Catalyst 2026

Catalyst is a two-week residency at The North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford, providing a framework of support for early-career writers and directors to develop their craft, to progress their work and to establish a strong network of peer creatives. Six writers and three directors are selected through a national call-out, and paired with professional mentors and a company of actors. The first week is spent workshopping the writers’ scripts. During the second week a 15 minute section of each script is rehearsed with the acting company, and the residency culminates in a public sharing of work.

There is no cost to take part in the Catalyst programme. We have some accommodation available for those travelling from outside Oxford; please let us know if this is required on your application. In addition, we are able to provide lunch and dinner to participants on any working days.

Watch this video to find out more about Catalyst at The North Wall:

Who can apply

Catalyst is open to writers and directors between the ages of 18-30 who identify as early-career artists.

You must have a strong interest in new writing and new plays either as a writer or director. Please note that this specific programme is not about devised work or the devising process.

You must be fully available across these dates:

Monday 30 March – Saturday 4 April 2026: 10am – 6pm

Monday 6 April – Friday 10 April 2026: Exact schedule TBC but will include daytime and evening sessions.

Friday 10 April 2026: 6pm – 11pm (public sharing of work)

When to apply

Applications open on Friday 9 January (10am) and close on Friday 6 February (10am). No applications can be accepted before or after these times.

Interview dates

Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place online on Monday 16 February and Tuesday 17 February 2026. Final offers will be confirmed by Monday 23 February 2026.

Please note that we will contact all applicants to confirm whether or not you have been offered an interview, and all shortlisted applicants to confirm whether or not you have been offered a place on the programme. However, due to the expected volume of applications and the small size of the NW team (with one person managing the administration of the programme), unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

How to apply

Please click here to submit your application

For your reference, if you wish to work on your answers offline before submission, here are the questions you will be asked:

  • Full name
  • Pronouns (optional)
  • DOB
  • Postal address
  • Email address
  • We have some accommodation available for participants travelling from outside of Oxford. Please tell us if you would need accommodation organised if you were offered a place
  • Please tell us about yourself and your theatre related experience
  • Please tell us why you would like to take part in Catalyst
  • Please tell us about a show you have seen that you loved, and why you loved it
  • If you are a writer please attach a sample of your writing between 1 – 10 pages long.

The North Wall celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion, and is committed to equality of opportunity for everyone in our community, regardless of class, age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are under-represented in the cultural sector.

Queries

For any queries please email participation@thenorthwall.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Supporters

We are hugely grateful to our ArtsLab: Catalyst 2026 Programme Partners: St Clare’s, Oxford and Oxford School of Drama.

With thanks to The North Wall Arts Centre’s principal sponsor St Edward’s School, Oxford.

Quotes from previous Catalyst participants:

‘As a writer, it has been a truly unique opportunity. I arrived at the North Wall with twenty minutes of a rough idea, and I’m leaving with a full play, along with a whole heap of insightful notes to implement. Catalyst has given me the creative space and confidence to push through and finish something, which is usually a real struggle for me. Having a room full of people who are willing to read your play, brilliantly, and then to feed back on it, is such an invaluable experience, especially at such an early stage of development. The writing mentorship has been fantastic, I’ve learnt so much about playwriting in just two weeks. The residential nature of the programme means that you are constantly discussing ideas with other creatives, and the fact that it is fully catered means you can devote yourself fully to writing. The excellent company management helps to create a family-like atmosphere which is really important when people are away from home. For the two weeks of Catalyst, it’s like the world outside doesn’t exist and you can just be yourself. An artist.’

‘I don’t know how the North Wall team do it, but not a second of the residency is wasted. I’ve made long lasting friendships and I hope long lasting collaborations at the North Wall. I recommend it to every writer and director I meet, and hope to be lucky enough to come back as an actor again. It’s sadly an incredibly rare opportunity in the arts nowadays, and has been a vital part of mine and so many other artists development.’

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