Companies and artists from the South East and South West are invited to be part of the second phase of Create Tour Connect, offering commission and national touring opportunities across the country.
The Create Tour Connect partnership project has successfully secured funding from Arts Council England to support, develop and tour three more shows from 2028-2029.
The first show will be selected from across the South East and South West. We are working with Applause to launch a callout for one new piece of theatre from these regions, to tour in Spring 2028. Further information about this latest commission and how to apply can be found below.
About Create Tour Connect
Create Tour Connect is an innovative new partnership project led by Applause Rural Touring and supported by Arts Council England. It aims to address the growing lack of multi-hander touring drama and theatre, relevant to contemporary rural audiences, that has been seen over recent years by supporting the regional creation of new work and connecting this with a network of partners dedicated to small-scale touring.
The project is a unique collaboration of over 18 partner organisations from the rural touring network, with four regional hubs (consortia) covering the North, Midlands, South West and South East. They represent a diverse range of small-scale community spaces and are working together to share local knowledge, resources and expertise on rural touring and developing new work. Each regional hub will offer a commissioned opportunity for new contemporary theatre and drama pieces for national touring. Dorset's rural touring charity Artsreach is the lead organisation for the South West regional hub.
The first phase of CTC is currently touring Pipeline Theatre’s George and the Drag Queen with a new show from Out of Chaos touring in Spring next year. Over 3000 people have already seen a Create Tour Connect show.
South West & South East Theatre Commission
In partnership with our rural touring friends at Carn to Cove (Cornwall), Beaford (North Devon), Villages in Action (Devon), Take Art (Somerset), Air in G (Gloucestershire), Pound Arts (Wiltshire), Applause (Kent, Sussex & Essex) and Creative Arts East (Norfolk) we are delighted to outline details of a commission for a new piece of touring theatre from a South West or South East based company or artist as follows:
Commission Details
- We are looking for a new piece of theatre relevant to contemporary rural and community adult audiences (3 hander plus 1 tech on tour) for a funded (minimum) 36 date tour across the rural touring network from late Jan – early May 2028. The development period will be 2027/2028
- The company or artist must be based in the South East or South West region of England as defined by Arts Council regions.
- The company or artist must demonstrate understanding of or experience in touring to community spaces
- Availability to develop a new show and tour across the network in Spring 2028
Timescale
- Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Shortlisted interviewees informed:w/c 23 November 2026
- Interviews (online): w/c 30 November 2026
- Decision: by mid-December 2026
- Draft publicity assets for menus needed by: March 2027
The successful artist/company will be selected by a panel of representatives from the commissioning organisations. A shortlist will be selected from the received applications who will be invited for an informal online chat to discuss proposals further before a final decision is made.
Download the full details below, including information on development and touring fees available:
How to apply
Applications will be via the Eventotron online platform.
If you are already registered with Eventotron you can apply to Create Tour Connect 2 – South East/West. Otherwise, you will need to register for a free account first.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals or companies, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief.
We want to hear about:
– you/your company and the work you do
– your proposal and your experience or understanding of rural and community touring
– your budget and touring fees
– your approach to sustainability
If you feel more comfortable applying by video or voice recording, please contact programming@applause.org.uk for further information.
If you have any questions about this commission call out or want to discuss your application before applying, please get in touch with Sally Lampitt by emailing programming@applause.org.uk