INCREDIBLE NEWS!
We are pleased to announce that the New Adelphi Theatre has selected six recently graduating individuals/groups from our Performance directorate to become the next cohort of Supported Artists.
The Performance Graduate Scholarship Programme, in collaboration with the Alumni Team, awards graduates from the University’s performance disciplines the financial support, resources, facilities and time to experiment and take risks within their creative practice. The programme is designed to provide recent Graduates with an opportunity to develop their skills and further their professional experience within a supportive framework.
The Performance Graduate Scholarships are funded through the generosity of our donors and supported by the Alumni Engagement & Development Team.
Let’s meet our 2026-27 Supported Artists and hear more about their plans and next steps in their creative practice…
Alfie Randell: I studied Theatre and Performance Practice and have recently discovered a passion for writing. During my final year, I created a Debut Festival show raising awareness about an issue that is very important to both me and my co-writer: men’s mental health. As a group, we feel there is not enough awareness around this topic, and we are committed to addressing something we deeply care about. This is a passion project we’re thrilled to finally share with a wider audience.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to be awarded the Graduate Scholarship. This project is a fantastic opportunity. I would not have been able to fund myself, so this grant will allow us to expand and potentially perform at other venues, giving our work greater exposure.
Photo Credit: Alfie Randell
Gabriel Keogh: I studied Theatre and Performance Practice. I’m an actor and writer from Oldham, Greater Manchester. My training includes Saddleworth Drama (Judith Barker and Kenneth Alan Taylor), Oldham Theatre Workshop and Act4TV. In Summer 2025, I took on a lead role in Boys We Knew at Salford Arts Theatre, an award-winning Greater Manchester Fringe play. This summer I will take The Confession, which I’ve co-written, co-directed and co-starred in alongside Alfie Randell, to the Greater Manchester Fringe.
As an Associate Artist, the Graduate Scholarship will allow us to not only develop The Confession further and take it to new audiences but also will allow us to develop new work in our style. I feel incredibly grateful and thankful to be receiving this Graduate Scholarship. I’m absolutely buzzing about it, it is massively encouraging for us as artists, and I can’t wait to get to work.
Photo Credit: Tom Barker
Daniel Mahon: I’m a Manchester-based creative artist and studied Comedy Writing and Performance. My creative journey has taken in music, comedy, writing, performance, sound design and short film work. Returning to education as a mature student has been a huge personal and artistic step and completing the degree while developing new work has given me a stronger sense of direction and confidence.
Receiving the Graduate Scholarship means a great deal to me, not only as recognition of the work so far, but as support to keep building from here. During my time as an Associate Artist, I want to develop character-led comedy, podcast/radio work, sound-led performance and new writing, while continuing to explore how my background in music and lived experience can shape honest, funny and distinctive creative work.
Photo Credits: Jack Kelly / Will Vant / Daniel Mahon
Alfie Naylor and Rose Pennington: We both studied Theatre and Performance Practice and had an amazing time during our three years at Salford. To receive this prestigious award is testament to how brilliant the opportunities at this institution are. We are so lucky and privileged to be given the chance to work as this year’s Associate Artists, where we will attempt to create a brand-new theatre production Dead Funny. This dark comedy drama will be a concoction of everything we have learnt at university, fusing together experimental, post-dramatic, contemporary theatre practices and testing the boundaries of traditional humour in a non-linear format, which we hope to take on tour!
We are thrilled to be awarded this Graduate Scholarship and are so thankful to everyone who has helped us in our journey and cannot wait to share this exciting, new project.
Photo Credit: Joseph Finn Photography
Frankie Corless: I’m truly honoured to have been awarded this Graduate Scholarship. During my time studying Theatre and Performance Practice, I have developed my practice as a Producer, Theatre Maker and Director, building a growing body of work that represents my artistic voice. I have also recently established my theatre company, Empirical, with my Co-Director April Wright.
Currently, I am developing a new live work that explores themes of processing grief and loss through dance, music and rave culture. This project combines an original score with movement and digital elements. Early R&D will be supported by the Graduate Scholarship, and I can’t wait to share my work later this year.
I am excited to continue progressing towards a varied career within the arts and I am looking forward to future learning, networking and creative opportunities. I am thankful to the Staff and Donors who have made this Graduate Scholarship possible.
You can follow Frankie’s creative journey here
Photo Credits: Kara Hughes / Kira Thompson
Romeo Voda: Coming from Theatre and Performance Practice, I have gained all the necessary knowledge and tools to understand the multifaceted nature of theatre. Thanks to the support of this Graduate Scholarship, my team and I can apply what we have learned during our time at the University of Salford. While showcasing our creativity and professionalism at FITS (Festival International of Theatre Sibiu), we are also excited to be in a creative environment where we can further expand our understanding alongside fellow theatre actors.
Photo Credits: Nina Bethany / Romeo Voda
Kira Roscoe: I studied Theatre and Performance Practice. My time on the course has been full of exciting and formative experiences that have really shaped who I am as an artist. I’ve grown through collaboration, experimentation, and the chance to be part of work that feels meaningful and alive.
Receiving this Graduate Scholarship feels incredibly special and this scholarship has helped us get the chance to take our group performance to the International Theatre Festival of Sibiu (FITS) in Romania. Being able to take our work abroad and share it with international audiences is both exciting and inspiring. I’m looking forward to connecting with others, learning from new perspectives, and continuing to grow through this experience.
Photo Credits: Kara Hughes / Isabelle Green / Kira Roscoe
Will Vant: During my time as a Comedy Writing and Performance student, I developed a passion for creating mockumentaries and this is something I plan to continue creating thanks to the Graduate Scholarship.
I am very grateful to be a recipient of this Graduate Scholarship, as it will allow me to further my creative practise and continue to collaborate with the network I have built during my time at university.
Photo Credit: David John Headshots / Keira Tomo
WE WANT TO SAY A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR NEW SUPPORTED ARTISTS – WE CAN’T WAIT TO START WORKING WITH YOU!
