to supporting and developing new artists.

For 2025 the Lyric Theatre Belfast is delighted to be one of the partner organisations alongside, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and Sherman Theatre.

Working with The Pleasance we will identify dynamic artists at different stages in their careers, with the primary aim of the scheme to uncover and support the best companies and artists from Northern Ireland, and across the UK, to present work at the Fringe.

Please note that this opportunity is for projects that are at an advanced stage of development with a creative team already attached, and with the ability/potential to match fund an Edinburgh Fringe run in 2025. It’s for artists/companies who reside primarily in Northern Ireland.

Previous projects supported by the partnership of Lyric and Pleasance Theatre Trust include; Scaredy Fat by Colm McCready, The Half Moon by Alice Malseed and The Daughters of Róisín by Aoibh Johnston.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 3rd February 2025 at 12 noon.

What do you get?

• Guaranteed inclusion in the Pleasance’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival programme.
• £2000 financing towards the costs of presenting your show at the Fringe.
• PR delivered by Michelle Mangan.
• A package of marketing and advertising to support your show specific campaign.
• Edinburgh Fringe registration fee covered.
• Two-weeks of in-kind rehearsal and development space at the Lyric Belfast
• Support offering accessible performances as part of your Fringe run.
• Mentorship, support and advice from both the Lyric Belfast and The Pleasance leading up to, and during the Fringe.
• Support to build new touring relationships.

In order to apply, please complete the submission form:Edinburgh National Partnerships Submission Form

We’ll need the following information in the submission form:

• Basic information (company/artist name, show title, primary contact & details)
• Information about the artist/company and the show including what stage of development it is
• Is the show available to perform for the full festival 30th July to 25th August 2025
• Who the target audience is and why
• Why you are interested in performing at the Edinburgh Fringe
• Why is this opportunity important for you and your development
• A space for you to provide links to supplementary material in support of their application (this could include videos/trailers of previous work, R&D footage, scripts/excerpts, images, etc.)

The deadline for submission is Monday 3rd February 2025.

If you feel you feel you aren’t able to best express yourself in a written form, please contact newwork@lyrictheatre.co.uk for details on how to submit a video or audio application.

Selection Day

We aim to select a shortlist of around 5 artists/companies who will then meet with representatives from the Pleasance Theatre and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.

These conversations will take place on Zoom week commencing 17th February 2025.

Interviews usually take about 30 - 40 minutes and are an informal conversation following a similar structure to the application form - a chance to hear the artist and company talk about their work first hand, get a gauge on the technical ambition of the work as well as an opportunity for the artist/company to ask any burning questions of either partner.