If you have a bold, exciting idea for a new show or a work-in-progress that needs to be shared with an audience, EXPERIMENT is the strand for you. Designed to provide opportunities to publicly present new and emerging work to brilliant audiences in The Lab.
We can support your to develop and stage a work in progress sharing with a financial contribution, giving you the freedom to creatively explore your work and practice by trying new ideas in a safe space.
We platform two seasons of EXPERIMENT work in progress sharing in The Lab each year, offering you the opportunity to present your work to new audiences while receiving valuable support from our artistic and producing team.
Where experiments are held, connections are made, and stories begin.
The Lab is an underground 50-seat studio and workshop space. It is a home for the seeds of ideas, rooted in experimentation, and the growth of artists, communities, and their work.
We will platform emerging work across seasons, with guidance from our Associate Artistic Director and producing team, who will support the future life of new productions through feedback and conversation.
As well as being a space for performance, The Lab will also be a home for communities and young people to connect through opportunities that support their development and passion, from the ages of 0-100.
Coming up in The Lab…
Closeted | EXPERIMENT Work In Progress
Closeted is a darkly comedic one-woman show that dives into the tangled web of secrecy, identity, and self-acceptance. Following the journey of a 30-year-old closeted lesbian, this sharp and fearless production explores the hilarious, heartbreaking, and often absurd realities of living a double life. With biting wit and raw honesty, Closeted sheds light on the struggles of coming out—when you’re no longer the age people expect you to be figuring it all out.
This work in progress show is being supported by the New Year, New Idea initiative as a part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s EXPERIMENT strand of Artist Development. EXPERIMENT supports artists and companies with funding, research and development time, space in The Lab and the facility to present a public sharing of their work.
Date: Fri 16 May
Time: 7 pm
The Spiral | EXPERIMENT Work In Progress
Date: Fri 23 May
Time: 7 pm
Generations of Light | EXPERIMENT Work In Progress
Generation of Light is a semi-autobiographical exploration of Korean heritage and how this has evolved through the generations. Created and performed by Jung Borthwick and her family, this part theatre, part exhibition piece centres on love, acceptance, and a celebration of family and culture.
This is a work in progress sharing supported by Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Artist Development programme. EXPERIMENT is strand of our work that provides paid opportunities for artists and companies to research, develop, and present bold emerging work in The Lab.
Date: Sat 31 May
Time: 7 pm
Brothers | EXPERIMENT Work In Progress
Through laughter, duty and grief, this will remind us that those we lose never truly leave us- they live on in the stories we tell and the lives they’ve touched.
This work in progress show is being supported by the New Year, New Idea initiative as a part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s EXPERIMENT strand of Artist Development. EXPERIMENT supports artists and companies with funding, research and development time, space in The Lab and the facility to present a public sharing of their work.
Date: Thu 19 Jun
Time: 7 pm
Pugmill | EXPERIMENT Work In Progress
Dance is up close and music is alive in this original work from Pugmill, a new, interdisciplinary theatre company from Dartmoor National Park. The company launches this Summer into the South West and establishes its dynamic re-telling of history which puts all things Queer on Devon’s map. Come and join us for this genre-bending work in, what promises to be, an explosive night.
This work in progress show is being supported by the New Year, New Idea initiative as a part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s EXPERIMENT strand of Artist Development. EXPERIMENT supports artists and companies with funding, research and development time, space in The Lab and the facility to present a public sharing of their work.
Date: Fri 27 Jun
Time: 7 pm
Down To Chance | CO-LAB Previews
Anchorage, Alaska. 1964. The largest earthquake in US history.
A part-time radio reporter, her teenage intern, a general on leave, and a local hobbyist find themselves at the centre of a remarkable relief effort. Genie Chance, live on air, must take unimaginable risks to save her community from chaos.
Based on the incredible true story of the Great Alaskan Earthquake, Down to Chance is a heartwarming portrait of a community in crisis with the whole world listening in. Maybe You Like It’s madcap new show promises frenetic action, frantic multi-roling, and immersive live sound.
Down To Chance is our Edinburgh National Partnership production. This will be rehearsing and staged here before previewing in The Lab and then at a London venue. After which, it will run at the Pleasance Courtyard, Beside, for the entire Edinburgh Fringe run
Date: Wed 02 Jul
Time: 7 pm
Upcoming Opportunities
The 24 Hour Plays
Actor Call Out
Theatre Royal Plymouth are looking for a range of actors to perform in 4 brand new short plays as part of The 24 Hour Plays.
Creatives will meet at TR2, Production and Learning Centre on Friday 4th July in the evening to form four companies, each comprising of a writer, director and three actors. The writers will then work overnight to write a brand-new 15 minute play.
Actors will then arrive in the morning on Saturday 5th July and work with a director to stage the new production that will then be performed in The Drum that evening.
To apply* please submit a CV and/or Spotlight link via email to artist.development@theatreroyal.com.
*Please note, actors must be 18 and over.
Opening date: Friday 9th May, 10am
Closing date: Friday 23rd May, 1pm
Invitation to audition: Applicants will be notified Friday 30th June
Auditions: Friday 6th June, 10am-3pm
When will you know: Actors will be notified when they have been cast by Friday 13th June
Availability: Actors must be available to audition in person and be available on Friday 4th July, 6pm-8pm and Saturday 5th July from 9am-10pm.
Fee: £150 (Please note, we are unable to provide travel or accommodation on this occasion)
Research and Development Opportunities (R&D)
The EXPERIMENT strand of our Artist Development programme hosts an exciting opportunity for companies and artists to research, develop, and showcase new work.
Our unique programme offers financial contributions, and a space dedicated to the seeds of ideas and creativity, providing a platform for new voices and bold performances.
Do you have a brilliant and creative idea? Are you looking for a supportive environment to R&D bold, exciting and inclusive work? Or are you ready to share your work with a generous and engaged audience?
Join our mailing list to be the first to hear when our R&D and Programming window opens.
The 24 Hour Plays placed me directly in a time period that put together many visions and creativity in abundance in such a short space of time! The people I met from The 24 Hour Plays become and continue to be an important part of my work and are people who I value and trust in the development process.
Nia Powell, Writer and Theatre Maker on the EXPERIMENT programme
Explore all the strands of our Artist Development programme
