The Next Stage

Next Stage is back for its 19th year.

Presented by Performing Arts Forum in partnership with Dublin Theatre Festival, the Next Stage is the artist development strand of the Festival. This edition of The Next Stage will be presented in partnership with Prospero New Wave.

We are delighted that the wonderful John King will be this year’s facilitator.

Over the 18 days of the festival, aided by the facilitator and the group, participants are immersed in the programme and meet festival artists in a packed schedule of talks, interviews, group time and workshops. The Next Stage is an intense practice-based immersion for artists at all career levels at a moment of change in their work, who seek exposure to world-class theatre and an opportunity to meet and engage with the artists who have made it amongst a group of their peers.

This year’s edition offers artists a unique opportunity to meet and engage with international artists via 5 Prospero NEW bursaries, a platform supporting artists with tendencies, touring, co-productions, workshops adhering opportunities.

“The Next Stage was a rare gift, a deep dive into brilliant work and braver conversations. From seeming extraordinary theatre the makers behind it, it cracked open new ways of thinking about my own practice. And a peer group so inspiring it should have had its own curtain call” ~ Next Stage Alumni 2025

Participation in the Next Stage is by application only. The deadline for applications is now closed.

The 2026 Next Stage programme will start on Thursday 24th September and run until Sunday 11th October.

As well as the 5 Prospero NEW bursaries, there will be 1 Dublin Fringe Festival Wildcard award.