Stage One has announced the eight emerging producers selected for its prestigious 2025/26 Placement Scheme.
These producers will spend a year gaining hands-on experience with some of the UK’s top commercial production offices and regional theatres.
Since its inception in 2006, Stage One has facilitated 127 paid placements in West End offices and 38 in regional theatres, with 75% of participants still active in the industry.
This year’s London placements will be hosted by Disney Theatrical Group, Wildpark Entertainment, Runaway Entertainment and Fiery Angel.
National placements will take place at Bristol Old Vic, Birmingham Hippodrome, Northern Stage and Leicester Curve, where producers will work on programming, co-productions and in-house projects.
The 2025/26 Placement Producers are:
- Callie Barter – Birmingham Hippodrome
- Laura Lydon – Northern Stage
- Bhavdeep Soor – Leicester Curve
- Izzy Monaghan West – Bristol Old Vic
- Lux Knightley – Fiery Angel
- Lucy Wilson – Wildpark Entertainment
- Connor James – Disney Theatrical Group
- Kate Caspari – Runaway Entertainment
- Anousha Karim – Kiln Theatre
Joseph Smith, CEO of Stage One, said:
“The Placement Scheme is at the heart of what Stage One does, allowing emerging producers the chance to learn by gaining hands on experience in dynamic commercial producing offices and nationally recognised producing theatres across the country. This is a unique opportunity to see first-hand how productions are developed from idea to stage by being an integral part of the teams that deliver the work. Many of today’s most exciting producers began through this very scheme, and it continues to strengthen the future of commercial theatre across the UK.”
Izzy Monaghan West commented:
“I am having such an amazing time on my Stage One placement; it has helped me to deepen my understanding of what it truly means to produce theatre – not just creatively, but collaboratively and strategically too.”
Bhavdeep Soor added:
“I am so excited to have received the opportunity to be a Stage One Trainee Producer at Curve Theatre. As someone who has always seen Curve as an audience member or backstage runner during my previous work, it’s very interesting seeing it from the producing perspective. I love seeing what processes are needed to create a show, working with different departments and feeling like an important part of a wider team. I have a lot I want to learn about producing and theatre in general so I’m looking forward to what’s in store during the rest of my traineeship.”
Callie Barter said:
“I feel so grateful to have been chosen to be on the Stage One producer placement scheme. The opportunity to learn on the job and be part of the incredibly insightful workshops led by industry leaders through Stage One is a fantastic opportunity, and one I know will help build on a future career. I’ve already been part of a successful Edinburgh run, a London transfer, engaged with multiple artists and been on the team commissioning new writing. I can’t wait for even more to come.”
Lucy Wilson shared:
“I’m really enjoying my placement with Wildpark Entertainment so far and am already learning huge amounts about producing and the industry. I’m very grateful to Stage One for this opportunity and look forward to attending workshops, connecting with like-minded producers, and engaging with everything the programme has to offer!”
More information can be found here.
