2025 Stage Design
Competition

The Castle Players are inviting aspiring stage designers to submit A THEATRE DESIGN for their summer 2025 open-air production of the Oscar nominated film ‘Shakespeare in Love’.

 

The winning designer will receive a cash prize of £500 and will see their design through from conception to performance. Performances take place from July 1st to July 5th, 2025, at five open-air venues across County Durham, including:

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● Raby Castle

● TCR The Hub

● All Saints Church, Darlington

● Mickleton Village Hall Green

● Whorlton Village Hall Green

 

Previous Castle Players summer productions have been large-scale installations at a single venue. Elaborate sets have been built and large amounts of equipment hired, including generators, toilets, lighting and sound rigs, as well as covered seating for the audience.

 

However, for our 2025 production, we are looking to dramatically reduce our performance ‘footprint’ and significantly reduce our production costs by performing on a new, pop-up style stage, and inviting our audiences to enjoy performances from the comfort of their own seats.

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To see the full competition brief and details on how you can enter, please click the link below.