Actors, Blueprint (R&D)

About Concrete Youth

Concrete Youth is an award-winning charity dedicated to increasing cultural provision for people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Since our formation in 2019, we have engaged over 10,500 audience members across five continents, creating inclusive and sensory experiences that champion accessibility and creativity. Our work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to engage with the arts in meaningful and empowering ways.

Our touring department specialises in delivering multi-sensory theatre productions that captivate and inspire audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities. In 2024, we made history with the launch of Sensory Cinders, the first-ever West End production created specifically for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities, solidifying our reputation in inclusive theatre.

Our education department has been recognised as a leader in sensory education, winning two consecutive Education & Training Awards for Best Sensory Education. Our programmes are designed to provide inclusive, educational, and high-quality services to schools, organisations, and communities. We deliver impactful learning opportunities that nurture creativity and inclusion while empowering the next generation of theatre-makers and audiences.

As a research-led organisation, our senior management team are also academic researchers, combining their scholastic expertise with their roles at Concrete Youth to deliver work that is not only innovative but also deeply relevant to inclusive and sensory practice. This commitment to research underpins everything we do, ensuring that our artistic and educational outputs remain at the forefront of inclusive practice.

Concrete Youth is a four-day working week and Living Wage employer, and a PiPA Charter Partner.

About Blueprint

Blueprint is an ambitious, research-led project that reimagines how sensory theatre is made with and for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Developed by Concrete Youth in collaboration with co-researchers labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their support networks, Blueprint sets out to build a bespoke, audience-led model of sensory theatre that adapts to everyone’s unique needs, preferences, and best ways of engaging. Drawing on years of acclaimed national touring and award-winning work, the project combines creative innovation with academic practice to place the audience at the heart of every decision.

Led by Concrete Youth’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Daniel Swift MBE, Blueprint forms part of his doctoral research at Rose Bruford College and the University of East London. This study informs the project’s inclusive methodology, centring co-authorship with people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities to shape the work from within.

As Concrete Youth continues to pioneer new models of inclusive theatre, Blueprint represents a pivotal opportunity to explore bold ideas and redefine inclusive practice. The project is now moving towards a research and development phase, where its findings will begin to be implemented into the creation of a new sensory theatre production for the first time. Its findings will directly inform the company’s artistic direction and contribute to the wider conversation on accessibility and co-creation across the theatre sector.

Blueprint is supported by public funding from Arts Council England and Hull City Council.

About the Role

Concrete Youth is looking for x3 exceptional actors of all genders to join the next R&D phase of Blueprint.

Essential Skills for candidates

• Professional experience as an actor, including strong vocals

• Experience of working in an R&D capacity

Desirable skills for candidates

• Experience of working with audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities

• Ability to play a musical instrument

• Experience in Makaton or other forms of signed communication

• Experience in sensory theatre

Key Dates

• 20th–23rd July, Hull

• 4th–7th August, Hull

Auditions

The audition process will consist of a self-tape round, followed by an in-person audition taking place in London on 15th June.

Fee

The fee for this project is £631 p/w for 2 weeks + travel, accommodation, holiday allowance, and per diems for candidates working away from home.

Further Contract

Subject to the needs of the project upon completion of its development, there may be potential for renewal of the contract for the further development of the production and its eventual run.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about making a difference through sensory theatre and meet the criteria, we would love to hear from you. Please complete the application form on this page with your cover letter and CV by midday on 14th May 2026.

If you would prefer to apply via a format that is more accessible to you (video, voice recording, images etc), please email it to jobs@concreteyouth.co.uk. You are kindly asked to only email this address with accessible applications and apply using the form on this page in all other instances.

UPON SUBMISSION, THE FORM WILL INDICATE THAT THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED. IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS MESSAGE, YOUR APPLICATION HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. IN THE EVENT OF THIS, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION TO JOBS@CONCRETEYOUTH.CO.UK. Please do not send your application to this email address unless this is the case.

Our audience comes from all walks of life, and so do we. We work with great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for inclusive theatre, you will find a home at Concrete Youth.