SIX young people have received funding from the Farnham Maltings in this year's 'no strings attached' grant.
Established four years ago, the grant selects and supports young people from the south east of England to develop their first piece of theatre.
Gerald Curtis, 25, based in Surrey, received £900 to produce a piece of performance art incorporating spoken word, storytelling and choreography, it will be performed in March 2013.
Caroline Melia and Ellie Mills, 25, were awarded £700 to fund the design and making of puppets for a children's choreography, it will be performed in March 2013.
Rich Gunston, 21, based in Hampshire, was awarded £900 to produce and direct a piece of new writing with a creative team of young people from Eastleigh.
Amber Rose May, 22, drama graduate from Rose Bruford College, received £1,000 to make and tour a piece of interactive and participatory theatre for children aged 4-7.
Natalie Audley, 23, Exeter University graduate, was awarded £1,000 to stage a double bill of two plays that Natalie has written, it will be performed at the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton in January 2013.
Elizabeth Kent, 23, MA graduate from the Guildford School of Acting, received £1,000 to bring together a company of actors both disabled and non-disabled and to make a piece of inclusive theatre.
The scheme offers professional mentoring and funding between £500 and £1,000 to young people, aged between 18-25.
Jake Orr, Editor of A Young Theatre and 2011 'no strings attached' panel member, said: "'No strings attached' offers two things: a source of funding that encourages risk taking, and the support and mentorship that young makers need. It couldn't be simpler, and it couldn't be any more of a necessity."
Sarah Brigham, Director of The Point, Eastleigh and 2011 'no strings attached' panel member, added: "It's unusual for a venue to take such a risk on young artists right at the start but this is absolutely necessary if we are to discover new artists and help them find their creative voice."
The grant scheme has helped young people since 2008. Past recipients of the grant include theatre company, 'non zero one', whose £500 grant in 2009 funded the development of their first piece of theatre, 'they vote with their feet'.
Other past 'no strings attached' funded projects include a piece by young writer and director Ellen Carr, who was handpicked by Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner as a promising talent at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, and one to watch for the future.
Gavin Stride, Director of Farnham Maltings, said: "We wanted to create the simplest process with the least conditions, in the belief that changing our behaviour would encourage a greater range of new ideas.
"Every group of young people we have invested in has delivered more than they promised."
