catapult

fast forwarding careers in theatre

for performers

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“This is such an amazing opportunity for any young actor. The experience of working with a professional touring theatre company like Changeling is so rewarding and has enlightened me to what my future in the industry could look like. The skills I’ve gained have enhanced my career prospects massively. I’m extremely honoured to have followed in the success of past winners of this fantastic apprenticeship!”

Cary Ryan, Apprentice on Hamlet Tour 2017

A career in theatre is an immensely rewarding one, but it can almost impossible to make that first step without some professional experience under your belt.

That’s where we step in. We are a talent lab for young or emerging theatre practitioners, providing a range of opportunities to work with us, whatever your specialism or background.

Through our Catapult scheme we offer early career actors, writers, technicians, composers and directors the rare opportunity to work alongside established theatre professionals on a demanding (but fun!) open air Summer tour.

We’re immensely proud to have helped launch the careers of many successful theatre practitioners.

You can read more about them below.

Apprentice Scheme

Our Apprentice Scheme is a free, talent development initiative open to an 18 to 22 year old from Kent who wants to get hands on experience of what it’s like to work with the only professional open air theatre company in Kent.

You will be mentored and directed  in one of the shows and to come to rehearsals only when required (we fit around your exams etc) and all performances of the play.  We will make you costumes AND give you money towards your expenses.  You will learn and observe  how a show gets put together and (from the actors) about what it takes to be a professional actor. Each week you will  have a Friday Check in to see how you are getting on, and we do require your parents to be involved in your decision to take part and help out with pick ups and lifts to the venues. This is a voluntary position.

This years Apprentice is 22 year old Sarah Brauner from Ham Street and Toulouse, who is playing Margaret.

For more information or sponsor this wonderful scheme, then please get in touch.

 

Rookie scheme

The Rookie scheme offers a drama school graduate the chance to gain a credit on their CV and vital experience by playing named parts in our summer tour as a professional cast member.  For the first time the scheme is kindly supported by the Garrick Charitable Trust and from the proceeds of the programmes you buy each year.

This  year the role has been awarded to Harry James Miller, who has just graduated from DRAMA STUDIO LONDON & is playing CLAUDIO in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING .

If you’d like to be our next Rookie, please get in touch.

Our other schemes  include…

Young Composer

Each year we work with a new up and coming composer giving them a chance to write for  both shows

 

If you would lke to be considered please get in touch.

Assistant Director

Our Assistant Director role helps new directors to get as much experience as they can working with professional actors in a professional environment.  Sadly there is no funding for this scheme at the present time.

Many have gone on to be very successful in the world of theatre and television.

Assistant Stage Manager

Not everyone wants to perform or create but stage management crew in the theatre hold everything together.

This scheme is for aspiring stage managers and theatre crew to learn on-the-job on a demanding tour, supported by our experienced stage manager.

Our alumni

Charlie Oscar

Fans of Doctor Who may have spotted Charlie Oscar (O’Connor) playing agent K-Toscs in the first episode of the recent series of Doctor Who: The Halloween Apocalypse.

Charlie was a Changeling apprentice in 2016 and has since embarked on a professional acting career with some notable performances already under their belt.

Khalid Daley

Following his training at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Khalid played Guildenstern in our tour of Hamlet in 2017. Following the tour Khalid was quickly snapped up by the National theatre performing in Dick Whittington, followed by a UK and international tour of War Horse. He performed in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Hamilton.

 

Pip Carter

Pip Carter was part of the Changeling Youth Theatre and played the part of Claudio in our 2003 production of Much Ado about Nothing just before he went off to RADA. Upon leaving drama school, Pip went on to appear in Party Animals along side Matt Smith, then again as WH Auden in Christopher and his Kind. Pip has also played in Posh and many plays at the National Theatre and  The Book of Dust at the Bridge.

Ellie Kendrick

Ellie Kendrick played in our 2005 production of Twelfth Night. She then went on to play the title role in the Diary of Anne Frank, Game of Thrones, The Misfits, Upstairs Downstairs as well as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Globe. Ellie is also a successful writer for stage. Her first play, TABS, was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and her second play was commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre.