YoCo is back!
Sign ups for our audition workshop on 28 November 2026 at Deptford Lounge are open now – apply here!
YoCo is a partnership between Croydon-based organisations Boundless Theatre and Zoo Co, offering a free, inclusive theatre-making programme for 16–21-year-olds from, based in or connected to Croydon.
Through workshops, a residential, and a summer intensive, we’ll come together, try things out, and create a brand new show with a writer and a team of creatives – finishing with a run of performances at a central London theatre in August 2027. Read more about our 2026 YoCo play, Compost What’s Left here!
what you get as part of YoCo
- Make a new play from start to finish in collaboration with a writer, and perform it at a central London theatre alongside a professional creative team.
- Gain experience in devising, acting, movement, telling stories visually, improvisation.
- Learn about the roles involved in theatre productions, including set, video and sound design, stage management, costume and more.
- Learn about creating accessible theatre (for example, creative captioning, incorporating BSL and relaxed performances).
- Work with Flo & Pav, the Artistic Directors of Zoo Co & Boundless.
- Gain professional theatre experience to support you to towards further training or to begin a career in the arts, with support and mentoring to aid your next steps.
- Gain new skills, new friends, and have lots of fun.
what’s involved
To take part in YoCo, you’ll need to be able to attend the following:
- 28th November 10-5 at Deptford Lounge: our audition workshop day! Through improv, play and devising, we’ll make stuff, and get to know each other. No experience or preparation needed, sign up here.
- 30th March – 2nd April: A four-day residential at Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire with three nights stay and all food provided, where you’ll explore ideas for a new play using Open Space, improvisation, movement and script-writing techniques. This creative retreat is a vital part of the programme, giving you the time and space to get to know each other and be fully immersed in creative practice outside of your daily lives. In between sessions we will eat delicious food together, enjoy the surrounding nature, and play lots of games!
- 19th – 30th July: two weeks of rehearsals at Stanley Arts
- 2nd – 7th August: tech and performances at a central London theatre
In addition to these key dates, there will also be opportunities to join additional workshops throughout the programme, led by Flo & Pav, or by members of the creative team in the lead-up to the show.
who is it for
YoCo is free to take part in, open to young people aged 16-21 who are based in or have a connection to Croydon. We especially welcome young people who are Global Majority, LGBTQ+, deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.
Access
Zoo Co & Boundless believe that theatre is better when everybody is invited, and we share that ethos with the young theatremakers in our YoCo. Sessions are open to young people with various access needs, please let us know if you/your young person has any access requirements. Flo is hearing and signs at about BSL Level 3.
Next steps
The workshop will be a chance to flex your skills – and learn some new ones, make friends, get creative, and get to know us.
From the participants of the workshop, we’ll recruit 12 artists to become members of Zoo Co X Boundless Young Company 2027, who will join us for the full project and summer production – and you’ll have the chance to see if it’s the right fit for you too. We’re looking to meet people who are passionate about making & performing theatre, love working collaboratively, and who want to explore and be part of creating a ground-breaking, electric new production. No previous experience necessary.
FAQs
What will be happening at the audition workshop?
The workshop will be packed with different creative activities that allow you to explore and learn a range to things – from acting to improvisation, devising, creating your own monologue and more. We’ll explore a range of styles and techniques using Zoo Co and Boundless’s theatre-making techniques. This workshop will be a chance to get to know each other and start to explore what we might want to make a show about. Whilst this workshop isn’t an ‘audition’ in the traditional sense – you won’t be given a script and be expected to perform – it is a chance for us to get to know you, and vice versa. This Young Company is all about experimentation, collaboration, and co-creating original work from scratch, so we want to see that you’re interested in this way of working, and that you’re keen and committed to the programme. Spaces on the YoCo are limited, and so we may not be able to take on everyone who attends the workshop. It will be fun, and will give you the chance to get creative and learn new skills – and if you decide the full YoCo isn’t quite right for you, that’s fine too.
If I can’t make it to the audition workshop can I still join the YoCo?
We want to make sure that we can get to know each other prior to committing to the whole project, and make sure it’s the right fit for you. If you can’t make it to the workshop, we are unlikely to be able to offer you a place on YoCo.
When will I know if I have a place on YoCo?
After the workshop we will be in touch to confirm if you have a place on YoCo – likely in December 2026.
When is the spring residential?
The spring residential takes place in the Easter holidays, from Tuesday 30th March – Friday 2nd April 2027 at Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire. Transport, accommodation and food will be provided. If you are studying for exams, you are welcome to bring revision with you and we can set up a quiet study space.
What happens at the spring residential?
During the day, we’ll do group workshops and sessions to explore ideas for a new play through devising, improvisation, movement and script-writing techniques. We’ll have a writer-in-residence with us to bounce ideas around with, and they will start to formulate the play from what comes out of the workshops. This creative retreat is a vital part of the programme, giving you the time and space to get to know each other and be fully immersed in creative practice outside of your daily lives. In between sessions and in the evening we will eat delicious food together, enjoy the surrounding nature, play lots of games, and if the weather allows we’ll spend an evening around a campfire!
What are the dates for the Summer Intensive and the show?
Between 19–23rd & 26–30th July we’ll have two weeks of rehearsals at Stanley Arts, followed by a week of tech & performances from the 2nd – 7th August, which will take place at a central London theatre. In the lead up to rehearsals (over June/July) there will be a number of drop-in workshops at Stanley Arts exploring different elements of the production, for example set & sound design, lighting, stage management – exact schedule to be confirmed.
What will the show be about?
That’s up to you! We’ll be co-creating the show entirely from scratch, you’ll decide as a group what you want to make a show about. At the Spring residential, we’ll have a writer with us, who will work with you to develop the story, and then write the script afterwards.
Do I need to have any experience making theatre?
No. You just need to be up for it.
If I don’t want to perform, are there other ways I can be involved?
Absolutely. If you’d prefer not to perform in the final show, you can still be involved in the devising and creation process, and in the lead up to the show, you can learn about and get involved in other areas of the production, for example directing, set & sound design, marketing, stage management, lighting etc.
Are there any costs associated with taking part in YoCo?
There are no fees to pay to be part of the YoCo, the programme is fully funded. The Spring residential is fully funded, so your transport, accommodation and food will all be provided – you do not need to pay anything. The only costs you will incur will be transport costs to get to the workshops, rehearsals and show. If this is a barrier to you taking part, please let us know and we can chat about how to support you.
What is your safeguarding policy?
Zoo Co are the designated safeguarding leads for YoCo, and you can view their safeguarding policy here. All facilitators and artists on the programme are DBS checked.
What do you mean by connected to Croydon?
You might have lived, worked or studied in Croydon, or perhaps you’ve spent time in the borough with friends and family growing up. Maybe you go to classes at Stanley Arts, or you see the panto every year at Fairfield Halls. As two Croydon-based companies, it’s important to us that the YoCo and the work we make is connected to our home.
If you have any questions about YoCo, need support or face any barriers to applying please contact ruth@wearezooco.co.uk