Stage One has revealed the nine emerging producers selected for its 2025/26 Placement Scheme. They will spend a year working across some of London’s top commercial production offices and the UK’s most dynamic regional theatres.

Since 2006, Stage One has facilitated 127 paid placements in West End producing offices and 38 in regional theatres (since launching the Regional Placement Scheme in 2013). With 75% of participants still active in the industry, Stage One continues to be a vital pathway for developing the next generation of commercial producers.

This year’s London placements will be hosted by Disney Theatrical Group, Wildpark Entertainment, Runaway Entertainment and Fiery Angel. Participants will contribute to major West End productions and national tours while helping to explore new ways to diversify audiences, creatives and casts.

Across the UK, Stage One’s National placements will take place at Bristol Old Vic, Birmingham Hippodrome, Northern Stage and Leicester Curve where producers will work across programming, co-productions and in-house projects on 12-month fixed-term contracts.

The 2025/26 Placement Producers are:

Callie Barter – Birmingham Hippodrome After a career in Front of House and Operations, Callie transitioned into programming and producing in 2022, working with Curve, Bill Kenwright Ltd and Nottingham Playhouse.

Laura Lydon – Northern Stage A Newcastle-based graduate in Professional Dance, Laura discovered her passion for producing while working in Dance City’s Artistic Programming team.

Bhavdeep Soor – Leicester Curve Bhavdeep is a creative producer with a background in project management, journalism and arts facilitation, passionate about EDI and community engagement.

Izzy Monaghan West – Bristol Old Vic A Drama graduate from the University of Manchester, Izzy has worked with One Voice Theatre Company and The Other Palace, developing new work for stage and festivals.

Lux Knightley – Fiery Angel A British Grenadian writer, composer and producer, Lux’s original musical Domitius won Best Musical at the 2022 Black British Theatre Awards.

Lucy Wilson – Wildpark Entertainment Lucy, a Goldsmiths MA Musical Theatre graduate, has worked with the RSC, Theatre Peckham and The Other Palace, and is passionate about new musicals and accessibility.

Connor James – Disney Theatrical Group Originally from Manchester, Connor has worked in event operations and artist liaison, including with Manchester International Festival and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK tours.

Kate Caspari – Runaway Entertainment Kate has produced work in Cambridge and abroad, including the Cambridge American Stage Tour, and held placements with Improbable and The Bridge Theatre.

Anousha Karim – Kiln Theatre Anousha is a Birmingham-born producer who led a full-scale tour of Romeo and Juliet across the East Coast of the US for the Cambridge American Stage Tour.

The Stage One Placement Scheme provides paid, year-long opportunities for emerging producers to gain real-world experience within established producing offices and theatres. Launched nationally in 2006 and regionally in 2013, the scheme builds bridges between the commercial and subsidised sectors—benefiting both the trainee producers and their host organisations.

Joseph Smith, CEO of Stage One, comments “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, Stage One placement producer says “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, Stage One placement producer says “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, Stage One placement producer says “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, Stage One placement producer says “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!”

Stage One is incredibly grateful for all the financial and practical support given by productions, individuals and businesses across the industry.

Stage One Placements are supported by Theatre Development Trust and Shaftesbury Capital PLC.