Theatre Hullabaloo offers up to five free tickets per performance for North East artists who are interested in developing their practice in creating work for children and families. By bringing artists from across the UK and internationally to perform at The Hullabaloo, we showcase diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to engaging young audiences. This initiative provides local artists with valuable opportunities to experience different creative methods and be inspired by a wide range of artistic practice. 

At least once per season, we will host dedicated artist workshops led by visiting companies, giving local artists the chance to learn from innovative approaches to co-creation and making work for children and families. These workshops will introduce new creative methods to the region while also serving as a valuable networking opportunity for local artists to connect, share projects, and explore ways of working together. Whenever possible, Theatre Hullabaloo will provide food and drink to create a welcoming and sociable space for these conversations. 

As producers of original touring work, Theatre Hullabaloo specialises in developing creative projects for families, with a strong focus on co-creation and collaboration with local communities. If you are interested in producing this kind of work, we can offer one-to-one sessions with our producing team to support artists in developing their own projects for children and families. 

Artists can book an initial consultation, either in person or via Teams, to share their project ideas. If the project aligns with our vision, we may be able to provide further support in shaping its development or even assisting with its delivery. 

We are particularly interested in supporting projects that include: 

• Authentic co-creation with children, ensuring their voices shape the work. 

• Themes drawn from real-life experiences, moving beyond traditional “happy ever after” endings. 

• Work that embraces diversity, both in its audiences and participants. 

• Projects that serve as a first introduction to the arts, creating accessible and welcoming experiences for families. 

• A focus on the voice and empowerment of babies and children, recognising their agency in the creative process. 

Once we have a clear understanding of your project and the capacity to offer further support, this could include: 

• Reviewing funding applications and providing feedback. 

• Writing letters of support to strengthen your funding bids. 

• Facilitating connections with potential project partners, such as other artists, schools, or community groups. 

• Offering in-kind support, where possible, to help bring your project to life. 

Please email info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk if you’re interested in an initial conversation.

Each year, we allocate funding to commission new work, ranging from small micro-commissions for Research & Development to larger full commissions for our Creative Play space, theatre programme, or festival. 

When live commission opportunities are available, they will be displayed on our webpage. In the meantime, if you’re interested in developing work within these areas, we’d love to hear from you—we’re always keen to explore new ideas and collaborations. 

You can email mirandathain@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk for an initial conversation.

We run a year-round programme of participation activities at our venue in Darlington and in community spaces across Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland as part of our Place to Play programme. To support this, we’re looking for skilled facilitators experienced in working with babies and children to deliver dynamic and engaging creative workshops. 

If you have a background or interest in facilitation, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always keen to connect with artists and explore new art forms or creative concepts to introduce to our audiences. 

To share your interest in delivering workshops for us, please contact ginaruffin@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk 

We have a beautiful, bright, and airy rehearsal space adjacent to The Hullabaloo office, and we’re keen to see it used by local artists developing work for children. The space can be used for:

• Research & Development or testing new ideas.
• Workshops with families, provided they are free of charge.
• Small sharings of work, offering invited audiences or partners a glimpse into the creative process.

If you’re working on a project for young audiences and need space, we’d love to hear from you!

Please get in touch with: info@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk Please share when you would need it, who you would be working with, and what you would be using the space for. – From there we can chat about funding etc.

Please note: this would be an offer of the space only and we cannot offer any additional technical or producing support unless as part of separate agreement of support.

Venues North

Venues North is a network of venues from across the North of England who are committed to supporting artists to create new work. Our aim is to work together as venues to support new and emerging artists from the North to get their work more widely seen regionally, nationally and internationally.

By new work, we mean new theatre and performance, usually devised work or new writing, or work that explores the boundaries of theatrical form.

Venues North is not a closed network or an exclusive group of venues. It is a paid membership organisation open to any venue in the North that shares our commitment to supporting artists making new work.

Originally brought together by Annabel Turpin, the group is now chaired by ARC’s Chief Executive & Creative Director, Alexander Ferris, and meets three times a year.

Current publications include:

Routes In: A Guide to Getting New Work Programmed in the North of England – Download the Routes In guide

Theatre Hullabaloo is proud to be a member of Venues North network. Once per year, the network meeting is held in the North East, where up to eight local venues can each nominate one artist to pitch their work to the programmers and venues in attendance. Artists will have up to 10 minutes to present their work, with an introduction and support from the venue that nominated them. They may also invite two additional individuals to assist in delivering the pitch, which can include excerpts of the work. Up to three people per pitch will be compensated for their time and expenses.

If you would be interested in pitching at the next North East Venues North meeting, then please contact XXXX to discuss your idea.

Usually, venues would nominate someone they are already supporting, so this could also be a great first step to get to know your local venue.

Current members include:

Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

ARC, Stockton

Barnsley Civic

Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Carriageworks, Leeds

Cast, Doncaster

Crewe Lyceum, Crewe

Darlington Hippodrome, Darlington

Enable Us – University of Sheffield Performance Venues

Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond

Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate

HOME, Manchester

Hull Truck Theatre, Hull

Interplay, Leeds

Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

Leeds Playhouse, Leeds

Live Theatre, Newcastle

Liverpool Lighthouse, Liverpool

Liverpool’s Royal Court, Liverpool

New Adelphi Theatre, Salford

Northern Stage, Newcastle

Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Oldham Library Studio, Oldham

Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield

Slung Low’s HUB, Leeds

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

Storyhouse, Chester

Sunderland Culture Company, Washington

Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington

The Arts Centre – Edge Hill University, Ormskirk

The Atkinson, Southport

The Dukes, Lancaster

The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre, Chorlton

The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool

The Lowry, Salford

The Muni Theatre, Colne

The Old Electric, Blackpool

The Viaduct Theatre, Halifax

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Theatre in the Mill, Bradford

Theatre Royal Wakefield

Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Waterside, Sale

York Theatre Royal, York

Your Trust, Rochdale

Z-arts, Manchester

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The Tees Valley Freelancers Network

This exciting new creative and cultural freelancer network, led by ARC in partnership with consortium of seven organisations and funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, offers freelancers a unique chance to connect, collaborate, and thrive. Tees Valley Creates: The Freelancer Network is designed to connect, support and develop creative freelancers born, living or working in the Tees Valley. Our goal is to make the Tees Valley the top destination in England for freelancers.

Theatre Hullabaloo are one of the seven organisations making up the consortium who help shape and deliver a year-round activity of training, events and support for Tees Valley freelancers.

For 2025, Theatre Hullabaloo will be offering:

Two artist socials

Two training events

A networking event

Support for up to 20 artists with funding applications

If you are currently applying for funding for your creative project to work with children or families, then get in touch with Chloe Stott at chloestott@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk for help and advice with your application.

Please keep an eye on this page for further news of our events.

You can also sign up to The Freelancer Network to keep up to date with activity across the Tees Valley here: https://www.teesvalleycreates.co.uk/