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Guidelines for applicants

ELIGIBILITY

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The Linbury Prize is open to graduates from theatre design degree or postgraduate courses graduating in 2024 and 2025. Emerging designers without a degree qualification who can demonstrate equivalent skills are actively encouraged to apply within the first 3 years of their professional practice. 

  

Applicants from all nationalities are welcome to apply providing they are officially a resident in the UK, have permission to remain and intend to base their practice in the UK. The Linbury Prize can not support or sponsor VISA applications.

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You may only apply to the Linbury Prize once.

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​If you have any doubt as to your eligibility to apply for this year’s prize, please contact: LinburyPrize@nationaltheatre.org.uk 

​​Applications open:

Tuesday 1 July 2025

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Deadline:

10am Monday 1 September

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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CV​

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  • Include your relevant training, qualifications, work and skills.

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  • PDF format

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  • 1-2 A4 pages

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10 page PDF Portfolio

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  • Portfolios over 10 pages long will not be accepted.

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  • The maximum file size is 100MB. ​

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  • The portfolio should be in A3 Landscape format.

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  • ​16:9 and similar screen based ratios will also be accepted. ​​​​​​

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  • The first page should not be an intro or front cover, go straight into the first project.​​​

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  • Make it clear who your collaborators are on any project.​

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  • Please include the director and venue where applicable.​​​​

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  • Differentiate between realised and speculative / unrealised work.

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  • Avoid tiny images and text.

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​​We offer feedback to all applicants.​​​​

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

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  • Your portfolio will have to speak for itself to the judges, who are looking for a mix of technical skill, artistic ability and creative vision. 

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  • Your ten portfolio pages must show the range of your work, but do not need to include every project you have worked on.

 

  • Show your design process.

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  • Select images that show how you develop ideas e.g. through early sketches, storyboards and renders. ​

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  • ​Choose your images carefully - making sure that every image tells a different story. 

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  • Avoid using unnecessary reference images. We want to see your work..

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  • ​ You can also show examples of performance design specialisms e.g. costume, puppetry, installation, video or prop design.  ​​​​​​​​​

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  • Consideration should be given to environmentally sustainable design. ​​

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VIDEO

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It is not a requirement for submission, but video can be a useful medium for showing design elements such as animation, filmic storyboards, video design etc.

 

Video guidelines

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  • Maximum length 30 seconds.

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  • Maximum of 1 video per project

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  • Embed the video in the PDF or provide a link to a video sharing platform.​​​

 

​​If you have accessibility requirements or need support submitting an application, please contact linburyprize@nationaltheatre.org.uk

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