New Perspectives have announced the 2026/27 cohort for their New Associates programme, welcoming fourteen early and mid-career artists to the year-long professional development scheme.
Now in its seventh year, New Associates offers bespoke support, training and mentorship from the award-winning Nottingham-based theatre company.
The programme is designed to support artists working across theatre and performance-based disciplines in the East Midlands, an area that has historically faced a lack of opportunity and investment.
Over the course of the year, the cohort will work closely with the New Perspectives team, visiting industry guests and each other to develop their practice, share skills and gain insights into leadership and governance.
The 2026/27 New Associates were selected from 49 applicants and are Fred Baker, Daron Carey, Keilah Chambers-Turner, Susan Earl, Laura Goulden, Fran Hess, Linh Huynh, Laurence James-Davis, Rehannah Mian, Olivia Newton, Georgina Saunders-Fazzani, James Sweeney, Finley-Rose Townsend and Esther Warren.
The programme continues to strengthen the creative infrastructure of the East Midlands, with alumni over the past year securing more than £800,000 in Arts Council England funding and creating new employment opportunities across the region.
Building community is central to New Associates, addressing artist isolation through peer networks while connecting participants to wider creative and professional opportunities.
Each associate receives tailored support, with elements of the programme shaped around the needs of the cohort, including mentoring, funding guidance, touring advice, industry links and access to company rehearsals and board expertise.
Confirmed industry guests for the coming year include Daniel Bailey, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Nick Hern Books, Ian Kershaw and Johanna Taylor.
Artistic Director Angharad Jones said, “We are enormously proud of our talent development programme that has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. I truly believe that the artists who come through this programme represent the artists and cultural leaders of the future.”
She added, “As a region that is historically underfunded this scheme aims to ensure that artists from the East Midlands have a place and a voice within the arts ecology nationally, as well as the skills and confidence to own that place.”
Participation Director and programme lead Jayne Williams said, “New Associates is a great way for us to connect with talented artists who bring as much to New Perspectives as we offer them.”
She continued, “Having worked as a Freelancer in Theatre for almost three decades, I know how tricky it can be to arrive, stay put and thrive in this industry, especially if you’re from a working-class background.”
Actor and 2024/25 New Associate Grace Carter said, “New Perspectives has given me the confidence, learning and experience to keep going, keep putting myself forward for more employment opportunities in the industry, and to actually start getting paid for my creativity.”
New Perspectives continues to tour extensively across the UK, producing bold contemporary theatre for rural and underserved audiences as well as major venues nationwide.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
