In-House Artists Scheme
A support and residency scheme
In-House Artists 2024/25
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival has selected two new In House Artists for 2024 - multi-award winning Writer and performer Tommy and artistic theatre group HurlyBurly Theatre
Following a successful pilot of the scheme in 2021–22, all artists will each undertake a one-year residency at the venue and receive a grant of £5,000 to support the creation of bold new work.
The In-House Artists scheme also offers mentoring opportunities with Brighton Dome’s programming team and previous In House Artists. Both Tommy and HurlyBurly Theatre will have access to Anita’s Room, the new dedicated creative space in Brighton Dome’s refurbished Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, supported by The Roddick Foundation, and be invited to help shape the programming, artistic direction and strategic focus of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival.
Tommy
Tommy (he/they) is a multi-award winning, queer, working class, disabled writer & performer based in Brighton, making work across theatre with elements of cabaret & live art. Their work explores taboo subjects which are often underrepresented, centring themes of queerness and neurodivergence with communities whose voices are often sidelined or unwelcome in traditional theatre spaces & contexts. Inspiration for their work derives from my own personal experiences alongside a fascination of using historical archives & research as a way to connect with audiences throughout history & rooting them within stories old & new.
HurlyBurly Theatre
HurlyBurly Theatre creates gentle, immersive theatre experiences for babies aged 0–2 and their carers. Led by co-artistic directors Sarah Forbes and Catherine Carter, the company is passionate about making high-quality, inclusive work that nurtures connection, calm, and joy.
Since forming in 2016, HurlyBurly Theatre has developed and toured four original productions for early years audiences. In 2025, You Are the Sun toured nationally. The show also reached libraries and community venues in partnership with organisations such as Wonder Arts (St Helens), Manchester Baby Week, Lancashire Refugee Integration Team, and the Croydonites Festival.
More than 25 applications were received from a diverse range of artists and creatives across the region. Alongside the Brighton Dome programming team, applications were assessed by Jenny Williams of Take The Space, an organisation that provides training in anti-racist and inclusive practice to the arts and heritage sector, and Helen Jewell, Creative Director of The Old Market.
Kyla Booth-Lucking, Director of Programming & Participation, said: 'Brighton has a thriving artist ecology and, as we look forward to reopening our Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, our In-House Artists will help develop new ideas for our audiences, with our support. I can’t wait to hear their ideas!'
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is an arts charity made up of an historic venue, a music education service and the largest curated arts festival in England. As a hub for artists across the region, it commissions and supports both emerging and established artists and companies, enabling them to develop, take risks and deliver work of the highest quality across theatre, circus, dance, spoken word, music, digital/media and multi-art forms.
In-House Artists Alumni
Our In-House Artists Scheme, launched in 2021, has alumni including Akila Richards, Tanushka Marah, Emma Frankland and Victoria Fox Markiewicz
Read more
