Student Applications

Applications to stage a show in Lent 2026 are now open!
Photo by Paul Ashley Photography

Applications to stage a show in Lent 2026 are now open

 >> Link to application form <<

Lent 2026 applications timeline:

  • Saturday 04 October 2025: Applications open.
  • Monday 27 October 2025: Applications close at midday. If you have any issues with the deadline please email applications@adctheatre.com
  • Saturday 01 - Sunday 02 November 2025: Most applicants will be invited to deliver a 5-minute pitch to discuss their application in more detail;
  • w/b Monday 03 November 2025: One of the panellists will read the script (where applicable), and questions based on the script, written application and pitch might be sent over to the applicant to respond via email towards the end of the week;
  • Saturday 08 - Sunday 09 November 2025: Most applicants for the ADC Mainshow slot are invited to a further, 20-minute interview. If you have applied for a different slot, you probably won't be invited to an interview, though please don't worry: we should have all the information we need to make a decision;
  • w/b Monday 10 November 2025: You will find out via email whether your application has been successful.

Easter 2026 applications draft timeline:

  • w/b Sunday 11 January 2026: Applications open.
  • Sunday 08 February 2026: Applications close.
  • Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 February 2026: Most applicants will be invited to deliver a 5-minute pitch to discuss their application in more detail;
  • Saturday 21 - Sunday 22 February 2026: Most applicants for the ADC Mainshow slot are invited to a further, 20-minute interview.
  • w/b Monday 23 February 2026: You will find out via email whether your application has been successful.

Michaelmas 2026 applications draft timeline:

  • w/b Sunday 12 April 2026: Applications open.
  • Sunday 10 May 2026: Applications close.
  • Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 May 2026: Most applicants will be invited to deliver a 5-minute pitch to discuss their application in more detail;
  • Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 May 2026: Most applicants for the ADC Mainshow slot are invited to a further, 20-minute interview.
  • w/b Monday 25 May 2026: You will find out via email whether your application has been successful.

More information about the application process can be viewed below:

Applications Guide

For non-student booking enquiries, please click here.

When applying, the application form will ask you for the following:

  • Your name, phone number and email address;
  • The name and author (if applicable) of the show;
  • A synopsis of the show, genre, age suitability (see more information below), and any content notes you want the panel to be aware of;
  • The expected cast size for the show;
  • The expected run time for the show (please bear in mind the durations of each of the slots you can apply for);
  • Whether your show has any intimacy content;
  • Your answers to the following questions:
    • Why are you passionate about your show?
    • What ideas do you have about the process of bringing your show to the stage?
    • How do you want the audience to react to the show?
    • What ideas do you currently have about ways to allow for diversity and inclusion in your production?
    • What are your ideas for marketing this production?
  • Any supplementary material, if necessary;
  • The slot and venue you would like to apply for (see the applications guide for more details);
  • Whether you would like your show to be considered for one of the suggested categories (see further down this page for more information);
  • Whether you would like your show to be considered for funding by one of our resident companies (see applications guide for more details). Please note that you do not need to worry about funding at the point that you apply for a show;
  • Your availability to give a five-minute pitch;
  • Your availability to conduct a twenty-minute interview to discuss your application further;
  • A 150-word "long" marketing blurb, a 20-word "short" marketing blurb, and a publicity image;
  • Details about how the panel can access the script (whether you decide to email it, provide a link to download, or deliver to the Administration Office prior to the application deadline. Please note that if applicable to your application, a script must be provided for your application to be considered);
  • Whether the performance rights are available for your show (please note, you only need to check that they are available, the Theatre will ultimately apply for the rights on your behalf);
  • Any adjustments that you require to the applications process;
  • Details about the applicant so that the ADC can publish anonymised data on the ethnicity, sexuality and disability of successful applicants (this part is entirely optional and any specific data provided will be kept confidential by the Theatre Manager).

Suggested Categories

Each term, the ADC show selection panel provides suggested categories that we would be keen to see applications for, in order to broaden our season. For this round, we have provided categories only and no suggested scripts so as to encourage as wide a variety of applications as possible. If you are looking for inspiration, there are suitable scripts available in the CUADC Library in the ADC Production Office, or please feel free to email the Production Manager who has a list of suggested plays. As a member of the University you also have free access to read countless scripts on Drama Online.

For the Lent Term Musical, we will only be accepting applications from the shortlist below. This is to ensure that the rights for these musicals are definitely available.

We emphasise that you can apply with any show and that the below category headings only serve to act as a guide. If we do not receive any applications for a category, or if all applications in a category are not of sufficient quality the panel will revert to selecting from the open applications field to fill the slots. In all cases the quality of submissions will continue to be the guiding principle in show selection.

We will only be accepting applications for the Lent Term Musical from the
below list:

  • 42nd Street by Harry Warren, Al Dubin, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble
  • American Idiot by Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
  • bare by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere
  • Be More Chill by Joe Iconis, Joe Tracz and Ned Vizzini
  • Bring It On by Tom Kitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeff Whitty and Amanda Green
  • Into the Woods by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim
  • Legally Blonde by Heather Hach, Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin

The Lent 2026 season coincides with both LGBTQ History Month (February) and Women’s History Month/ International Women's Day (March). During these month-long observances of queer and women’s history, we would love to see plays that celebrate the lived experience of people from either or both groups, under the umbrella category heading 'Rebellion'.

We are aware that many theatre works by marginalized writers are not in the format or length usually seen at the ADC and the Corpus Playroom. We are happy to consider alternative programming options in regards to this, such as a combination of several short works.

If you are after inspiration for plays in this category, please check out Drama Online, the CUADC Library, or email the Production Manager.

The Cambridge student community speaks many languages but we rarely perform plays in anything other than English. For the Lent 2026 season we invite applications of plays partially or fully in languages other than vernacular English – including dialects, dead languages and sign. Or, plays that deal with language as a central theme.

We appreciate that the live translation and subtitling of foreign-language plays is a significant and time-consuming technical endeavour. If you feel that this is unlikely for your show, we would encourage applicants to consider a single performance without surtitles, marketed specifically to speakers of that language.

If you have any questions about performing rights for a play you would like to pitch, please email applications@adctheatre.com.

Footlights Presents is a comedy show – typically a sketch show, but not exclusively – that aims to showcase up-and-coming comedians in their second undergraduate year or above, or postgraduate students in any year of study. The show is an ADC Lateshow slot that usually occurs early on in Lent term, and is fully funded and supported by the Footlights.

It should be pitched as a sketch show concept by one person/ a pair in the capacity of writer, director, writer/director or writer/performer. This concept should be both innovative and with strong roots in sketch comedy as a medium (although applicants are free to draw on other inspirations as well).

The show will receive full funding and support from the Cambridge Footlights.

There are no specific requirements on who may pitch or take part in Footlights Presents, although it should be noted that the show is targeted as an opportunity for those with some, but not a huge amount of experience with Cambridge comedy. If you have any questions about applications, email secretary@cambridgefootlights.org.

The show typically features a cast of six writer/performers, as well as at least a Director and Assistant Director (who may also be involved as writers). Applicants may adapt or alter this format with sufficient reasoning for doing so. The Footlights committee would also like to stipulate that they aim for Footlights Presents to be a fair and diverse representation of the Cambridge comedy scene and encourage those applying to keep this in mind.

What to consider before making an application

Rights

The rights-holders of most plays and musicals require you to purchase performing rights before a production can be staged.

Most rights for shows are held by the following three companies:

If you are looking at a show that is not held by one of these rightsholders, then you must check elsewhere whether amateur performance rights are available. If you are unsure whether the rights to your show are available, or if you have any questions, please get in touch with the Theatre Manager here. You only need to check that rights are available for application, you do not need to apply yourself. If your show is programmed, the ADC will apply for rights on your behalf. If you are applying for any of the shows from the Lent Tern Musical shortlist you do not need to check rights as the Theatre Manager has already checked and secured them.

Please note that many rights agreements do not permit changes to be made to the show's script, period, setting, or characters (including their gender). If you wish to change these aspects within your production you will need to get in touch with the rightsholders in advance to see if this is possible. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Theatre Manager here.

Has the show been staged previously?

We are very unlikely to programme a show which has been on at the ADC Theatre or Corpus Playroom already in the last 5 years. Please check camdram.net for information on when shows have last been put on.

The ADC has an active programme outside of term time and a minority of these shows aren't listed on Camdram. We are also unlikely to consider shows that have been performed recently in major local venues (e.g. The Arts Theatre). If you are concerned about whether a show has been recently performed, please email us.

Available Slots

These are the slots we will be accepting applications for. More information about these slots can be found in the applications guide.

ADC Mainshows (Tuesday to Saturday at 7.45pm)

ADC Lateshows (Wednesday to Saturday at 11pm)

ADC One-Night Stands (Generally a Tuesday one-off show at 11pm)

Corpus Playroom Mainshows (Tuesday to Saturday at 7pm)

Corpus Playroom Lateshows (Wednesday to Saturday at 9.30pm)

Corpus Playroom One-Night Stands (Tuesday one-off show at 9.30pm)

ADC Bar Show (Sunday or Monday at 8pm)

ADC Larkum Studio Show (Wednesday to Saturday at 8pm)

Unavailable Shows

The following shows are already programmed but not yet on sale and so would not be able to be pitched for:

  • Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
  • Next to Normal

Pitching your show

Once you apply with your show, you will be invited to deliver a five-minute pitch.

You can discuss whatever you'd like in your pitch, but if you're not sure what to talk about, we recommend that you provide answers to these questions:

  • Why are you passionate about this show?
  • What ideas do you have about the process of bringing your show to the stage, including any initial ideas for design/direction.
  • How do you want the audience to react to the show?

You may be asked to attend a further interview the following weekend, especially if you have applied for an ADC Mainshow, to talk about your application in more detail. We will give you a small number of questions to prepare in advance.

We usually only invite the applicants for further interview when they apply for the ADC Mainshow slot, so do not worry if you are not invited to a longer interview. Please note that not all ADC Mainshow applications will be asked to attend a further interview. It may be that we are still considering your show for an alternative slot and/or venue.

Marketing

During the application process you will be asked to answer a number of questions pertaining to the marketing and web listing of your show were it to be programmed, including a marketing blurb, image, content notices and age suitability. This is because due to the tight turn around for season programming, at the point the season has been confirmed, all of the season marketing materials (including the brochure) are compiled and we start to upload key information to our website.

If your show is programmed, you will have a short window to suggest changes to any of these prior to publication by the Theatre.

When determining an age recommendation for your show, you should consider the following matrix:

Does your show contain?

All Ages
  • Infrequent mild, bad language;
  • Mild sexual behaviour (e.g. kissing);
  • Brief unsettling sequences;
  • Mild violence (depending on context).
8+
  • Potentially dangerous behaviour;
  • Mild discriminatory language or behaviour (provided such language or behaviour is disapproved of);
  • Mild references to drug use/misuse;
  • Mild, bad language;
  • Non-sexual, partial nudity;
  • Mild sexual references or innuendo;
  • Infrequent and discreet implications of sexual activity;
  • Brief moments of threat or horror;
  • Non-detailed moderate violence justified by historical/comedic context.
12+
  • Infrequent drug misuse;
  • Moderate bad language;
  • Brief nudity;
  • Moderate sexual references;
  • Moderate threat and/or horror;
  • Moderate violence.
16+
  • Depiction of dangerous behaviour;
  • Discriminatory language or behaviour;
  • Drug or dangerous substance misuse;
  • Very strong language;
  • Non-sexual nudity;
  • References to sexual activity;
  • Masked depictions of moderate sexual activity;
  • Non-graphic or veiled depiction of sexual violence or threat;
  • Threat and/or horror;
  • Strong violence.
18+
  • Frequent/extensive very strong language;
  • Detailed portrayal of violence, dangerous behaviour or illegal/immoral activity, especially when such behaviour is portrayed as pleasurable/sadistic;
  • Endorsement of discrimination;
  • Graphic depicted sexual activity or sexual nudity;
  • Graphic depiction of sexual violence or threat;
  • A performance which may encourage or motivate the consumption of alcohol by audience members (e.g. late-night comedy).

For clarification on any of the above, please speak to the Production Manager.

Other Information

You can apply with more than one production, or for more than one venue or slot. You should be aware, however, that spreading yourself too thinly can weaken all your applications: we are interested in a passion for a specific production rather than a general desire to stage something.

We are committed to open auditions and applications for cast and crew positions. If you are applying with a show that has been pre-cast, or has filled all of its major crew positions, please consider that this could be detrimental to your application.

We are only accepting electronic applications via the Google Form found above. Please get in touch here if you experience any technical issues.

There is a space on the application form to mention any adjustments that you require for the pitching process. Please note down if you would prefer to have more time in an interview, or any other adjustments.

Access information for our venues can be found here. Of note is the fact that the ADC Theatre is a fully accessible space, and that the Corpus Playroom is regrettably not wheelchair accessible.

We are only able to programme student productions during University term time. If you would like to enquire about other hire opportunities, please visit our website here.

Protected Characteristics

The ADC Management team publishes anonymised data on how many show applicants fall under certain protected characteristics including ethnicity, sexuality and disability, and how many of these applicants successfully had a show programmed. This data is collected as part of the show application process and is entirely optional for candidates to complete.

For the Michaelmas 2024, Easter 2024 and Lent 2024 application rounds, we received a total of 195 applications, with an average acceptance rate of 56%. This varies depending on the season, venue and type of show applied for (e.g. ADC Mainshows and Musicals tend to be our most competitive slots). The below does not include applications for the CUADC/Footlights Pantomime 2024, for which demographic data was not collected.

The University of Cambridge publishes anonymised equality and diversity data every year, with the latest report being published for the 2022-23 cohort. Students with a disclosed disability comprised 17.8% of all undergraduates. Students from a BAME background who disclosed their ethnicity made up 37.3% of all undergraduates. In 2022-23 report, published in March 2024, the University of Cambridge did not report on student numbers by sexual orientation.